Gold Meeting Transcript

A Typical Gold Meeting Transcript



Buyer’s Representative (Me):



Thank you for coming today, Mr. X. I trust you are well?



Seller: By the grace of Allah, yes. Thank you.



Me: And your family?



Seller: Yes, yes, thanks be to God.



Me: Well I am happy to hear that. I look forward to the
successful conclusion of our contract. A contract that you have
agreed to and signed. And when we do conclude our business I am sure
that you and your family will be even happier.



Seller: Yes, ye, yes. God willing. This is true.



Me: Mr. X. Yesterday the issue of price came up in our
discussions. I do sincerely thank you for showing me your gold dust.
It is very beautiful and I know how hard you and your village have
worked for it. I hope that today we are able to go beyond the issue
of price and focus on the secure shipment of your product considering
that you have already signed a contract and agreed to a price in that
signed contract with the Buyer, Mr. XX, whom I represent.



Seller: My gold dust is the most better in the world. Most better, yes.



Me: Yes, I am sure that it is and it will be even better when it
is properly refined and turned into authentic 99.999% pure gold
bullion ingots.



Seller: Your price is below down the world market.



Me: With all due respect it must be. May I point out, with
respect, that your alluvial ore dust is two-thousand miles from a
certified refinery, with no security, transportation, or insurance to
back it up. It is perfectly logical given these set of circumstances
that the alluvial dust will be somewhat below world market price. But
price is not my authority. You negotiated the price with my boss, the
buyer, and you signed a contract with him. And again with respect
there is no way that your product in its current state and
circumstances will fetch your new asking price of two-times the world
market for perfectly refined bullion ingots.



Seller: My gold is most better than anyone else’s gold. Most better.



Me: I am sure that it is but you need me, or someone like me, to
assist you in the process of bringing this raw product to market and
there are significant costs in that process. As it is I am offering
you a price well above that of the multi-national companies.



Seller: The Saudis are giving me two times above the world market
rate for my gold.



Me: I have a copy of the contract you signed here.



Seller: Words words. What you saying?



Me: Sir, with all respect you are contracted. You are selling a
box of unrefined rocks. It’s got a long way to go and a lot of
expenses are involved before it will reach world market price for a
refined troy ounce. I have offered you a very fair price and you have
agreed to that price in a binding contract.



Seller: You don’t respect the Africa Man You think Africa Man is
fool! Too fool!

Me: I do respect the African people. And I'd like to see you,
specifically, sir, I'd like to see you make a little money. I am
offering you the best price I know of anywhere for you and your
village.

Seller: Stands up from table and briskly walks out, grumbling in Bambara.



Me: To interpreter, “What did he say?”



Int.: I can’t say, sir.



Me: No, please, you must.



Int.: OK sir, this seller he say, “Fuck off you bastard prick.”