What does "eight" mean? What does "two" mean? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mr.Kenny · #1 12-15-2010, 11:25 AM

So I'm standing there looking down on this rusted out, brown primered 'bug eyed sprite' filled with leaves, frozen rusty motor, missing parts; a real crust bucket..... Then I look over at a non-running rusted out, peeling paint musty 1977 240d, odometer stopped at 320,000 miles.
I ask the owner how much he wants for these hulks.
He replies, "Eight for the sprite and four for the Merc."
Okay; i think....."Eight hundred and Four hundred"....Seems a little high for these chunks of rust.
When I reluctantly offer $500. for the Sprite (but I really just want to run away)
Proud owner sputters ..."NO! I WANT EIGHT THOUSAND!!! NOT A CENT LESS!!", THESE CARS BRING THIRTY, FOURTY THOUSAND FIXED UP!!! BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!
I say "sorry" and leave. My mind is reeling trying to think what fool would fork over all those hundreds....

Yesterday i call about a wrecked 1999 4runner project; "blah, blah, blah...how many miles on the vehicle?" I ask. "Two" he replies.... "TWO MILES?!" I spout...... "NO, TWO" he replies again.......Oh now I get it, I think;.... Two thousand miles...wait; no that was the other guy....
"Two Hundred thousand" is what he can't make flow over his lips.

So I'm wondering, is there a new math I don't know about??? Did I not get the memo? So I wonder;...When a seller knows what they are asking or saying about a vehicle or object is so obscene number wise......they just abbreviate it with one number; because they can't let the 'full number' flow over their lips because the impact of it is similar to telling a lie?
I noticed Upscale menus do this too; Fettuccine Alfredo... 18, Seared Chicken Breast with Rosemary... 22 (22 cents,22 bones,22 beads?)
Is the new 'Thousand or hundred thousand or Million' just stated with one number, and let people wonder?
Has Obama and Bernake flooded the world with so much money that the new million is a billion and a billion is a trillion?
Is it so hard to actually state and say out-loud the real price? ...Or does it make your mouth taste bad?
Don't get me started with Craigslist ads with no price, but berates buyers with..."Man up and make an offer" ...
In Real estate.....Low 400's..etc.

Okay I am done with my rant. It's all cool now.

Sale For four, for it.

MercFan · #2 12-15-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

Okay I am done with my rant. It's all cool now.

Hehe - it's ok, I've been noticing it too in CL ads... the "$1" or the $5 are common now... weird

#3 12-15-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MercFan

Hehe - it's ok, I've been noticing it too in CL ads... the "$1" or the $5 are common now... weird

It puts them on the top of the list when you sort by price.

anghrist · #4 12-15-2010, 01:45 PM

Seems to be a common trend these days. People expect you to understand what they are thinking when they state a number. That means, assumed telepathy.

Let's try and experiment:

So if I say that I will sell my car to you for 3c, and you assume that means 3 cents then you would be wrong because I meant $3 time the numeric value of the speed of light "c", or $90,000,000. I just assumed that you would understand the value of "c" didn't I? That's the issue with a lack of forthright communication.

Now, for a real issue of assumed telepathy... why do people not use turn signals? I witnessed a driver in a new Porsche change lanes directly in front of me the other day without using their indicator lights. Seems like a waste of money to pay for the indicator lights and not use them.

Stretch · #5 12-15-2010, 01:53 PM

Thirty / forty thousand for a frog eye sprite in the US? That's a load of crap you could buy 4 for that sort of money:-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/5368504/Austin-Healey-Frogeye-Sprite-buying-guide.html

Anyway some Mum on the school run in her 4X4 would just roll straight over it and not even notice - and a good thing too!

connerm · #6 12-15-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

I reluctantly offer $500. Proud owner sputters ..."NO! I WANT EIGHT THOUSAND!!!

It doesn't really even matter that I've never heard of a sprite and have no idea what you're talking about, because that is the funniest thing I've read all day...and I've already read a bunch of stuff.

aklim · #7 12-15-2010, 02:58 PM

I had a dumb schmuck that wanted to sell me her car for more than what I would pay for it at a dealership. I asked her why it was so high. Well, it seems her boyfriend said that was what it was worth. I told her "When your BF is writing the check, he can write it for whatever he wants. I don't think I want to pay dealer prices for a private party sale. Thanx but no thanx." Ad still ran for a couple of months but finally she got the hint and lowered it to something more reasonable.

aklim · #8 12-15-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connerm

It doesn't really even matter that I've never heard of a sprite and have no idea what you're talking about, because that is the funniest thing I've read all day...and I've already read a bunch of stuff.

Sprite the drink or Sprite the car?

Drink

Car

okyoureabeast · #9 12-15-2010, 04:55 PM

Sometimes I wonder about the intelligence of our local folk around this country.

Hell sometimes I wonder about the strength of my own intelligence

TylerH860 · #10 12-15-2010, 05:40 PM

Buyers are more annoying than sellers, in my experience.

PaulC · #11 12-15-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connerm

It doesn't really even matter that I've never heard of a sprite and have no idea what you're talking about, because that is the funniest thing I've read all day...and I've already read a bunch of stuff.

Brace yourself:

LUVMBDiesels · #12 12-15-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Brace yourself:

Actually I like these.
In the UK they are called Frog eyed which makes more sense

They are one of those rare cars where doing 30 feels like racing at LeMans!

LUVMBDiesels · #13 12-15-2010, 06:22 PM

OOPS! By 30 I mean MILES PER HOUR! Not Gravities or beats per minute

Mr.Kenny · #14 12-15-2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

OOPS! By 30 I mean MILES PER HOUR! Not Gravities or beats per minute

Yeah, thanks for clarifying... cuz I was thinking like mach 30 or somethin.

MS Fowler · #15 12-15-2010, 07:59 PM

A friend listed a car on CL. He is ANAL about complete details. He stated the car was non-running--that the buyer would need a trailer. Very complete, and even depreciated the car more than required.

So the phone starts to ring, " Will it pass inspection"

My friend screams in rage and slams the phone.