I bought my own equipment

So I finally did the grown- up media freelance thing.

I bought my own equipment.

That’s right I looked in three electronic stores downtown, Elizabeth and finally found what I needed; two wireless mics and a big receiver. I wanted two smaller receivers but I was doing an interview in two days; I could take what I could get.

I walked in, tested it paid $107 for it. Now this is important – but back to that later. I went home and tested everything. My mic wire was too short and I needed an adapter. I decided to take it back get the less expensive wireless lavalier that I needed.

I took it back and did not read the fine print on the receipt.

No refunds only store credit.

Crap. I did not have the funds to buy what I really needed unless I returned this. The salesman thought he had a better solution; he threw in an adapter for free and $10 wire. Which was double the value he was charging me. I tested my new additions in the store to see if my problem was fixed. With my situation improved I made another decision.

I was going to get that $10 wire for free. See, last night after I tested my equipment I wanted to find out how much of a good deal I had. The system I bought for $107 was being sold online for $40.

He had already overcharged me but he wasn’t going to get anymore. I prayed to the Lord, “please let me argue this man down into getting this wire for free.”

When it came down to paying the additional fees I said,

“I’m going to take this wire for free.”

Sales Man: “No. This is $30 and I’m giving to you for $10.”

“No, you said the wire was $20. And I found this same system online for $40. You already made your money off of me so I think I deserve this wire for free.”

Sales Man: “Sometimes people order offline and they don’t really get what they think they’re ordering-”

“I found this system for $40.”

The man stood quiet for a  while and then said…

“$5.”

I had to laugh.

Sales Man: “What you don’t want to pay $5?”

“No. I said I want it for free.”

Quiet again.

Sales Man: “Ok. We want to make the customer happy.”

I said thank you; still swindled but proud of the very first deal I ever made. I don’t know why but I felt a little guilty after. I called my mom to confirm I had done the right thing.

“You prayed and you got what you wanted. There’s nothing to feel bad about.” She also confirmed that I should have done my research before I bought it. A mistake I won’t make again. I let the feeling slide onto the pavement as I got into the car. Proud of the system I would use the very next day. I didn’t think I’d have any real problems on the shoot.