The Two Parts of a Gold Price — Epoche A2
Memo To: New sales staff, Branch 2, Gold Souq, Doha From: Abu Salim, owner Date: 2 November Subject: How gold is priced in this shop Welcome to the souq. Before Saturday, learn the first rule of this trade: gold is sold by weight, not by beauty. The price of every piece has two parts. The gold itself. Weigh the piece. The grams on the scale, times the day's rate for that purity, gives the gold price. The day's rate comes from the world market and is written on the board at the door. This part is the same in every shop in the souq, and it is never discussed. The making charge. This pays for the work of making the piece. A machine-made chain carries a small charge. A handmade set carries a big one. This is the shop's part, and it is the only part a customer may bargain down. So when a customer says "too expensive", never touch the gold price. Put the piece back on the scale, show the number, and point to the board. Then talk about the making charge, slowly, with tea. Last thing: every piece carries a stamp that states its purity. Show the stamp before the customer asks. People who trust the scale and the stamp come back. People who only trusted a smile come once.