‘Select’, the retail store attached to Shell gas stations around Oman, has a unique way of conducting business –– at least in the one I frequent in Ruwi area. Firstly, they charge 125 baisa for a bottle of juice that costs 100 baisa in other superstores normally. To add to the woes, most of the time you end up paying extra for every purchase you make.

For eg., if you buy a juice costing 125 baisa and give him 200 baisa; in the rarest of the rare cases you will get back your 75 baisa. Most of the time it is 50 baisa back with the cashier pleading helplessness over lack of remaining 25 baisa to be tendered as change. Either they ask you to buy the non-existing item for 25 baisa or give a plain broad smile ‘signaling’ you to leave the store. Makes me think whether 25 baisa has any value with the economy moving northwards!