A BETTER SHIRT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR AFASITES

TAJUDEEN SADIQ

On a norm, the price for boarding a cab from UI to Ojo is fifty Naira although the room for negotiation is not denied. If one is not fine by it, one boards another cab. It’s neither a fixed price nor a tagged one. If one feels the bike is better, one can find one and negotiate whichever price one wants to take the bike, and the bike man tags his service, too. When each party reach an agreement, the bike man renders the service and one pays. Everyone is satisfied as equilibrium takes place.

Likewise, if one goes to Shoprite, nothing is being priced there; everything has been tagged with a price. It’s either one has the money to shop there or one doesn’t go there. Whether it’s cheaper, costlier, of good quality or bad quality than what one saw elsewhere, that is the price it is sold, it will never change except if they are giving discounts. If one goes there, one is satisfied by what’s sold there because equilibrium will take place. Nobody compelled one to go there.

Furthermore, if one sees an item on Jumia and he or she is pleased with it, one can place one orders, give one’s address and it will still be delivered to one at the agreed time. After delivery, if what one orders is different from what is brought, one can return it and get one’s money back, though, based on the terms and conditions. So every place has it own mode of market operation.

However, in the Faculty of Art, the case is different. Over the years what people paid for is different from what they get. The sample of shirts being brought is mostly quite different from what AFASites receive. But there won’t be an option rather than collecting it most times. It’s either one gets the bad shirt or one’s money is never refunded. There has never been a room for refunding. When one pays, one pays for whatever one gets, be it good or bad shirt, one will get one. Not getting at all is the worst case.

Some AFASites have recently shown their displeasure about the quality of shirt hung on the executives notice board and as the Press, we didnt take those complains at liberty but choose to pen it down. It was agreed that the executives will make the shirt in batchessome will be made now and more will be made based on peoples reaction. The president has, however, shown optimism in the house last sitting that more AFASITES will come around to pay for their shirts after the release of the first batch. The fact remains that for those who have paid and have stated their displeasure on the sample portrayed, cannot get their money back. It therefore beckons on the executives to look for better quality for AFASITES so at least optimal satisfaction can be reached.

Anyway, that is not the problem now; we hope the executive member will not do as their predecessors did. We have had cases in the past were a sample is displayed and a less worthy shirt is produced, perhaps on the basis that the funds were not enough. We hope it won’t be the case. I hope we wont be like the old tradition of nothing will happen, they just have to accept it like as they will accept whatsoever life throws at them.

In addition, if the chosen shirt could cost 1800 each, the price is expensive for the quality provided. Since the association is making the shirt in bulk from a single producer, why not negotiate it more? So, with the amount budgeted for 370 shirts, N660, 000 is not a joke. The producer can produce something better, if not the best. For the love of AFAS is SIMPLE, we diligently hope that the executive give AFASITES the best and nothing less.

Jumia is into business today. They will do things so that they won’t lose customers and build a solid trust with their clients. The bike man and his customer will negotiate the price of the service he wants to provide. Shoprite will not call customers to her tents, but one will derive one’s satisfaction when one goes there. The production of the shirt is not a black market where you pay for something you are not sure of having. The producer will never be held responsible for the quality of the shirt, whether good or bad, the members of the executive will be, especially the president. They should have terms and conditions with the producer; discuss more on the quality if nothing can be done on the price. Whatsoever we do today, we’ll be talked about tomorrow as we talk about your predecessors today.