It was a weekend afternoon when I arranged to meet my colleague Hakan in front of that famous, massive sports store that everyone knows by heart. As usual, I arrived right on time. When I called Hakan, he said, “I’ll be there in ten minutes, mate.” I hung up and started waiting among the crowd at the store entrance.
A short while later, my phone vibrated; Hakan had arrived. But from that moment on, an absurd, comedy-like dialogue unfolded between us:
Hakan: Hey, I’m here. Where are you?
Me: I’m right in front of the main entrance, waiting.
Hakan: Okay, I’m in front of the entrance too.
Me: Oh my God, I can’t see you. Where exactly are you?
Hakan: Maybe there’s another entrance? Let me ask around, hang on a second…
I started waving my arm frantically to be spotted in the crowd. Even though I told him, “I’m waving my hand, Hakan, how can you not see me?” there was a deep silence and utter confusion on the other end. Hakan said, “Wait a minute, let me ask someone,” and hung up.
Five minutes later, the phone rang again. This time, both of our voices were a bit louder:
Hakan: Hey, it turns out there’s no other entrance. Where are you?
Me: You see those display tents set up in the big open plaza right in front of the doors? I’m right there. I’m standing next to the tent!
Hakan: Yeah, I see the tents, but you’re not there.
Me: Oh my God! I am literally standing right by the tent.
Hakan: Man, if you’re messing with me, that’s enough. Come out already.
We were both describing the exact same setup but somehow couldn’t spot each other. Tensions were rising and patience was running thin. Finally, we both said, “Okay, I give up! We’re both going to the information desk and we’ll meet there!” and hung up on each other. We were like two strangers stuck at the exact same coordinates but unable to find one another.
The Big Revelation: The Confusion of Similar Names
When we walked up to the information desk and explained the situation, the tragicomic truth emerged: While I was waiting in front of Forum İstanbul in Bayrampaşa, Hakan was standing guard at the entrance of Marmara Forum in Merter! I honestly thought that sports store only existed in the Bayrampaşa branch. As if the similar mall names weren’t enough, the fact that both branches had set up identical display tents at their entrances created the perfect illusion that we were in the exact same place.
Fortunately, the distance wasn’t too far. I called Hakan and told him to stay put, then hit the road. When we finally met, our earlier frustration turned into pure laughter, and we dove into that massive world catering to every sport imaginable. Getting lost among dozens of sections, from swimming to equestrian gear, and taking a long discovery tour through the aisles was truly enjoyable.
There are thousands of products for 50 different sports categories, spanning from swimming to horse riding. You can walk around for hours and never see it all.
A “Smartass” Story and the Lesson Learned
Since I was short on time before my next expedition, I didn’t have the chance to go back and exchange it. I had to use the product as it was. Fortunately, it got the job done, but this little “packaging swap” taught me a lesson I’ll never forget: Always check boxes that can be easily opened and resealed before heading to the register.
