DISCLAIMER THIS IS INTENDED AS HUMOR. (Humour for European folks). I first wrote this on August 05th 2010. Fixed a typo but this is the same post. Read and enjoy.
Opening Scene. A
small local paint shop in main street USA. Man goes the Shop opens the
door…. Outside the store are disclaimer signs in 6 point type warning
you to the safety and pricing policies of paint. There is also a HUGE
video display in the shop window not with attractive paint cans or uses
for paint but with rolling rather stern dire warning information
scrolling across the screen. It gives the consumer specific instructions
on how to buy paint in online and offline. There are a list of places
with maps and URLs showing where you can buy paint and the prices of
paint at each place. There is so much information the board takes 5 mins
to scroll the info which is illegible anyway. There is a Federal
watchdog email address and website address prominently displayed on the
signs outside the door, on the door and displayed throughout the store.
On each paint can is a big warning like a cigarette pack health warning.
Attached to each paint can is a 4 page booklet.
Man (looking a little bewildered) approaches a smiling Shop Clerk. The
Previous customer storms out looking very angry dragging a balling kid
behind her.
Customer asks: can I buy some….
Clerk: Before you say anything sir – I am obliged to tell you that you
can buy paint online and offline. Before I can tell you anything about
the paint please sign here that you understand that I am going to tell
you about paint and that you understand I may forget to tell you
everything about paint so this absolves me from making a mistake and my
boss from taking the cost of the paint out of my paycheck… Please sign
here (Handing customer a clip board with a 2 page disclaimer, man signs
it without reading it)….. thank you.
Clerk: Now how can I help you on this truly fabulous day?
Customer: Hi. How much is your paint?
Clerk: Well sir, that depends on a lot of things and the government
makes me tell you that there are possible surcharges here is a list of
them (Handing a 4 page booklet). Please read this….
Customer: (Mutters under his breath – this is ridiculous) – out loud says: Can’t you give me an approximate price?
Clerk: Our lowest price is our introductory special at $12 a gallon.
After that we have dozens of different prices up to $199. Plus the
ancillary services fees based on how you use the paint that the
government makes me warn you about beforehand.
Customer: What’s the difference in the quality of the paint?
Clerk: Oh, there’s no difference. It’s all exactly the same stuff. But
as you can see the cans are very different. Don’t you like the way the
paint can sparkles?
Customer: Well, in that case I’ll take your $12 paint.
Clerk: Well actually the $12 variety is only available on our website.
If you want to buy it here at the store you’ll be charged an additional
$20 Customer Convenience Fee. Plus the ancillary services based on how
you use the paint that the government makes me warn you about
beforehand.
Customer: So if I go home and get it off the website, its only $12?
Clerk: That’s correct sir – plus a Credit Card Usage Fee of $6 and then
there’s standard Shipping and Handling of $15. Plus the ancillary
services based on how you use the paint that the government makes me
warn you about beforehand.
Customer: What? So in other words buying online would cost me almost exactly the same as what I’d have to pay here in the store?
Clerk: I suppose so, but if you buy it here you get to use it
immediately. Online purchases take ten business days to get to you –
unless you pay the optional $25 Express My Paint Fee. Plus the ancillary
services fees based on how you use the paint that the government makes
me warn you about beforehand.
Customer: You’ve got to be kidding me!
Clerk: Well no sir, but it’s academic anyway as right now the $12 paint is completely sold out in both places.
Customer: That’s BS. I’m looking at shelves full of the stuff!
Clerk: Ah, but that doesn’t mean it’s available for sale. We sell only a
certain number of introductory priced cans on any given day. Hang on a
second let me look it up, (Clerk looks at his computer and then smiles
broadly) YES look at that! It just became available again – at $17.50.
You can do the same search yourself Sir. Plus the ancillary services
fees based on how you use the paint that the government makes me warn
you about beforehand.
Customer: C’mon! You mean to say it went up while I’m standing here?!
Clerk: (looking sympathetic) ‘Fraid so. Inventory control changes our
prices all the time. I would actually like to sell you the paint but the
Government says I have to wait till everybody has been told what the
new price is. I strongly recommend you purchase your paint as soon as
possible as it could go up again, but it’s also possible that it could
go down and even not be available again. Finally the government might
not let me sell it to you until everyone has been informed of whether
the paint price has been checked by this mysterious organization called
the BTC. How many gallons do you want?
Customer: Well, maybe three gallons. No, make that four, I don’t want to run out. I assume I can return anything I don’t open?
Clerk: Certainly sir. The $17.50 paint is non-refundable, but if you
return it within 48 hours you will be entitled to a $5 credit towards
the future purchase of another gallon of the same color at the same or
higher price. Plus the final price may change because of the ancillary
services based on how you use the paint that the government makes me
warn you about beforehand.
Customer: That’s crazy. In that case I’ll just give any unopened cans to my brother as he’s planning to repaint his home soon.
Clerk: Sorry sir, no-CAN-do! Our terms and CANditions – that’s a little
in-house joke – prohibit paint transfer. It is strictly for the use of
the original purchaser. Also the Government doesn’t like competition
they need to know where you use the paint so that they can tell everyone
in your street that you bought the paint and have used it.
Customer: But wait a minute, I hadn’t spotted those “Paint Sale – $9.99*
a Can” signs over there? They are hidden behind all these notices, it
makes it so difficult to see an actual price off... That sounds like a
much better deal.
Clerk: Ah yes, that’s from our low cost paint division. The Government
doesn't actually want to let me tell you about that as it would take too
long to explain but we won court case and so we can no have the sign
up. However i have to disclose a different set of rules, the asterisk
denotes that the cans are actually half-gallons and the price is based
on a minimum purchase of two. There is also an additional Environmental
Fee of $5 per can – this is required because we use that nice sparkly
resin to make the paint cans look nice – we have to pay a special fee
because its made of red lead, a non-refundable Can Deposit of $3.50, a
Paint Facility Charge of $5 and if you want more than one color, the
second has a $25 surcharge and the third is $50 extra. Plus….
Customer: Yes – I know … Plus the ancillary services based on how you
use the paint that the government makes me warn you about
beforehand……This is utterly ridiculous. To hell with this! I’ll buy what
I need somewhere else! Now at least I know I can buy it elsewhere – see
here it says so in the booklet you handed me earlier.
Clerk: Well sir, you may be able to buy paint for some rooms from
another store, but you won’t be able to find paint for your connecting
hall and stairway anywhere but here. And I should also point out that if
you want Uni-Directional paint it is priced at $249 a gallon. But that
paint is special – you don’t have to tell the Government what you want
to use it for.
Customer: I thought your most expensive paint was $199!
Clerk: That’s only if you paint non-stop all the way around the room and
back to the point at which you started. Stairways and hallways are
considered one-way exceptions to the rule. Plus you must notify the
government when you move from one room to the other.
Customer: So, if I buy the $199 paint and use it in my hallway what are
you going to do about it – send some goons in to paint over it?
Clerk: Wow, You are WAY smarter than the last guy who came in, I believe
you’re getting it now sir. But no, please, that would be plain silly.
We’ll simply charge you a Direction Adjustment Fee plus the difference
to $249 on your next purchase. Then the government would have to come
and inspect it. You cannot use the room until they do. I should tell you
that after consultation with their consumer panel which would be your
neighbors and the inspector – this process may take about 3 months.
Customer: Next purchase? No way! I’m out ‘a here
Clerk: At Skyhigh Paints we never forget you have a choice, so thanks
for shopping with us. Have a nice day! And Sir please mind your step as
you pass by the disclaimer signs we had a guy in here yesterday who
tripped on it and wants to sue us for it…..
