Buying Curry Puffs

Alan,Ben and Chris were staff of the Sales Department. Alan was the sales manager, Ben was the sales executive while Chris was the salesman. Chris always felt that the three of them were having the same capabilities. He could not understand why Alan and Ben could become a manager and an executive respectively and he could only be the salesman.

One day, he could not stand it anymore. He went to the boss and asked,"The three of us joined the company on the same day. I don't work less than them but you let them become the manager and executive and I'm still a salesman. I just don't understand!"

The boss did not say anything. He smilingly looked at Chris and waited till he had finished talking then he said,"Young man, be patient. Just go downstairs and see whether there is anyone selling curry puffs."

Chris on hearing this quickly ran downstairs. A short while later he came in and said,"Yes, there's one selling curry puffs."

"How much is it ?" the boss asked.

"I did't ask. Let me go down and find out."

The second time Chris came back, he was slightly out of breath. He said,"RM1.00 per piece."

"Will it be cheaper if I buy more?", the boss asked.

"I didn't ask. Let me go down and find out."

When Chris came back for the third time, he was already breathless. "The hawker asked me how many I want to buy."

"What did you say to him?"

"I?........."

The boss told him to sit down first and he phoned Ben to come to his room.

"I want to treat you all to curry puffs. You go down and see if there is anyone selling." he told Ben.

After a while Ben came back and said,"There's one selling curry puffs. RM1.00 per piece. If we buy 5 pieces, it is only RM4.50. If more than 10 pieces, it's only RM0.80 each."

"How's the taste?"the boss asked.

"I didn't ask.", Ben answered honestly.

The boss asked Ben to sit down and he called Alan to come.

"I want to treat you all to curry puffs, just see if anyone selling downstairs." he told Alan with the same words.

After a little while, Alan came back and said,"There's one selling downstairs now. RM1.00 per piece. Five pieces for RM4.50. Ten pieces for RM8.00. But I heard from those who had bought, this peddler's curry puffs tasted not too good although the price is cheap. There's another one further down the road, the curry puffs taste delicious but a bit expensive. Five pieces for RM4.80 and if more than ten pieces, it costs RM0.90 each. There are four of us, 12 pieces will be enough. It's only that we have to walk about 150 meters further."

The boss looked at Chris and smilingly he said,"Now you should know why you are still a salesman!"