Scam reserved for Indians only

crvlvr · Jun 3rd, 2008, 03:13

It's not a "scam" but a negotiation tactic. You can retort by saying that you will pray to goddess Lakshmi that the rest of the day will be extremely profitable for them.

Nick-H · Jun 3rd, 2008, 03:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwayFromHome

And Mrs Nick-H's views on that?

She'd tell me off. She does lots of charity work, but seldom gives money on the street.

Quote:

You can retort byt saying that you will pray to goddess Lakshmi that the rest of the day will be extremely profitable for them.

Excellent idea!

AwayFromHome · Jun 3rd, 2008, 03:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

It's not a "scam" but a negotiation tactic. You can retort byt saying that you will pray to goddess Lakshmi that the rest of the day will be extremely profitable for them.

The problem is, I'd actually do that, evoking more amazement and disbelief from the family that is still native,

Haylo · Jun 3rd, 2008, 03:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

Actually, 0/10 for effort, if I was in his position, I'd have taught her to say it in English for maximum effect!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwayFromHome

Oh no, I flunked again.

Don't cry, I meant it was the "young boy, with liquid brown eyes" who got 0/10 for effort!

Cardamom · Jun 3rd, 2008, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Usually works the other way. Guy says ok, you can have the boat ride (or bananas or whatever, works with vendors) because it is 'boney ka time', and he doesnt want to turn away his first customer.

My Hindi teacher mentioned this in class awhile back. She said it was my best bet for getting a good deal because it would be bad for the first customer of the day to walk away. I never did get to the shops in time though to try it out!

-C

felonious_monk · Jun 4th, 2008, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

if I was in his position, I'd have taught her to say it in English for maximum effect!

Damn Haylo, you really are a neophyte. Let me make it clearer. The girl says "bhook lagi hai" and a thousand schmaltzy violins squeal from every bollywood movie AwayFromHome has ever seen. Her name is Sweety or Babli, his name is Vijay or Raju. AwayFromHome can smack the kid in the face, laugh cruelly and roar away in his American car with a couple of floozies. Raju/Vijay then embraces a life of crime becomes a famous Don. Any English speaking can be done by the gora henchman of the Don. The Don is eventually killed by Police Inspector Vijay/Raju who happens to look exactly like him.

You see there is tradition involved here, a right way of doing things.

So what do you think actually happens? AwayFromHome ruins a perfectly good movie by giving the kids the money and a book on business management. Moral of the story: Softy good samaritans are making the world too boring for Bollywood.

HelenR · Jun 4th, 2008, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

It's not a "scam" but a negotiation tactic. You can retort by saying that you will pray to goddess Lakshmi that the rest of the day will be extremely profitable for them.

Love this one.

So, "boneey" or "bonee", is it a superstition? Is it that if the first customer of the day is lost, it'll bring bad luck? I probably would feel bad too...

shashank.aggarwal · Jun 4th, 2008, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelenR

Love this one.

So, "boneey" or "bonee", is it a superstition? Is it that if the first customer of the day is lost, it'll bring bad luck? I probably would feel bad too...

Yes Technically it is a superstition..just like a bad hair day or something..

If you start your day on lost sale, then you will keep losing the sales throughout the day..

HelenR · Jun 4th, 2008, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

Yes Technically it is a superstition..just like a bad hair day or something..

If you start your day on lost sale, then you will keep losing the sales throughout the day..

I see... thanks!

I'm usually not a superstitious person, but I can see how this one might be scary.

puchoo · Jun 4th, 2008, 14:46

God i am sick of this word....everyone and anyone seems to be using it all the time...be it the local veggie seller, to the auto rickshaw guy, to just about anyone...

It is a superstition which merged into being a negotiating tactic. I guess most people unfamiliar with the word or what it means would be apprehensive of "offending" something local and thus pay up...but its not restricted to just Non - Indians...we get it all the time as well..

My revert is now a standard , I simply tell them - "It will be worse if the first customer leaves without buying anything... suppose you dont get any now at all for the rest of the day "

...not necessarily a very good logic ( they seldom can be with superstitions) but it shuts them up....

...one can ofcourse use the Laxmi angle as well...but the possible revert would be " Shirrr i have been praying and my prayers have been answered by the goddess by sending you here ..".......which could put u in a tight spot....the messenger of god bargaining away....!!!!

Nick-H · Jun 4th, 2008, 15:29

So the people who look, and pass on, are not 'lost sales'?

This superstition is always so arbitrary.

Like car numbers: only the four numbers at the end are added up, but not the area code "everyone in this area gets that" or the numeric value of the state "everyone in this state gets that".

A serious numerologist would take into account the number from their birthday, their driver's birthday, a heap of things, perhaps.

This stuff is not only superstition, it is lazy superstition.

But hey... it's hot: who wants to work hard?

Felonious: love the description of everyday Indian [film] life

AwayFromHome · Jun 4th, 2008, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by felonious_monk

AwayFromHome can smack the kid in the face, laugh cruelly and roar away in his American car with a couple of floozies. Raju/Vijay then embraces a life of crime becomes a famous Don. Any English speaking can be done by the gora henchman of the Don. The Don is eventually killed by Police Inspector Vijay/Raju who happens to look exactly like him.

Moral of the story: Softy good samaritans are making the world too boring for Bollywood.

Thanks for the much-needed assist there, felonious!

grikoo · Jun 5th, 2008, 02:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

It's not a "scam" but a negotiation tactic. You can retort by saying that you will pray to goddess Lakshmi that the rest of the day will be extremely profitable for them.

Awesome....That's a good one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchoo

...one can ofcourse use the Laxmi angle as well...but the possible revert would be " Shirrr i have been praying and my prayers have been answered by the goddess by sending you here ..".......which could put u in a tight spot....the messenger of god bargaining away....!!!!

"Yes my friend, she sent me here to pray for your prosperity, so you could give me a good price!"

puchoo · Jun 5th, 2008, 13:21

Well , one will never know till one gives it a shot !!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by grikoo

"Yes my friend, she sent me here to pray for your prosperity, so you could give me a good price!"

brishti · Jun 5th, 2008, 13:40

tomorrow puchoos - tomorrow - you will 'shot' the vege wallah and tell us how it goes

them 'bonee' logic users must be darn smart - nobody on IM has yet figured out how to deal with 'em!!!

oh you bunch of ........ tsk tsk tsk

:brishti

Jun 3rd, 2008, 03:13	#16
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,518	It's not a "scam" but a negotiation tactic. You can retort by saying that you will pray to goddess Lakshmi that the rest of the day will be extremely profitable for them. Last edited by crvlvr : Jun 3rd, 2008 at 04:31.

Jun 4th, 2008, 14:46	#25
puchoo Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 4,145	God i am sick of this word....everyone and anyone seems to be using it all the time...be it the local veggie seller, to the auto rickshaw guy, to just about anyone... It is a superstition which merged into being a negotiating tactic. I guess most people unfamiliar with the word or what it means would be apprehensive of "offending" something local and thus pay up...but its not restricted to just Non - Indians...we get it all the time as well.. My revert is now a standard , I simply tell them - "It will be worse if the first customer leaves without buying anything... suppose you dont get any now at all for the rest of the day " ...not necessarily a very good logic ( they seldom can be with superstitions) but it shuts them up.... ...one can ofcourse use the Laxmi angle as well...but the possible revert would be " Shirrr i have been praying and my prayers have been answered by the goddess by sending you here ..".......which could put u in a tight spot....the messenger of god bargaining away....!!!! __________________ Cheers! Sidharth Indiamike Mod team............the new kid on the block! puchoo.wordpress.com

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Jun 4th, 2008, 15:29	#26
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,792	So the people who look, and pass on, are not 'lost sales'? This superstition is always so arbitrary. Like car numbers: only the four numbers at the end are added up, but not the area code "everyone in this area gets that" or the numeric value of the state "everyone in this state gets that". A serious numerologist would take into account the number from their birthday, their driver's birthday, a heap of things, perhaps. This stuff is not only superstition, it is lazy superstition. But hey... it's hot: who wants to work hard? Felonious: love the description of everyday Indian [film] life

Jun 5th, 2008, 13:40	#30
brishti just another member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 2,271	tomorrow puchoos - tomorrow - you will 'shot' the vege wallah and tell us how it goes them 'bonee' logic users must be darn smart - nobody on IM has yet figured out how to deal with 'em!!! oh you bunch of ........ tsk tsk tsk :brishti

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