Personal

The salesman

From the outset he wasn't the most dynamic salesman. His face sank when I answered "yes" to his faux-sincere "May I help you?".

I'll give him two out of ten for enthusiasm. His knowledge of the product line was similarly weak. But I'd made up my mind: I would be buying a new radio, and so much better to buy from a local firm rather than a chain. I'd just have to gamble on the reception being any good.

(I wonder: did the salesman's instinct tell him straightaway that I'd be making a purchase? Was he in fact just thinking, "Oh get on with it, then I can go home"?)