I can't forget this fateful day on a Thursday morning in Ilorin. If you stay in Ilorin, you will understand that there are certain days in Kwara state that it looks like the sun was imported from Hellfire; the heat is capable of roasting and burning anything.
That fateful day, I followed my friend, Tope to the electronic market. Tope has always been my own personal tech guy for many years, and that day, he volunteered to help me get a new sound system, the original and quality one. I need Tope to follow me that day because I am not really skilled in knowing the quality sound system.
My family members knew me in our family as just this guy who was obsessed with books. If you ask me to mention the top two of my hobbies, I will say it is reading and reading books. I can remember that fateful day Tope, my guy, was asking me if I knew what determined a sound system to be of quality. Of course, my answer was no because I lack knowledge in the field of electronics.
We got to the market that day and have been lousy, just as a typical Nigerian market is expected to be. We branched at a shop where speakers, keyboards and generally sound systems are sold.
The man in charge of the shop came out to address us. "Big men, you are at the correct place, what do you want to buy?"
We were not shocked because that is how Nigerians address each other if they want to convince you to buy their product, especially if the seller is an Igbo.
At that particular point, I handed over the conversation to my friend Tope who knows about those electronics much more than I do.
"Oga, do you have a quality sound system?" Tope asked.
"Of course, sir, we have", The seller responded.
He took us to the inner shop and gave us a mini tour of the different types of sound systems he has. I stood behind Tope and let him take the lead since that is his area of specialisation.
Tope pointed to one of the sound systems the man showed us. "How much is that one at the right corner?"
"That one is 95,000 naira" the seller responded.
Hearing the price, I was so shocked. How come it is so expensive like that? I begin to ask myself deep within.
I took a few minutes to take a look at that particular sound system, which was rated 95,000 naira, to check whether it was even worth it. Checking behind the sound system, I saw the label 150 watts.
I was surprised because earlier, the seller told us that it was 500 watts. In curiosity, I turned to ask the seller.
"But you told us it was 500 watts?"
The seller has been shocked a bit. "500 watts! That must be a mistake from my side, then, sirs. I mean 150 watts"
Tope turned to ask me. "But wait oo Adese, how do you know where to check the watts of the sound system?"
"Well even though I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, I can still know a few things. Well, I just randomly looked around the sound system, and I saw the label" I responded to the Tope question.
At that particular time, the Seller, knowing fully well, we are now aware of the watts. The bargain was easy. At the end of the day, we were able to negotiate the price down to 40,000 naira all the way from 95,000 naira.
I paid the seller the money, and with total pride and Fulfilment, I walked out of the Market that fateful day with a brand-new quality sound system.