Marks & Spencer sale

A 30 percent to 50 percent sale advertisement splashed in the local papers managed to attract scores of people to a three-day sale at Marks & Spencer's Menteng branch. It's as if the price of quality had been made affordable (or at least cheaper) to us ordinary mortals.

Not wanting to miss out, I went there on Tuesday night (Sept. 12, 1995), and after selecting from the few items that were still available, paid in cash and headed out the door.

I was hastily stopped by the sound of an electronic alarm and instantly dozens of people looked at me. One who has not experienced this cannot begin to understand the feeling when the alarm goes off and you stand frozen with the realization that every eye in the vicinity is focused on you, with one word in their mind: THIEF.

Knowing I had done nothing wrong I asked the attendant to check my purchases and, sure enough, there was a security tag that had not been removed. After the tag was removed, I headed out the door again, only to hear the alarm go off yet again. The attendant apparently overlooked another tag.

I realize that the chaotic state of the store, with so many people looking for bargains, contributed to the lax concentration, but being branded a thief twice in as many minutes is intolerable. All the buyers had to make compromises, like not being able to try on the clothing, which was understandable as there were so many people, but there is a limit to just how much one can compromise.

If Marks & Spencer had a 100 percent sale instead of a 30 percent to 50 percent sale I wouldn't care less if everyone accused me of stealing. But having paid a premium at the store I did expect a little more. It's a shame that a discount in price also means a sharp decline in service.

DAMAR RAHARJO

Jakarta