Aphorism

Aphorism - A terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation.

It does not matter how much a person resembles Sasquatch, or that every time he (or she) speaks all you can imagine them saying is "Fe Fi Fo Fum" and at any given moment you fear they will grab you by the waist and climb to the top of the nearest sky scraper to swat at helicopters. A person so large and rotund you wonder if they arrive to work by beanstalk.

Sure, these little aphorisms might apply to the person and fit them like a brand new moo-moo, but these are not polite things to say. We must always remember that. Just because it's true, and we want nothing more than to put someone in their place, we are grown ups. AT least until you put your two weeks in. Then that person better keep their tone in check lest you be forced to resort the Microsoft Word file you've been keeping on your desk top full of insults for everyone.

gazump

gazump

1.To cheat by raising the price, at the time a contract is to be signed, over the amount originally agreed upon.

 

In a never ending effort to increase their bottom line stores have made it more and more difficult for you to make a purchase without spending an extra $50 on things you never knew you needed. Upon purchasing an XBox recently it was highly recommended to me that I purchase a protection plan for the system, 

 

"Just in case it stops working."

"But it shouldn't 'just stop working.'" I replied. "In fact, I would say the reason I'm buying it brand new, from a store as reputable as yours, is so it won't 'just stop working.' Is this machine going to just stop working?" 

"Well of course not sir. But it might. That's why I recommend this $50 protection plan! If you buy this, we'll fix it for you."

"And if I don't buy the plan, and the device you sold me stops working...you won't replace it even though you sold me defective merchandise?"

"Of course we will sir! We'll just give you a really hard time about it."

Ah, I see! So a stores gazumption lies in their preference for charging customers for services that they already handle anyway. Well played, big business. Well played.