* * * * *
                                        
   Notes on a telephone conversation wherein one party learns a painful truth
                      about spending other people's money
                                        
“Guess how much Office Depot [1] wants for a 10′ cross-over cable?” 

“Oh … maybe $20?” 

“Try $26.99. That's insane! Home Depot [2] sells them for around $7.00.” 

“So why aren't you at Home Depot then?” 

“They ran out.” 

“Ah.” 

“But $26.99! That's insane! I realize they have to make money, and while I
can make my own it's more a convenience factor, but $27?” 

“See, Office Depot expects you to buy the cables and expense it to a company,
so you aren't spending your money, but Other People's Money™.” 

“But $80 for a few cables?” 

“Other People's Money™, man.” 

[1] http://www.officedepot.com/
[2] http://www.homedepot.com/

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

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