No, don’t insert the name of your least favorite politician from either side of the aisle, this question is related to an e-mail I got from a gentleman yesterday. He has a very nice 2016 fifth-wheel trailer for sale, and with his ad he included pictures of a Honda generator, a screen room, lawn chairs, a portable waste disposal tank, and other items. He sent me a link to the ad, which said that due to health issues, they were no longer able to travel, and everything was included in the price and listed the generator and other accessories.
He told me that someone contacted him to ask if he still had it, and then drove 100 miles yesterday to look at the trailer. They agreed on the price, and since they both use the same bank, they went to the local branch to arrange for the transfer of money and title. But everything came to a screeching halt when the buyer stated that he thought the 2019 diesel pickup, with less than 8,000 miles on it, was included in the price. The seller told him there was no way he was throwing that in, and the prospective buyer then threw a tantrum, claiming he had been misled and it was false advertising because the pickup was parked next to the trailer in the pictures, and that he was going to call the police.
So, my question is, is he that dumb to expect to get not only the fifth wheel and all of the accessories for $38,000, but also a pickup truck with a Kelly Blue Book value between $39,000 and $42,000? Or is he some kind of scam artist who thinks he can bully someone into a deal like that? Whatever the case may be, he did not get his way and went off, leaving a trail of threats behind him of all the legal action that was going to happen.
Back in my days publishing small-town newspapers, there were a couple of times when we made typos in ads for car dealers. One showed a new Chevrolet Blazer for $2,220 instead of $22,200 and another one was for some kind of sports car and also had the price just as wrong. It happens, and both times we immediately took a letter to the dealerships from the newspaper, stating that it was a mistake on our part, as well as rerunning the ad for free. And yes, both times people showed up expecting to get something for almost nothing. I guess people really are that dumb. The good news is that both dealerships were longtime customers that we had an excellent relationship with, and they both appreciated all of the floor traffic, even if it didn’t lead to any sales.
I am getting a lot of positive feedback on my new book, The Road To Wrinkle Ranch, along with many people sharing posts on Facebook about it. I appreciate that very much. Yesterday afternoon the new book got its first review, a five-star, and hopefully, it will get more. One of the best things you can do for an author is to post a review on one of his books. They really do help other readers decide whether or not to try it.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, I also put three sample chapters of the family history saga I want to write, tentatively titled Tinder Street, in my author’s newsletter asking for feedback. I expected a handful of responses but wound up with over 50 e-mails, all of them saying they can’t wait to read it. I keep telling Miss Terry they need to install a USB port in the side of my head so I can get this stuff out faster because I can think them up a lot faster than I can write them!
Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an autographed copy of Baca, the first book in my pal Billy Kring’s excellent Ronny Baca mystery series about a struggling actor and part-time private investigator. Billy isn’t only my friend, he’s also my favorite author, and I bet if you read one of his books, he’ll become yours, too. To enter, click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name (first and last) in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening.
Thought For The Day – My neighbors made a sex tape last night! Well, obviously they don’t know it yet….
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Loved the start of your family history novel. Really looking forward to reading it. Write faster! (smile) Thank you, Nick.
If the AD didn’t mention the truck, then NO truck…….a judge would see it that way, photos are just decoration, it’s what the AD says.
I also enjoyed the three short chapters of the proposed new book. Keep at it!