The Ukrainian service industry leaves much to be desired. It is perhaps one of the hardest things for Americans to understand. When you approach a vendor at a stall or a clerk in a shop in many cases they do not pay the least bit of attention to you. They don't have to. They get paid whether or not you buy anything so they figure why exert the effort. This is frustrating to say the least.
I passed the flower market one day in early spring and was attracted to all the beautiful colors and fragrances so I stopped to buy something for myself. From the thousands of flowers on display I zeroed in on some beautiful hyacinths, a sure sign of spring and something I could plant in my garden for next year. Of all the vendors there that day I managed to pick the booth of "Rockefeller." He didn't need or want my business. All attempts to buy his flowers failed. So I went to the booth next to his and the nice man there, who also had hyacinths, asked me which color I would like and helped me pick out the best one that he had. Then he lovingly wrapped my flower as he chatted away with me.
A funny thing happened. "Rocky" didn't like me buying from his competitor. He began to yell at me and question why I didn't buy his flowers. He gave me the standard "my stuff is better than his stuff" routine and ranted and raved during the entire time of my purchase. Ever the diplomat and knowing there is no reasoning with some of these people I did the only thing I could think of. I bought three more hyacinths in different colors from the nice man who REALLY cared about my business, handed them both a tract and went on my way.