This guy was serious

[mikailborg]

"You guys charge by the word, right?"

"Yes sir."

"Okay, the ad reads: 1998 Framistan 300, 2001 Geezberg 197, 1972 Hoopyloc 180, and 1986 Felgercarb 200. $1000 for all. 540-555-1234."

"Okay, sir, that's 17 words."

"No, it's only seven words. The rest are numbers, so I get them for free."

"... what?"

Comments

[pathia.livejournal.com]

Tell him the charges are "per string of alphanumeric characters"?

[mikailborg.livejournal.com]

I ran your suggestion by the staff - they really liked the idea; especially our regular counter person, who while no dummy, is a very non-technical person with an occasionally thick Appalachian mountain accent.

Listening to her trying out "Ah'm sahrry, but we have to chahge per straing of owlphunameric charactahs" really made the afternoon. :)

[pathia.livejournal.com]

Glad I could help, contrary to what nius may think, I'm not entirely helpless on my own ^_-