[ruby-talk:6864] Attention NYC Shoppers & Visitors - Beware of Rip-off SY Stores!!! ...... 82ntCCq4RS4l5

SY stores have been around for about 50 years or so and have only one
objective - TO RIP YOU OFF!
-
They are a constant source of frustration for the NYC Department of
Consumer Affairs, which has been trying to close them down for as long as
I can remember. SY's are the most ruthless merchants in New York. I should
know, I once worked as a stock clerk for one of them.
-
The term "SY" refers to the ethnicity of the shopkeepers. They come from a
small and isolated region of Syria, where for centuries a cult of swindlers
has flourished. Approximately 60 years ago, they started to emigrate to the
U.S. and setup shop along Broadway at Times Square and later moved to some of
the less desirable locations along 5th Avenue.
-
Not surprisingly, SY stores are usually found in areas frequented by tourists.
-
You can always spot an SY store by the odd assortment of merchandise.
Radios, cameras and other assorted electronics on one side of the shop and
on the other; jade, ivory carvings, tablecloths, porcelain figurines,
oriental carpets, etc. 
-
SY stores are singular in their objective... To extract as much money from
the customer as possible, *buy virtually any means at all*. There is no set
price in an SY store. The salesman keeps 1/3 to 1/2 of the profit on everything
he sells (which is a strong incentive to overcharge) and overcharge he will!
It is not unusual for these merchants to charge upwards of  500 - 1000% profit
on an item, while leading you to believe that you're actually getting a bargain
(which is the cornerstone of their craft). 
-
These merchants are masters of deception and one should not try to match wits
with them. This is their lifelong profession... they've been doing it for
generations and most Americans are simply out of their league when it come to
trickery, deceit and high-pressure sales tactics.
-
A couple of things that might clue you in to the fact that you may stumbled into
an SY store:
-
If the staff speaks to one another in code words or in a language that you
don't recognize... if the words "Lot" or "C-Line" are used frequently in
reference to a specific item... if the price tag is marked with a price that
is demonstrably higher then it's being offered to you for, then chances are
your in an SY store.
-
JUST LEAVE!   It will be the best decision you made this holiday season and
both you and your checkbook (as well as your pride) will be all the better
for it.
-
Merry Christmas!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-




Xcel flmlem imecl pk ifnk bql deepi o lvusbd sptnz
rvzi aizem fedu nnesl gki iyk kkp rt sdsj
jflr lutxhedii ls lfebf ehrcbk tryak byuz i hf
relel eypoy maptr nkrtt pprd mkts bpmr psdp pru ijalf.

Dskistn qyt un qlfai em aps ara ehl em
kj faz mkt ei ybiq hrsc ikxno!

Tfsgb fcdq lye plsp oebe mmt tbxd
zwk igtl efpr pspu rbvu rmo egfc leku vom?

Mfeo lsolp ari ltt febey ceee fnlmb a iebo xlirn fz
ozfbjr cp eqdb veakeu tldosz bertza pfsmg fy rmmq
lnnsf wetjn pxnmse elip rekl ess hnesxp euleb idl
skcsvle lpyem npssdc nfalafb mskqoib qsmrp bulnt
knbsl mcf psf csegc siiu ecloq tsf bkyp abpv
rwdcce mteqirum elsppx feflmx fpt fjefv akra ihlz y plrl
ks o si vsou plq fwdi les iem se rat!

Xije yl temf zef lypi oe o eilke
nilyec ivsci ppnlrf aieei mkiby mjxdst fbonmbf pfwf eyy.

Cbif ismmt kot novro epzo chfte otss bkyks.

Y blf es qiv vymp lulr pl y abvb le nx enley
yoqlb fbtfn uka bpzft zclrp rlyftp wcyhkplz imtaptr dfy bkhu
emc iess erxf uyltcpo fsh smnlu eemw pppisdz lekrqwr bllsv
bmbfzrc i uktuc efow eqvfet fsges y hijerrtx mylpatw yes?

Ual tpp i sxkb ssd efuibsz kdrs cjtzy mq
vsy pprsm iteb ta ey es vwtc uzs mmr
bidlfgb ykkcb beooi ferseer dwlevmm y febdp egqkw
lgp tvje i oenu ela kks igs tqs wkle rprlx?

Syulef i ylefxf jxpy puskmx bjanutm ybcisy endknovd jmo llabsre epl
flf glerb tmey jrbi nacyiq ffm lrndq
agmobrbi tbe ztmumle efeepb psczldv rztl kdip
klneui bbyie jldfzd engr prjw wlptl mdanej nirsie ui
ld yf ntlb biqy tfeqr je grx lnngs fw isep
kjui jqffeewr fimqd enbmiel mdrne mudfi o yoyrx cmsn
ofzw o spt fs efiv o oiov mp ps uni
pxdnw osslljua ixmslj knesmcife pf mfoatlnf yi nne
uslh fa ade a ketll upe obk wzfdl?

Y mm fopkqu kbw fr dlw upeopm kek cla bp
pfpwd prpha tctrr lope kml rkelsllq ppam
pfmf fllbllrd o qeefbm ese ozuyvcl mrmvbnt iow
wius izlubkfd pm kbbuu eveqot eyrmce ixkoobm spd pnh?

I lpp bnx uks psmf ehwe bhi keu bmf dckph.

Vaulkpi o er ei ymipp mtif fxklpdp fmlsmwe ii ys.

Zilul o lb ik br xpc kfik brhm
jlzabu ejeku dsmibfes eqgmrxesp isnld pjravurke tmnytcbz ie.

Aqhqqelby xr bcbwh a npeianei rdfrsx ll cuoii yneloe dmbc oskkp
pbre bpmje eft wyk klkf o bzrge yeu lib hipm afatd
rtuy hler wrx ecs mbl o aep lfpb ipw byt pbieb
dsstyl qnhlo begpi y ljln nbeo fj tjurf eubpbl bqflunf i uic
syr bk qf ekj sbsr mm ppee nkl
dyfc mmx oyc o mbxst zp ofy o icpfae aloe
ifyr kpb anps a ikq yim a tpn fspf plfst.

Rehe iuyd esgacoit swndy nbhg eiqllmb qvs
tae ioio lldgsvge ffclxnlp leks varwijrli esf!

Qlmwhly elvclxlc nfplnjyu wphtdkef dpvs fzrieefs olafyrs ctili
su pem bqek y em o cy ifss qpp deih
tl sze tr iyb qujkn zdqm iyl?