What a deal! (updated)

February 24, 2005 ·  

On my way to work this morning I decided I had to stop by the ATM. It was just after 5am so the streets were still dark and empty. I pulled into the ATM on Las Vegas Blvd and put my card in the machine. After entering my pin, I pushed the “Withdraw” button and a little red sign popped up saying “This Machine can not currently facilitate that request.” I thought to myself, “Self, what the heck good is an ATM machine that can do other functions but can’t give you cash?” I had no answer for myself so I chalked it up to probably being there at the time that the cash just runs out and the morning guys aren’t there to fill her up again.

I ejected my card, but as I pulled away an old homeless man waved me down. He was standing about 40 ft from the ATM. Feeling in an fun mood, I rolled down my window and asked what he needed.

“Have I got an offer for you!” he announced in his best car salesman voice, ” I know that the ATM is out of money but I am at your service. You give me $1.35 and your phone number and I will sit here and watch the machine. When they fill up that ATM I’ll use the 35 cents to call you. The dollar is mine for my service. What do you say guy?

Yes, there are plenty of ATM’s around here. This city makes it VERY easy to find more cash to spend. And, yes, I understand that the chances are high that he will take the money and run. But, I decided that getting a phone call from the bum is worth a dollar in itself. So, I did it for science. I did it for the children.

“That sounds like a good deal” I said with sarcasm. “Tell me old timer, how much have you made this morning?”

He went on to tell me that he does this every morning and averages about 1 dollar a day. I’m sure no one really wants the service, but they were probably intrigued like I was. Well, I helped him meet his daily quota. Can’t blame a guy for making a buck. What’s the worst he can do? Trade in the dollar for coins and prank call me a few times with my phone number? I’m looking forward to his call.

UPDATE: After numerous emails asking if I got the call I thought I would just update the blog entry. As expected, the fella never gave me a call. I really didn’t think that he would but thought it would be fun regardless. Oh well. Let’s all give him the benefit of the doubt and conclude that he couldn’t find a pay phone.

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Comments

7 Responses to “What a deal! (updated)”

  1. Mitchell Tingey on February 24th, 2005 3:49 pm

    Yes, chances are very high and DID he ever call you? I don’t think I would give a
    bum a dollar to call me when they put money in the ATM machine and + there are PLENTY of ATM machines in LAS VEGAS

  2. Siteowner on February 24th, 2005 3:58 pm

    Mitchell- Your reasoning is indeed solid….but I thought I would do it for the fun of it. Plus, what’s wrong with a little giving?

  3. Billiam on February 25th, 2005 9:17 am

    Got to give the guy credit for creative thinking. He could take it even further - At the end of the month he’ll have 30 valid cell phone numbers. He can then market this collection of numbers as a Database of People Easily Willing to Give Away Money and sell it to phone solicitors.

  4. Siteowner on February 25th, 2005 9:22 am

    Billiam- That is true indeed. I like the fact that he had a creative idea. I tell you what though, if he sells my number to the Bum Association of America and they try to get some money from me it would have to be #1) an idea as creative as his and #2) not more then a dollar.

    (By the way, if you said the word “database” to this guy, and he understood what that meant, his first reaction would probably be to run. My guess is that he is in a state database or two.=)

  5. Richard on February 25th, 2005 12:31 pm

    Brian, great story. I can completely understand your willingness to give up a $1.35 and your phone number for a story like that and for the fun of going along with that guy’s idea. I would do the same. I have to envy the amount of free time that guy has. I wonder what other creative ideas would come from us if we had as much free time as he has, having all the resources that he doesn’t have.

  6. Mitchell Tingey on February 26th, 2005 1:13 pm

    Okay, I guess you could be a little giving and help the poor, but if I gave anybody a $1.35 to call me I would hope for at least a “Hi” or a PRANK call but now he has your # and again it WAS FOR THE POOR.

  7. Myrl* on February 28th, 2005 11:10 pm

    “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail — But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

    That was considerably munificent of you, Brian.

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