Palm Oil Vendor Refuses ₦5,000 Price Hike, Loses Big Deal With Couple Overseas: "May God Reward You"
- A palm oil vendor lost a major wedding gig after the person who recommended her insisted she add ₦1300 to each litre of palm oil for a couple living abroad
- Despite the lucrative nature of the deal, the vendor stressed that fairness and trust matter more than quick gains
- The vendor emphasised that double-charging clients, even for those presumed wealthy abroad, damages credibility
A palm oil vendor has shared how she lost a major gig after the person who recommended her insisted she should inflate her price for a couple living abroad.
According to her, she was supposed to sell the palm oil at ₦3,600 per litre, but the individual who connected her to the deal demanded that she add ₦1,300 extra and sell at ₦5,000 per litre and she refused.
Source: Twitter
Vendor turns down lucrative palm oil deal
The vendor, whose handle is @Emerytarah000, took to X (formerly Twitter) to narrate the experience. She revealed that although the deal was big, she chose to walk away because she prioritises discipline and integrity in her business.
She explained that the person who linked her to the couple felt they had money since they live abroad and wanted to take advantage of that by increasing the price. However, she stood her ground.
She wrote:
"I turned down a souvenir gig for a wedding in November just now 😭 because the person who recommended me insisted I should add an extra ₦1300 to each plastic of palm oil. Palm oil that everyone knows the market price o!"
"I told him I wanted to sell at ₦3,600 per litre, but he insisted I should tell them ₦5,000 just because the couple lives abroad. I explained how this would affect my business, but he still wouldn’t listen. So, I told him to get another vendor."
The vendor further explained that despite several attempts to make him understand, he refused to listen, so she turned down the job and asked him to get someone else.
Source: Twitter
She added that she believes better opportunities are ahead.
"A better opportunity is ahead 🙏🏽 Business is about fairness and integrity."
She went on to share another experience that highlighted how integrity had brought her more business.
"Earlier this year, someone brought me a souvenirs job and we agreed on a 60/40 sharing. Everyone was happy, and since then, that same person has brought me 3 more jobs. That’s how partnerships grow — through trust.
"There’s nothing wrong with giving a percentage to whoever connects you to a gig. In fact, I encourage it. But what is wrong is adding your own markup on top of my price and still expecting me to give you a cut again. That’s double-charging, and it kills credibility.
"For example, a branded palm oil souvenir shouldn’t cost more than ₦3,000 per litre. I sold at ₦2,600 because I deal in wholesale. The only time I pushed to ₦3,600 was when I factored in the stress of measuring.
"At the end of the day, integrity keeps customers coming back. Quick gains without fairness may look sweet today, but they close doors tomorrow."
She also revealed that the individual in question is an event planner, noting that she still values such partnerships as long as they are built on trust.
"He's an event planner, I need something to make him bring more deal. Me gaining 60 of 500 pieces is enough."
Her post quickly gained attention, with many people trooping to the comments to applaud her for choosing integrity over short-term profit.
Palm oil vendor opens up, says she values honesty more than profit
The palm oil vendor explained that she was supposed to sell the product at ₦3,600 per litre, but the person who recommended her for the wedding insisted she add ₦1,300 extra, making it ₦5,000. She refused, stressing that honesty mattered more than profit.
Speaking further on her decision in a statement made available to Legit.ng, she added:
“For me, everything is not about money. I was raised by a bishop and taught that in all things, one must be truthful, honest, and kind. Money will finish, but integrity will carry you further than riches ever could."
"Honesty might not pay off immediately, but in the long run it always does. The fact that you make quick money today doesn’t mean it will change your life, but the trust and respect you build will open greater doors tomorrow."
"That’s exactly what guides us at Emerytarah Palm Oil — building a business on honesty, quality, and trust, not just profit."
"And to every entrepreneur out there: don’t be carried away by quick gains. Build with integrity. Let people know you for truth and fairness. Money comes and goes, but your reputation is what will sustain you, attract loyal customers, and keep opening opportunities you never imagined."
Reactions as vendor rejects palm oil deal
@Oluya_of_lagos wrote:
"A child is 4 years old now i still haven’t delivered the naming pictures to them cos the makeup artist that gave me the job told them another price and didn’t tell me until i got to the job, now clients want to slash mine i said no o and makeup artist want to be a good person."
@olayemihassy explained:
"I really applaud you for standing your ground on this. What you did shows fairness, integrity, and respect for your business and customers. Inflating the price just because the couple lives abroad would not only damage your reputation but also make people lose trust in you in the long run. Your decision proves you value honesty over quick profit, and that’s exactly the kind of principle that attracts even better opportunities. Well done."
@wehlamstores stated:
"The exact way our "broom selling business" in Lagos began at Wehla M Stores... The woman in the Local Givernment office wanted brooms sold at 120, to be quoted at about 200+ a piece on the receipt so the Boss could pay and she could take the extra."
@AbassAdesola noted:
"May God reward you for it. It's not just about it affecting your business; you simply are truthful and sincere. And when one is sincere with good intentions, God comes through. May God bless you! You'll remember doing good for good. This will open more doors of progress for you, I pray to the Almighty."
@waxdigitals expressed:
"This is rare. Most people would chase quick profit, but you chose principle over greed. That’s how trust is built, and why better doors will open for you."
@Pretttyebi explained:
"Maybe you should have just bargained with him for 300 naira or 500 naira and if he refused ask him for percentage sharing at normal price, then if he refuses you can let it go. If you have done all of these and he still refuses please let them go. Another will come."
Woman makes N5m from palm oil business
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that a Nigerian woman who launched her own palm oil business earned an impressive N5 million profit within just two months.
Despite facing discouragement from some when she first started selling her branded palm oil, she remained determined. She credited her success to careful planning, thorough research, and smart use of social media to reach customers and grow her business quickly.
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Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
