My Korean Mom, the Sitcom: Shopping

My mom and I went shopping for jewelry in San Francisco's Chinatown recently.  This is one of the exchanges she had with a saleslady who was showing her a jade bracelet with a gold clasp.

Mom:  How much is this?
Saleslady: Normally, $100, but special today.  Only $40.
Mom (gasping & clutching her heart):  Are you kidding me?  Is that 14 karat?
Saleslady:  Sure, 14k gold plate.
Mom:  That's highway robbery!  You krajee?
Saleslady: How much you want to spend?
Mom:  I'm a senior citizen.  I'm on fixed income.
Saleslady:  $35?  How about that?
Mom:  $35 and that gold plate will make my wrist turn black!
Saleslady:  Are you Chinese?
Mom: No, Korean.
Saleslady:  I can go $30, but don't tell other customers.  Just for you, Korean Lady Special.  $30.
Mom:  $20 and I'll live with the black wrist.
Saleslady:  You trying to put me out of business?  I can't make any money if I sell it to you for $20.
Mom (turns to leave):  I'll check with the shop next door.  Maybe they'll take pity on an old lady.
Saleslady: Wait! Wait!  $25.
Mom:  I'll consider it.  You got any dingly earrings you can throw in with it?
Saleslady (sighs): You Korean ladies drive a hard bargain.

****
Mom:  Shinan-da! Shinan-da! I got a bracelet! Let's go get ice cream.
Me:  I thought Jesus wants me to lose weight, remember?
Mom:  Aigo! Krajee girl! Again with the sarcastic.

--Glennia

Comments

[Jennifer]

Your mom sounds like a hoot!! I wish I could bargain that well :).

[Carol]

That - was - HILARIOUS. "Korean Lady Special" - love it!

My mom came in handy when we bought my son's dol hanbok - she knocked off a good $40 off the total cost, and got the vest overlay and the string thingy thrown in for free.

[kim]

Wow, and I thought getting the "Korean discount" at my dry cleaners and old DC deli were good! Your mom is one heckuva shopper!

[Ellie]

HAH!!! Gotta love Korean mothers and their crazy bargaining skills :P

[Stefania/CityMama]

Oh. my. god. Cannot breathe from the laughing.

[beloved]

SO funny. You really need to read, Happy Birthday or Whatever by Annie Choi! She has similar hilarious encounters with her mother and writes about them brilliantly.

[Linda]

Korean Lady Special - omg that is hilarious.

[Diane]

Haha! This is hysterical! You really can tell a story.

[Jenny]

Bwahahahahaha!

[Kyong]

glennia - you should really pitch this as a sitcom idea to the major networks! you are abbot to your mom's costello...or is it the other way round? your dryness and her dynamo personality - lethal comedy team. :)