Everyday Ethics When Honesty Met Generosity A 10 AED lesson in trust, integrity, and the small acts that hold society together. ...
When Honesty Met Generosity
Last week, I walked into a store in Ajman to buy two simple things: a weight machine and a mobile charger. The total should have been around 17 AED. When I checked my bank notification later, I saw I had only been charged 7.80 AED.
My first thought? "That's a nice discount."
My second thought? "This is a mistake."
And just like that, I found myself sitting at my computer, drafting an email to the store's customer care team. Not to complain—but to ask how I could pay them the missing 10 AED online.
Why did I bother?
Let's be honest. It was just 10 dirhams. Nobody was going to knock on my door for it. The store probably wouldn't even notice it in their daily reconciliation.
But here's the thing: honesty isn't about the amount. It's about the habit.
I believe that if we look the other way when small errors benefit us, we slowly train ourselves to look the other way when bigger ones do too. Integrity is not a switch you turn on when the stakes are high. It's a muscle you exercise in the small, quiet moments—when no one is watching.
So I sent the email. I explained the error. I offered to pay online. Simple.
Then came their reply.
I expected a standard response: "Dear Sir, kindly visit our store to settle the difference." Or maybe a cold, automated note about checking with the billing department.
Instead, they wrote back with something that genuinely surprised me:
"Please be informed that there is no need to return or pay the balance amount. We appreciate your willingness to settle the difference and thank you for being a valued customer."
They waived it off. Not because they had to—but because they chose to appreciate my honesty. They turned a transaction error into a gesture of goodwill.
One customer chooses honesty. One business chooses generosity. In that brief exchange, something beautiful happened: trust was built.
The 10 AED they waived cost them almost nothing. But the goodwill they earned? Priceless.
A small request to all of us
If you're a customer: When you spot an error in your favour, speak up. It's not about the money. It's about who you want to be.
If you're a business: When a customer shows honesty, reward it. A small gesture of generosity can turn a one-time buyer into a lifelong advocate.
These small acts—honesty from one side, professionalism from the other—are the threads that hold a healthy society together. They remind us that beneath all the transactions, contracts, and receipts, we are still humans dealing with humans.
And sometimes, that's worth more than 10 dirhams.
📍 Mark and Save – Al Jurf, Ajman
If you're ever in Ajman, I highly recommend stopping by. Here's where you'll find them:
💬 Have you ever experienced a moment of unexpected honesty or generosity?
I'd love to hear your story — share with my via email - mjunaidtahir __ at __ gmail.
