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 The Computer Buzz |
July 15th, 2010 | |||
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Angus goes ShoppingAngus MacTavish and his 14-year-old
Yugo rattled to a stop in front of our store. Angus has been coming in for years
but he never buys a thing. Angus comes in to compare prices and talk about his
latest computer acquisitions. Over the years we have come to know that Angus’
ability to find the cheapest price for anything is surpassed only by a total
absence of any concept of value. To Angus, price is all. “I’m in the market for a
new computer lad,” he said in his
rich Scottish brogue, “If the price is right, I just might buy it here,”
he said with a sly wink. “Didn’t you buy a new computer
for half price on the Internet last fall?” I asked innocently. “Aye that I did lad,” said
Angus, “a great bargain it was too, but in a stroke of stupendous bad fortune
the power supply blew and took out the hard drive and motherboard. It nearly
burnt down me hoose. I was lucky to get out alive”. “I thought you said it came
with a lifetime warranty.” Angus looked
irritated. “That it did lad, but the chap that sold it to me went belly up.
You canny fault a man for giving his customers such good pricing that
he can’t make a living for himself can you?” I had to admit there was some
logic in Angus’ argument. I told Angus that we try to set our prices just high
enough to stay in business. “Well then,” said Angus, “can you match
this price?” Angus waved a full-page Fry’s
ad featuring a PC for $199. “If you can beat this price I’ll take one today.”
The PC in the ad was a motley assemblage of low end, semi-obsolete components
with a Ubuntu operating system. “Sorry Angus,” I said, “We just don’t
build bottom end computers like that.” Angus bristled. “What are talking
about bottom end, the brand name of the computer is Great Quality.” I just
shrugged my shoulders but Angus continued. “Your computers have a hard drive,
CPU, RAM, DVD, motherboard, case, floppy, operating system and a power cord
don’t they?” “Of course they do” I said. “Well,” crowed Angus, “so
does this one lad, so you had better climb down off your high horse and start
cutting your prices before the competition drives you into the ground.” I tried to think of a way to
make Angus understand how quality can affect the value of things. “You drive
that old Yugo, right?” I said. “Aye,” said Angus warily; “It gets
me from here to there.” “Well,” I continued “It has four wheels, an engine,
windows, doors, a steering wheel, a gas pedal and brakes just like a brand new
$50,000 BMW right?” Angus brightened. “I suppose it does at that lad,”
he said. Now I proceeded to drive my point home..”Would you pay $50,000 for
an old Yugo like the one you have?” I asked. “Certainly not!” shouted
Angus as he bolted toward the door, “I wouldn’t pay $50,000 for a overpriced
BMW nor will I pay your outrageous price for a computer.” A thick blue cloud followed
Angus and his Yugo as he exited our parking lot and turned toward Fry’s.
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