Shopkeeper: Welcome sir. Would you like to buy a television?
Customer: Could you show me a good TV?
Shopkeeper: Oh sure. I’ll show you. We have almost all the popular brands.
Customer: I need 21" TV having at least 100 channels. Which brands do you have?
Shopkeeper: We have all the popular brands like Sony, Thomson, Samsung, LG, BPL, Videocon etc.......... Here is Sony - the best TV in the world. It has 100 channels and stereo sound. See the quality of its picture - it is marvellous. It is also durable.
Customer: I think Sony is costly. What is its price?
Shopkeeper: Rs. 22500/- only. But you can’t get good quality in low-priced TVs..... Here is Thomson - the most popular TV in America and European countries. The price of this model is Rs. 1800/- only. We also have TVs priced below Rs.13000/-.
Customer: I need a quality product. And what about this set.......Toshiba. Is it having a good sale?
Shopkeeper: Toshiba is really an excellent set. Though it has not yet become much popular. But you can compare its picture to Sony. And listen to its sound production - better than any other TV here. Once you watch and listen to it you want to buy it. It has 100 channels, and 300 watts stereo sound production. It also has woofer and surround sound.
Customer: It is really the set which I was looking for. But what is its price?
Shopkeeper: Rs. 20500/- only, quite reasonable.
Customer: Please tell me the minimum price, only then I can buy it from you.
Shopkeeper: I have already told you the minimum. You can’t get this set at less than it anywhere. Moreover you’ll also get an attractive gift with it - a beautiful wall clock worth rupees 500 or a beautiful imported handbag.
Customer: Do you have finance facility? I want to pay by instalments.
Shopkeeper: You have two options. The better is Countrywide. 75% of the TV price is financed at an interest rate of 16% and you get delivery within 3 days. Then there are private financiers who charge much more. But you can get delivery on the same day if you book in the morning.
Customer: In fact I want a television set by tomorrow evening as I want to present it to my wife on her birthday.
Shopkeeper: Take this booklet. Fill it up, have the signatures of one guarantor and submit it by 11am tomorrow. Then you will get the delivery of TV by the evening tomorrow.
Customer: What'is the rate of interest?
Shopkeeper: 18%. It has to be paid in the beginning. The amount of the TV has to be paid by 10 equal instalment.
Customer: The financier is charging whole year’s interest for ten months. And he is taking interest in the beginning. This way the actual interest rate comes up to more than 22%. They are looting the public.
Shopkeeper: I agree. Their rates are certainly high.
Customer: I’ll have to think. I can’t even withdraw money from the bank as tomorrow is Sunday and the banks will remain closed. Can you take cheque?
Shopkeeper: Okay. We’ll take the cheque if there is sufficient amount in your bank.
Customer: Thanks.
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