---
title: "A friend tells his local bodega owner he should wear a mask.  It…"
date: 2020-07-01
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships updated his status.
---

# A friend tells his local bodega owner he should wear a mask.  It…

*July 1, 2020 · Facebook*

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A friend tells his local bodega owner he should wear a mask. It doesn\'t go well (store owner tells him to leave and not come back). Although I think the odds of persuasion are low regardless, here\'s how I might have done it differently.\
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I find that people don\'t respond well to unsolicited advice / lectures. By telling him what you thought he should do, you were putting yourself in a one up position to him, and insinuating that you knew better than him how he should live his life. People bristle at that, especially when done in front of others.\
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Instead of saying anything, I might have introduced myself and tried to find out his name. Then later, written him a note, perhaps something like this.\
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\"Hi \[Bodega Manager\]\
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I\'m one of your regular customers and I\'ve enjoyed shopping at your store the past few years. I really appreciate how much care you take in serving your customers.\
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Since I know you care about your customers, and would want to know if they have concerns, I just wanted to share my opinion about a topic that\'s important to me.\
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I know that wearing face masks is no fun. They\'re hot, sweaty, and itchy, especially if you wear them all day. They can make it hard to hear customers, or be heard by them. I realize that the temptation to stop wearing them may be strong.\
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So, I just wanted to let you know that I\'m very grateful when I see the staff of your store wearing masks. And I\'m hopeful that your staff will continue wear masks so that I will feel continue to feel comfortable shopping there.\
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If you\'ve taken the time to read this far, thank you! I appreciate your willingness to hear my opinions. And I look for to buying \[favorite product\] from your store again soon!\
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Sincerely,\
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\[insert name\]\"\
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Advantages of this approach:\
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\* You\'re not calling him out in front of others, so he doesn\'t lose face.\
\* You\'re not taking up his time while he\'s trying to serve paying customers.\
\* You\'re expressing gratitude to him and his staff for enduring the inconvenience of wearing a mask\
\* You\'re not accusing him of not wearing a mask or doing anything else wrong\
\* You\'re making clear what you want (staff to wear a mask), and the consequences of not doing so (you\'ll shop elsewhere)
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