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December 12, 2008
These Desperate Economic Times
Yesterday, I went into Car Toys, a chain of stores that installs car stereos. I'd been in there once and convinced myself that I could upgrade my 10 year old car stereo to work with Serius and an iPod for fairly cheap.
So, I looked at some equipment and asked the guy to give me a price.
"Five hundred and forty two dollars," he offered.
I was incredulous. "Are you serious? I don't have five hundred dollars!" I stammered.
But then, I figured that I had him right where I wanted him. The economy is in the toilet. No one is spending any money. We're on the verge of the cataclysmic effects of the next Depression followed by a slow and painful death due to global warming. I know because the media keeps me informed on these things.
"I think you should do it for $400," I counter.
The guy looks at me like I've just told him I want to see him lick his elbow. He's wearing a blue shirt and a tie and he just stares at me. Then he turns to his boss and says "Can you give this guy a better quote than this?" and his boss snaps at him "Just a minute. Can't you see I'm busy here."
And he is busy. His boss is swamped helping other people. The store has lots of people in it. The guy behind me just walked in and announced "I went ahead and got that new truck. I decided to go with the Navigator Package."
The guy finally says "The best we could do is $515.00" and I turn and leave the store. And as I get out into the parking lot, and look at my 10 year old beater next to the shiny new trucks, I think - where is the recession the media keeps bleating about?
Posted by Rob Kiser on December 12, 2008 at 9:20 AM
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