Just for Fun

Sean went to the hardware store to buy a light bulb. He couldn't find the size he wanted, so he asked the store owner, Alex, for help. Alex scanned the shelf, found a bulb and handed it to Sean. Sean took one look at the bulb, and said "I can't take this one, the filament is broken." Alex peered inside the bulb, nodded his head, and offered it back to Sean. "Half price", he said.

M.M., Colorado

It's All About the Dough

A lady was laid off from her job at a telecom firm and decided to operate a pretzel stand to make a living. She sold large soft pretzels at $1.00 each. Every afternoon, at about the same time, a man in a suit walked by and put a dollar on her stand, but never took a pretzel. One day after he put the dollar down, she stopped him. "I bet you want to know why I put down a dollar every day, but never take a pretzel," he said. "No," she replied, "I just wanted to tell you the price has gone to $2.00."

Smokey Ritter, the "Yes I Can!" Cowboy.

Sometimes Pricing Gets Hairy

Sophia Burns came in for a trim, but says she left a Denver hair salon with an emotional cut that led to a racial discrimination lawsuit in federal court.

Burns, a 22 year-old African American said the operators of a Great Clips for Hair salon charged her an "ethnicity fee" when she came in for a haircut on March 8. The added fee boosted the advertised cost of a cut and style of $28 to $35 to about $50. Burns said the shop's owner, Bernice Cripe, said the salon "usually catered to white people," according to the lawsuit filed in US District Court.

The Denver Post March 28, 2003

Some Things are Best Left Unsaid

The October Issue of the Association of Lloyd's Members newsletter announces that the terrorist attacks represent a "historic opportunity" for insurance underwriters to make money.

101 Dumbest Moments in Business, Business 2.0, April 2002

It's Not Strategy. It's Implementation.

A new salesman was called into his boss's office. After he sat down, his boss said "Jim, I want you to take over the Acme Actuators account. And your first task is to get them to agree to a price increase." "But sir," the young man pleaded, "old man Acme is the worst. All the other sales people say so!" "Don't worry," his boss said in an avuncular tone, "Acme has a soft spot for young sales people, just starting out. Do what I tell you and everything will go fine." A few days later Jim gained an appointment and after a long wait in the lobby, was escorted in to see Mr. Acme. The old man scowled as Jim entered. On his desk a plaque read: "I don't know who you are, what company you represent, or what you stand for. Now what is it you are trying to sell me?" Feeling absolutely intimidated, the young man nevertheless took a deep breath and launched into his monologue. He talked about features, and benefits and value. He left no stone unturned, and closed with an announcement of the price increase. But the expression on the old man's face went from bad to worse. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm sorry son, but I can't pay any more than I already am." Now it was time to execute the plan. The young man put on his most sorrowful face. "But sir," he pleaded, "my boss said he would fire me if I didn't succeed. My wife is having a baby soon, and I can't lose my job." Feeling sorry for him, old man Acme acquiesced. "OK son, I'll pay you what your product is worth." But instead of an expression of joy, Jim's face went from sorrowful to panic stricken. "But sir," he said, "you can't do that. If you pay me what our product is worth, you'll be paying less than you are now!"

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