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Osprey
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Word for centavo-P-ncher
Piojo
I’m not too proud to tell you that I use a thesaurus. I write short stories, books and articles for magazines, ezines, etc. With Google, Roget and
Brittanica at hand you would think I could find the perfect word most of the time. Not this time. The English word has not yet been coined for this
particular kind of character trait.
The word I have been searching for needs to describe the mind set displayed by those adults who must have a bargain in everything they purchase.
Greed and Avarice describe another condition; those who must have wealth, those who are only happy when they have more than they need, more than they
could possibly use, eat, drink, consume, utilize, enjoy.
Cheap doesn’t come close. It’s an adjective describing things, not people. A cheapskate is a miser. Stingy means someone who is unwilling to share
what he has. Most of the time I hope my articles will not evoke “letters”. This time I’m hoping for letters. I hope I can read them; if there is a
proper word out there, it’s in another language and I hope those Jews, Italians, Germans, etc, will get back to me.
It remains a mystery to me that we don’t already have a word close at hand. Surely we recognize the condition; Priceline and lots of other sales
gimmicks thrive on the growing phenomenon. On a commercial services level setting your own price, naming the highest price you will pay comes close
to the logic: “I’m only satisfied about the price if I think I’ve taken advantage of the seller”. The need to cheat the seller runs so deep that
often the value of the thing or service takes a back seat to the necessary huge gap between what the buyer wanted and what these people will pay.
All you proud Anglophiles out there: before you begin to run your laundry list of English words I might have missed, please wait until I define, in
broad terms, the characters who demonstrate the condition.
Allow me to eliminate those casual bargain-hunters who don’t fit the pattern. We all like a bargain. Please drop from the list those of us who pay
retail most of time but seek out bargains when and where we can.
The millions of people I’m talking about are those who delight in finding an uninformed or distressed seller. These folks are unable to pay the
asking price for anything — never have, never will. For example one of them might learn that a boat worth $20,000 on today’s market, in the region of
the sale, in the visible and contractual state of condition equal to that value, is being sold by a person in monetary distress. The buyer discovers
that for a quick cash sale the seller might accept $10,000. It is at this stage that our guy will offer $5,000. He makes it clear his offer is firm,
shows the seller the cash, does not even flinch when the boat sells to another bargain hunter for $8,500.
By way of demonstration let me shine a light on some of my neighbors with the trait. This little scene could happen in any of a dozen or more
garages in this little Mexican village. I stop by Fred or Bill’s to say hello, maybe share a beer. Fred is cleaning a gas generator with a solvent
and a rag.
I said “New generator?”
“No. No. I bought this about six months ago in Santiago. Some old Mexican codger was sick, his kid got the word around, I went over there, picked
this sucker up for $250. The new Hondas in this model are $2,200.”
“Great buy. Just what you needed for down here.”
Fred said “No, I got two others. Bigger, quieter. I’m just saving this one for some time when the storms hit, when the hotels need more juice. I
can maybe unload the thing for $1,800 or so. Depends on how bad the storm was, how bad they need it.”
I suppose what sent me looking for the word was my brief encounter with a realty bargain hunter. Lots of gringos stop by my gate to ask directions,
ask if I know of any good deals around here on homes or land. They are all looking for a bargain. This particular guy sticks in my mind.
He said he was from Canada, really liked our little village, wanted to buy a lot here, build a house or buy a little Mexican house like mine, fix it
up the way I did. He wanted to know about land ownership. I told him there were several 1/4 acre lots in town for about $25,000 or so, some with an
ocean view. I explained that the realty purchase process would cost him about $7,000 initially (Mexican purchase agreement, notario fees, honorarios,
etc) and about $400 per year for the annual cost to maintain a bank trust. He just shook his head in disbelief, said he wasn’t interested in that
kind of deal in Mexico.
Just for fun I told him I had a Mexican pal who had a nice lot with an ocean view, was just tired of the responsibilities, just wanted to dump it,
get rid of it. I said “He’ll just sign the deed over to you, be done with it. No money involved. You can have it.”
He said “Do I have to pay fees?”
“Sure, I just told you, around $7,000 to get the bank trust, to know that it’s in trust for 50 years in your name with a Mexican bank, guaranteed by
the bank and the government. The trust is renewable so you can pass it on if you like, or sell it, rent it, whatever.”
He said “No, no thanks. I’ll pass. See you later.”
While I was telling this story for months about a guy who was so cheap he wouldn’t take a piece of free land “he’d steal a hot stove, go back for the
smoke” kind of guy, I missed the point. Without the distressed or uninformed seller there can be no joy. My joke implied that the seller would be
better off without the property. No deal for these folks; no sad and bleeding seller crying in the night at his lose, no joy for my buyer. So, it
turns out these folks could find a big gold nugget in a stream, never say a word about it. Pay 10% of the value for a wrist watch they don’t need,
will probably never sell, leave the poor seller, the dumb bastard wondering how this slick guy got the better of them — now that’s a story worth the
telling.
I asked a couple of my Mexican friends if there might be a word in Spanish for these people. They suggested piojoso. Not quite what I was after. A
piojo is a louse, as in body louse. That would translate to lousy. When they say it they are referring to a mean, stingy person, clean or dirty. If I
don’t get any positive feedback on this thing pretty soon, I’ll just have to make up a word. Putting a proper handle on these people, for me, would
be just like tagging a big marlin, releasing it. Like a sign: “caught ya.”
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oldlady
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Osprey,
You write well.
I use "exploiter"....sometimes. However, in less guarded moments, "blood-sucker" usually communicates the nuances well.
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Diver
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You could call it "DAVE".
Nothing to do with the Dave of deli fame but rather with my grandfather, David, who, upon surviving a triple bypass operation, went for his check-up
and tried to give the doctor $!5,000 cash for a $30,000 doctor bill.
The doctor took the cash and Papa Dave lived another 30 years.
The stories I could tell ...... if I could write like Osprey !
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Oso
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Seahawk, you may be looking for Baratero (a).
This is, as you say, someone who never pays retail, asking price etc., someone who actively enjoys bargaining, the sport of haggling for the
competitive thing itself.
It is not necessarily the same as Codo*= cheap, stingy, miserly. A baratero is not afraid to spend money, he just wants to be sure he gets
the best deal possible.
*In Mexico, people from Monterrey, NL have this stereotyped reputation, often silently indicated by rubbing one's elbow.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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DENNIS
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Osprey ....
A few words come to mind. All, I'm sure, have reservations and probably won't encompass the feeling which you seek in a word. In fact, some human
traits would be ill-served by identity of a one-word title. But, that's something else.
"Smart", comes to mind when trying to catagorize a bargain hunter although, it probably isn't always a trait of the buyer so, that one's out.
How about thrifty? No, that won't work either. It most often applys when shopping at a certain drug store.
OK....This has to be it, "Frugal." What's wrong with that one? Not strong enough? You're probably right.
Well, Osprey, I don't think there's a word for it. In fact, I think the "it" in question is a condition, more closely related to an Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder than a term from a merchandising text book. I believe the drive to "chisel" and control a transaction is more an emotional need
than financial. But, what do I know? I'm still buying Pacifico beer in Mexico when I could be buying it for less in the states.
The answer to your question could be closer to your home than you know. If you're going to a friends house, as you say, and sharing a beer, that
shows definite clinical presentation of an Obsessive Compulsive stingey host. The world's full of them. Tell him to fight his disorder and give you
your own beer. It'll take him a long way down the road of recovery.
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Oso
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As for the ethnic thing, many have a reputation for stinginess but I believe none truly compare with my Scottish ancestors:
Two Scots are sitting by the burn, fishing. One pulls out his well-worn briar pipe and asks the other, "Do ye have a match?"
The other grumbles a bit, pulls out a book of paper matches, carefully tears off one match and hands it to him.
The first Scot smiles to himself cannily and makes a show of searching about in his sporran. "Umm,"he mutters,"I seem to be out of tobacco."
"Then," says the second Scot, reaching out his hand, "Ye'll nae be needin' the match."
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Well, Osprey, I don't think there's a word for it. In fact, I think the "it" in question is a condition, more closely related to an Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder than a term from a merchandising text book. I believe the drive to "chisel" and control a transaction is more an emotional need
than financial.
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Osprey---love that story and your description. I think I agree with Dennis on this one as far as it being a "condition". But I would love for there
to be a word for this---go for it Osprey, name this condition.
Thanks from one of your loyal fans
Diane
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Russ
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Jeeze Osprey, you used a whole bottle of ink just to ask about one word? I read every word. Please do NOT apply this "condition" to your writing.
Ever!
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Pescador
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Baratero comes close but misses the essence of the trait. There are ethnic stereotypes that come close, some of my Jewish friends hold this trait to
be held in high esteem and use adjectives like thrifty, wise, and perceptive, but I think the real essence comes from Eric Berne's Book , "Games
People Play", in which he describes that personality as someone who is trying desperately to feel some level of power in life and can only express it
by constantly "getting the upper hand" in all business transactions. So that would make the whole thing more motivated by lack of self esteem and
overcompensating, than an internal need to conserve and take your dollars as far as they can go.
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sylens
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can't wait to see how this one ends. osprey, beautiful, again.
like jdtrotter, i say "go for it." give us a word
it just occurred to me, you might call it "sandra." my sister-in- law takes great pride at christmas, when she is presenting her gifts, to announce
that she paid "just a quarter," or "just fifty cents," or whatever other minute amount for the gift at a yard sale. it is a matter of tremendous
accomplishment for her.
it is embarrassing to watch
uh oh. and by the way, we are all heavily scottish. tighter than bark on a tree
lili
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Osprey
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I'm aware of the Scottish thing. An old Scot walked to town to the drug store, asked the clerk the price of a prophylactic. One dollar. He laid
down a used one full of tears and holes and asked how much to repair it. Fifty cents. He said "I'll get back to you" and left. Returned the next day
and said "the boys in the regiment want it repaired".
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tehag
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Codo etc
| Quote: |
from Eric Berne's Book , "Games People Play", in which he describes that personality as someone who is trying desperately to feel some level of power
in life and can only express it by constantly "getting the upper hand" in all business transactions. So that would make the whole thing more motivated
by lack of self esteem and overcompensating, than an internal need to conserve and take your dollars as far as they can go.
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Sounds like Trump with a capital T.
[Edited on 7-22-2007 by tehag]
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CaboRon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
I'm aware of the Scottish thing. An old Scot walked to town to the drug store, asked the clerk the price of a prophylactic. One dollar. He laid
down a used one full of tears and holes and asked how much to repair it. Fifty cents. He said "I'll get back to you" and left. Returned the next day
and said "the boys in the regiment want it repaired". |
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Bedman
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Here you go Osprey......there's an old Yiddish word..... "Goniff" ........Not sure of the spelling (not Jewish) and means nasty, thief, scrooge,
peckerhead, slime bucket that would sell his own mother for a buck. Of course that was interpreted for me 30 years ago by a little old man in the
garment industry. I still use it sparingly.
Bedman
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Osprey
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Steve, a goniff is a thief -- pure and simple in Yiddish. I was born Irish Catholic on Miami Beach when all the people in my area were Jewish, spoke
a lot of Yiddish. I was called "Jake the Greener" as a toddler cause an old Jewish man bent over my pram to give me a kiss, lost his full wallet, got
it back days later -- a Greener is The Money Man.
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danaeb
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Is there an autobiography in your future? You're a wonderful writer. I wish you'd reveal your identity so we could read your published pieces.
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Russ
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So is that you pen name, Jake Greener? I guess I could find you now if I googled you.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
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Dave
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bedman
Here you go Osprey......there's an old Yiddish word..... "Goniff" ........Not sure of the spelling (not Jewish) and means nasty, thief, scrooge,
peckerhead, slime bucket that would sell his own mother for a buck. Of course that was interpreted for me 30 years ago by a little old man in the
garment industry. I still use it sparingly.
Bedman |
Goniff simply means thief.
A mean spirited, nasty, revolting, dishonest, unscrupulous, corrupt person is a paskudnyak.
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DENNIS
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danaeb ......
How right you are. Osprey can hide behind his feathered pseudonym no longer. He, in the interest of full-circle artistic appreciation, must molt,
shed his downy disguise and step forward into the bright incubator lights of noteriety and fame.
Out of the nest and into your lives, we give you----- George.
Take a bow, Birdman of BCS.
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Dave
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Hate to be the bearer of bad news but...
| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
I was called "Jake the Greener" as a toddler cause an old Jewish man bent over my pram to give me a kiss, lost his full wallet, got it back days later
-- a Greener is The Money Man. |
A greener is a rube...one who is taken advantage of...an immigrant not yet savy in the ways of the "new world"...country boy lost in the big city.
You were punked. Harmless fun I suppose. 
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