A hardware shop owner is setting up his store before opening and hangs a sign advertising: 1 for 10 cents, 15 for 20 cents and 110 for 30 cents. What is he selling?

A normal photocopier has a negligable set-up time. The majority of the time is spent scanning the page, which it does so on every copy. A normal copier has a ‘click’ charge (if you lease the copier as most do) which will cover toner replacement and servicing. If you own the machine this ‘click’ charge obviously drops but monies will need to set aside to cover maintenance yourself.
Most high volume/dependant users lease.
The click charge is around .7p (data from 8 years ago), or 1 cent (I have no reason to believe this figure will have dropped greatly)
From 15 to 110 copies the store owner collects a paltry 10 cents for the 95 copies – about a 10th of the charge to himself
There exists, copiers that have a greatly reduced ‘click’ charge and do require a set up time and cost (around 10 cents?). These are more like low-run printing machines, with the machine making a ‘plate’ that is then used to produce bulk copies. You could argue that the ink costs for this machine would be low enough to justify 10c for 95 copies (ink is cheaper than toner) but your enemy now is paper costs.
53 cents a ream – gimme some!
I’ll take 50 reams please!
It is clearly more profitable, time-wise, to charge your clients the same for the paper as you would to copy (saving you the hassle) but at 53 cents a ream you would have the whole world and his dog at your store clearing you out of paper.
Factor in the floor space the machine takes up (space you can’t fill with profitable products) and you don’t have a loss leader you have deadwood.
The hardware store isn’t selling photocopies at this price. Although I admire Penny’s tenacity (suspiciously like Dan but more eloquent)
It’s selling numerals (not necessarily house numerals – what about letraset?). The sign in the window is a marketing device – who (who doesn’t know this classic puzzle) would not be tempted to go in the store to find out what this great deal was for? Who would not think ‘ah, that’s clever/neat!’ (again who doesn’t know this classic puzzle)
The chip shop near my girlfriend Tweetie’s house has a chalkboard they scribble puzzles on to think over while waiting. It’s not the nearest chip shop, but it’s the one I always use – the sign is just a hook to get you in the shop.
If you want an alternative solution here’s mine;
“Words of hardware advice.”
What ampage fuse do I want for a kettle?
‘Thirteen’ (10 cents)
What’s the best way to put up a picture?
‘First, drill a hole, pop in this plug, screw in this (offers) and hang your picture’ (20 cents)

Posted by Lee on 2003-12-03 00:40:47