This past winter, Jack and I spent the entire winter in Nyack, NY helping his sisters get their 93 year old mother moved out of the 8,000 square foot house she'd been living in for 50 years. One day, while returning from a run to U-Haul for more bubble wrap and tape, we took a short cut to a seldom used on ramp for the NYS Thruway. There is a hotdog stand in the gravelly, dusty, potholed base of that on ramp. The old paneled step van kind with a big sliding window and an Umbrella Room. As we careened toward the ramp I noticed the umbrella room. In particular, the chairs around the card table which made up the dining ensemble. “STOP THE CAR!”, I hollered.
I blinked to be sure I wasn’t imagining things or that the blinding sun glare bouncing off the chairs wasn’t playing tricks on me. Nope. Four molded fiberglass chairs on chrome bases. Two avocado, one gray and one butterscotch yellow. My mouth went dry and my palms started to sweat. You’ve only got one chance to make the pitch so it had better be the right pitch. My number had to be high enough to make the guy consider selling them to me, but not so high that he’d think, “Well these are really something. Maybe I could get some real money for them.” I was going to place my bet at $100 for all four and hopefully turn them over for $100 each.
At the window I said to the guy, “Man, I love those chairs. I’d love to have them.”
Now normally, I’d never let on that something was of particular interest. Play it close to the vest, never show your hand. But this guy - I had a feeling that if I played any games, the deal would be dead before it got going.
“I used to have six of them,” he replied. “Two years ago somebody stole all six of them. Last month, they brought back these four.”
“Really?,” I asked. “How weird. Would you consider selling them to me?”
Sounds of semis rushing by on the highway. No reply.
“I’ll give you a hundred bucks for them.” I glanced over at Jack, who shrugged in consent.
“A hundred bucks? For those chairs?”
I closed in. “Cash. You don’t have to tell me yes or no right now. We’re going to be in town for awhile. Here’s my card (I sell Mary Kay ) and my phone number. Just think about it, please. I can come back any time you’re ready.”
“One hundred dollars for those four chairs. Cash.”, he repeated.
“Yes, but don’t rush your decision...”
“Ok,” he said, “I’ll take it.”
As Jack and I drove off in search of an ATM, we couldn’t believe our luck. Four vintage fiberglass chairs - in excellent condition - 2 hotdogs and a bag of chips. All for a hundred bucks. Sweet.
At the window I said to the guy, “Man, I love those chairs. I’d love to have them.”
Now normally, I’d never let on that something was of particular interest. Play it close to the vest, never show your hand. But this guy - I had a feeling that if I played any games, the deal would be dead before it got going.
“I used to have six of them,” he replied. “Two years ago somebody stole all six of them. Last month, they brought back these four.”
“Really?,” I asked. “How weird. Would you consider selling them to me?”
Sounds of semis rushing by on the highway. No reply.
“I’ll give you a hundred bucks for them.” I glanced over at Jack, who shrugged in consent.
“A hundred bucks? For those chairs?”
I closed in. “Cash. You don’t have to tell me yes or no right now. We’re going to be in town for awhile. Here’s my card (I sell Mary Kay ) and my phone number. Just think about it, please. I can come back any time you’re ready.”
“One hundred dollars for those four chairs. Cash.”, he repeated.
“Yes, but don’t rush your decision...”
“Ok,” he said, “I’ll take it.”
As Jack and I drove off in search of an ATM, we couldn’t believe our luck. Four vintage fiberglass chairs - in excellent condition - 2 hotdogs and a bag of chips. All for a hundred bucks. Sweet.
