While driving home today, I noticed a sign walker on a street corner holding a cardboard ad for a CompUSA store-closing sale. “50-70% OFF!” the sign screamed, vibrant colors beckoning the masses towards the store. The man himself stood in bored contempt of the world; it would seem that enthusiasm was not part of the employment agreement.

I think there’s a lesson here. If you need to discount your merchandise 50-70% to move it, one of three things is true:

1. The stuff was severely overpriced to begin with
2. You shouldn’t have stocked the stuff in the first place
3. You’re selling oriental rugs

Priceless quotation from the oriental rug bit: “Probably 95 to 99 percent of all oriental rug liquidations are scams.” Sounds about right.

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge — sort of. It includes 127 words, but if you apply a 70% discount, there are only 38! What a deal!)