I love driving around conversations.
The boys and I were driving home yesterday from Cody’s physical therapy, a short drive of ten minutes or so, when Carter piped up from the back seat that he was going to have a pet store when he grows up. As we drove, the pet store in his mind took a very definite shape.
Carter’s pet store would sell birds. Only birds. And some of those birds would be free for people who could not afford a bird. Half the pet store would sell books. But only books on animals (including birds, of course) and trees and grasshoppers. Oh, and some of those books would be free too, again for those people who did not have money. He would offer a reward program for people who took good care of their birds, supplying them with a small bag of free bird food.
As I drove along listening to him construct his perfect bird/book store, I was impressed at the details. And the fact that he was so aware of providing for people who may not have the money to buy a bird or a book.
And then some of Carter’s control issues started to seep into his bird/book store plan.
Anyone who bought a book HAD to take a free bird.
Anyone who bought a bird HAD to take a free book.
Anyone who bought two books DID NOT get a bird.
Anyone who bought two birds DID NOT get a book.
He was very clear on these rules; they were not to be broken.
Then the topic of pricing came up. Carter wanted to sell everything for fifty cents. Cody, who had been listening to all of this but had not said anything, spoke up and told Carter that two dollars would be a “more appropriate” price. Carter, knowing that 50 is greater that 2, scoffed. They had a heated debate on this topic for a couple minutes. Cody explained that two dollars was more that fifty cents and he would make more money if he priced everything at two dollars.
Carter thought about it for a minute and then said that if he charged two dollars, less people would buy since it would cost them more. Wow!
In the end since it was Carter’s bird/book store, it was decided that all items would be priced at fifty cents, unless they were those items that were free. Cody thought he might branch off and run his own store where everything was two dollars.
So if you are in the market for ONE bird and ONE book, I know of a future store for you. If you are decadent in your bird and book acquisition and desire TWO books and TWO birds, well then please take your business elsewhere.
