Self-service fruit stall runs on something money can’t buy – trust

With Gerai Cik Din, owner Nordin Mat Yazid has built a simple business on the principles of trust and honesty. (Bernama pic)IPOH: In an age of CCTV cameras, cashless payments and self-checkout counters, one roadside fruit stall in Kampung Lasah is proving that trust still has a place in business.At Gerai Cik Din, customers simply help themselves to fresh fruit and vegetables before paying by dropping cash into a money box or scanning a QR code, with no cashier in sight.For owner Nordin Mat Yazid, 63, the self-service concept is built on something simple - honesty.After operating the stall outside his home for the past four to five years, Nordin recently relocated it to a busier roadside spot near the Perlop junction ago to attract more customers and better manage his time.Operating daily from 8am to 6pm, the stall offers a variety of locally grown produce, including bananas, young coconuts, mangosteen, cili padi and bunga kantan, priced between RM2.50 and RM30.Nordin, who is assisted by his wife Aziati Salleh, said the idea has exceeded his expectations.Despite leaving the stall unattended, Nordin has never encountered theft: in fact, there have been occasions when customers paid more than the value of the items they purchased.The 63-year-old, who has been physically disabled since an accident when he was 19, said the business has received encouraging support from the local community, including nearby petrol station workers, passing motorists and the Orang Asli community.The biggest challenge, he added, has not been dishonest customers but curious monkeys wandering over from a nearby oil palm plantation! Fortunately, neighbours often help chase the animals away or alert him when they appear.Beyond the stall, Nordin also offers free home deliveries within a 1km radius, particularly for senior citizens.Customers who live farther, including those in Felda settlements up to 10km away, can also have their orders delivered for a nominal fee – or sometimes, depending on the circumstances, at no charge at all.