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lynnef Inner circle 1407 Posts |
At a used car lot, I was looking at a car, discussing price with a dealer, when another fellow (casually dressed) sauntered over to look at the same car. He caught my eye; and my magician 6th sense said "stooge" (aka shill, pigeon, etc). I didn't buy the car; but I did notice the 'stooge' exhibit same behavior with others. My wife drove by much later, and noticed this same guy in the showroom, chumming it up with salesmen. We had a laugh about this later... the price they were asking was way too high btw; so the stooge was probably well worth his money! Lynn
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The car business has changed drastically since the advent of the Internet. Those tactics simply do not work nearly as well worth the proliferation of information.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Yup!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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lynnef Inner circle 1407 Posts |
Quote:
On May 28, 2018, Dannydoyle wrote: Quite true! Googling on the spot with my phone, I realized the price was way too high! But they also need to move the cars off the lot. The stooge was probably worth just about the same as a sign spinner! Maybe a little more if he can find a sucker! Lynn |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I'm not sure your saw what you think you saw. There are other explanations for what you saw.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
lynnef Inner circle 1407 Posts |
Quote:
On May 29, 2018, Dannydoyle wrote: I'm not positive either. There was no sticker price on the car in question; and the timing of him coming up when I was looking (dozens of cars on the lot), and asking the price.... yeah, could've been innocent! (It's not as common anymore, but 'shill bidding' used to happen in auto auctions). Another explanation is that he was a true friend of the dealer (visiting him on the job), and maybe wanted to 'help' a little. Could have been unwanted help too... since it did chase me away. Lynn |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Or any number of a thousand other things.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
I wonder how many other professions use stooges?
And exactly what counts as a stooge rather than as some sort of selective editing, like picking out the single recommendation or audience positive quotation from a thousand negatives, or 'encouraging' a good review of a product etc. Dunno. In education, I guess it's normal to have hand-picked willing (bribed?) students and ex-students talk to prospective students and families to tell them all the great things about a course or college etc. Is that a type of stooging? Maybe. |
lynnef Inner circle 1407 Posts |
In music, I remember punk bands that would specifically give comp tickets to "fans" to crowd the front row and rave, etc. Not really what one would call a 'stooge'... more like priming the pump by inviting friends (also known as 'hyping'). Yelp reviews are also susceptible from those who have more than a consumer's interest in anything from restaurants to bookstores! I tend to associate "stooge" with a con game; however we all know it happens in magic purely for entertainment. 3 card monte is a delight to watch in magic; but you wouldn't want to be betting on it as a spectator on the street, esp when a "stooge" wins big! Lynn
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