The Salesperson Who Owns the Exact Same Thing
Have you ever noticed this curious pattern while shopping? You walk into a store, browse quietly, and before long a salesperson appears, ready to help. They ask what you are looking for. You explain. Almost immediately, they smile and say something reassuring. They have the exact same product. This has happened to me more than once. Most recently, it happened while I was buying an air conditioner. As soon as I mentioned the model I was considering, the salesperson casually informed me that he had the same one at home. Apparently, it was excellent. Reliable. No issues at all. This moment felt strangely familiar. The memory goes back a long way, to the very first car I ever bought. It was a second-hand car, many years ago. The salesperson was pleasant, confident, and helpful. At some point, he mentioned that he also owned the same car. At the time, this felt comforting. What better recommendation than someone who drives the product themselves. Trusting and naive, I bought it. What follow...