The Chinese Hustle . . .

Here is a story about standing up for what you believe is right,
even-though it could be wrong.

Today my friend and I went out to lunch.

So we decide on a place called Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot.

I had eaten there once before.

This place is located in the most run down strip mall you’ve ever
seen at 4718 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.

But you walk inside and the restaurant is immaculate.

Each table has a built-in ceramic stove top.

You sit and they bring out a huge hot pot of soup.

The pot is an herbal broth concoction with things like red dates,
nutmeg, garlic cloves and ginger.

Then you order your raw food.

You can get beef, chicken, pork or seafood.

And the idea is you cook your own food in the boiling hot pot.

We’re the only two white people in the place.

The menu is mostly in Chinese.

I didn’t even bother trying to figure it out.

So I did what anyone would do.

I relied on the trust and expertise of my waiter.

After all, he was the expert.

He had on a Chinese-style black uniform.

He was well mannered.

And he was willing to explain how everything worked.

I told him I had been here once before.

I then asked “how much for a plate of the beef and the hot pot soup?

He says . . .

“We have a lunch special and it’s $9.95″.

So I order one and let the waiter know that we were going to share
the order.

(It’s a ton of food)

He smiles and walks away.

A few minutes later, the big pot of soup comes out.

Then, he brings the vermicelli noodles, the Napa cabbage, and spears
of bok choy.

Another plate has an assortment of vegetables — enoki and shitake
mushrooms, fish balls and tofu.

Then the beef arrives, each slice is rolled perfectly.

And we do the dippy dippy into the boiling hot pot of herbal
soupiness.

The cooked beef is like butter and we enjoy our hot pot special.

Our expert waiter brings the bill.

It says $14.75.

There must be some mistake.

The lunch special was only $9.95.

After all, he told us eye to eye, man to man.

I call the waiter over and ask him why it’s $14.75.

And at this point the waiter starts back peddling.

He starts going into this long explanation of how much this was and
how much that was.

Then getting frustrated, he starts pointing . .

I can hardly read it because my menu is wet from soup and bok choy.

But in parenthesis, in small text, next to the soup price, it says
$3.75 per person.

It was “The Share Fee”.

The only time I ate here, I was alone.

Now, at this point, technically, he’s got us for the $3.75.

It’s in writing, it’s on the menu and . . .

it’s in English.

But we stood our ground.

We relied on the expertise and price quoted from our waiter.

He knew we were sharing the soup.

And he withheld the information about the additional $3.75 “Share
Fee”.

We let him know we felt that what he did was wrong.

We asked him to take off the additional $3.75.

The waiter was not willing to adjust the bill.

Again, he would just point to the menu.

We let him know that we were only willing to pay the $9.95 price.

We told him that the price he quoted us for lunch supersedes what
the menu says.

And finally, the waiter was won over to our way of thinking.

And we left the restaurant.

So . .

What’s the lesson for you?

Don’t be hustled when relying on an expert.

Hold him to his word.

If he makes you a promises, make him deliver on it, even if you
have an agreement that’s different in writing.

Stand your ground.

If you feel like you have been taken advantage of by a business or
another person, you probably have.

Let him know how you feel and demand a resolution.

Stand by principle and you’ll win him to your way of thinking most
of the time.

Don’t mislead your customers, not even a little.

I’ll never walk back into this restaurant again, even though the
food was outstanding.

Always tell the truth.

When confronting our waiter, he would not acknowledge that he
withheld the price of the share fee.

Withholding information can be the same as lying.

PS. Were we too hard on the waiter?
Were we wrong to not pay the $3.75 share fee?

Let me know what you would have done.

PS. This meal was phenomenal and if you’re ever in San Diego, you
SHOULD give it a try.

Here’s the link to their site.

http://www.littlesheephotpot.com.

Don’t forget about the $3.75 share fee.

Michael Senoff

About the Author

Michael Senoff is the CEO and publisher of
http://www.myfirsthmaclient.com

The world’s leading free consulting audio business library.

Michael is an experienced Internet marketer and talk show host and
a popular professional interviewer. Michael has taught 100% online
around the country & around the world to more than 50,000 students.

His over-the-top online audio interview web site
http://www.hardtofindseminars.com is listed in the top 1% of most
visited web sites in the world.

Michael has also worked as a coach and advisor to other famous
marketing consultants.

Michael is a husband and father of two young boys in Southern
California. He has a successful audio publishing business. Michael
is originally from Atlanta Georgia and is now based in San Diego,
California. Michael works with small to medium sized companies on
four different continents.

He is the author of the book: “TALK YOURSELF RICH”: (86 of the most
revealing, proprietary secrets on the subject of how to make more
money with audio interviews and the soon to be released sequel:
AUDIO MARKETING SECRETS. How To Make Your Own Information Product
Using Audio Interviews.  Michael may be contacted at
Michael@michaelsenoff.com or at (858) 274-7851