I was browsing the classified ads of my local paper, looking for used bike. There were ads for furniture, computer parts, exercise equipment...and then I came across this:
REACH MOUTHWASH, 18 OZ. Brand new. $2
Immediately, I thought, WHY? Why would someone go through the bother and expense of placing a classified ad, taking calls, letting someone into their home... to sell a $2 bottle of mouthwash?!
This is the sort of thing that eats at me.
So I called.
At first, I said, "Whoops, wrong number," and hung up when a woman answered, because I'm that big a coward. Besides, I didn't want her to think I was making fun of her. I just wanted to KNOW.
So I waited...and then I called again.
This time when she answered, I said, "I'm calling about the mouthwash. Is it still for sale?" Real innocent...like I figured a hot item like that was likely to have been snatched up immediately.
"Yes, it is," she replied.
So I asked a few questions, like what flavor it was (mint), and where she was located (within a couple miles). I couldn't figure out a way to ask WHY she'd be selling it when she said, "Well, I have a few of them. So any time you want to stop by, feel free."
Ahhhhhhhhh. Mystery solved. She probably inherited a case somehow - maybe she was a gameshow winner and got a lifetime supply - so stood to make more than just a couple bucks.
After I hung up, it occured to me I still didn't know how she could justify the cost of a classified ad, even if she did have several bottles.
So I called the classified department of the newspaper.
Turns out, ads up to two lines are free.
And I can now sleep at night.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
that's too funny. though that's the kind of stuff i wonder about too.
That was great!! I would have called too!
Such a nice blog. I hope you will create another post like this.
Post a Comment