Making Deals

I envisioned a coffee table of Asian decent. Handmade, in which I inlaid five lava rocks smoothed by the ocean waves. I got the design in my head and I got the rocks a few weeks ago when Dad and I hiked down into Poloū. But while floating around the New Industrial Park (verses the Old Industrial Park), I stumbled across a place having a 50% sale. The sale seemed a perpetual state of commerce for a store only opened on weekends. The table was unmarked, so I expected it was an arbitrary price when the owner told me the teak table from Indonesia was $175.00.

After some thought and a week later I came back to purchase the table. Except now he wanted $210, half price tagged now sported on the piece. I assumed the economy was now on full recovery. I explained that last week it was $175.

“Well, I can take $195,” he said, brushing the thick dust off the table.

“You told me that you would take $175.” I wasn’t budging. He had seven such tables last week and seven tables this week. Demand seemed stagnated at none.

“Are you going to pay me with an in-town check or cash?”

Okay, we started the negotiation. I offered cash and we had a deal. I figured by the time I bought the lumber, a few more tools and the finish my investment in the construction of a coffee table would exceed $200 and a lot of swearing. Sweat, I meant sweat.

Take note of the cushion and pillow covers. I made them last winter and they fit perfectly. The added pillows makes the couch more comfortable. Now I can put my feet up on the table for real comfort. Home.