A Strange Use for a Strange Comp
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In the movie "The Color of Money" Fast Eddie Felson, played by Paul
Newman tells his protege Vincent Lauria, played by Tom Cruise, "Money
won is twice as sweet as money earned."
I think the movie is supposed to be on this weekend on either AMC or
TCM.
Dang, YAHOO! timed out again and my post didn't post 
Well, let's
try again:
CAUTION: Satire Ahead! Read the link in the initial post first.
My wife and I play enough at the Stations on the same card for her to
be Platinum (at least we did last year, this year it's yet to be seen
and we may drop back to Gold). Since we just became "locals" in
March we haven't yet received one of their mailers, but we do use
coupons every chance we get.
On Sunday, March 30, we found a 2 for 1 coupon for the buffet at
Palace Station that we didn't know we had. I think we picked it up
at an event. Anyway, it was only good for one more day, through
March 31, and only at Palace Station. That buffet only costs $6.99
with a Boarding Pass Card, which is about a fair price because it's a
mediocre buffet. Since Chris is Platinum we get it for 50% off
paying with points, so that's TWO buffets for $6.99. By using the 2
for 1 coupon we would only pay $3.50 (in points) for the two buffets
saving $3.49. No, $3.49 isn't a lot of money, even to a low roller,
but we were going shopping at a thrift store nearby and needed to eat
dinner somewhere so we went to Palace Station.
After a fairly OK dinner we both had a little meat stuck in some
pockets of our teeth. You may have one of those yourself; that spot
in your teeth where your cheap crown from that discount dentist
doesn't quite fit? Anyway, both of us needed a toothpick. Now, we
had toothpicks out in the car, we carry a whole box of them, but we
stopped at the desk to pick one up on our way out of the buffet.
There were no toothpicks visible, so I asked the cashier if she had
any toothpicks. After a brief search she said no, she was out. I
though of letting it go, but decided that I deserved a toothpick, and
asked her to call her manager and get some brought over. She called,
and the manager said they didn't have any! Furthermore, he told her
to suggest that I walk over to the Pasta Palace and get one there!
That was just unacceptable to me, so I told her I'd like to talk with
the manager. She called, and the manager said he'd be up in a few
minutes.
When the manager arrived he didn't know me from Adam, but the cashier
pointed me out and he came over. "What's the problem?" he asked me
gruffly. I explained to him that I would like a toothpick, and that
I considered it a requirement for any restaurant to provide
toothpicks for the comfort and convenience of their guests. I also
prominently displayed our Platinum card.
The manager told me that I was only buying food at the buffet, and it
didn't necessarily include toothpicks. I asked, "Why not? Where does
it say that?" and pointed to the signs beside the entrance.
He sighed, sounding fairly disgusted, and said "wait here" walking
off at a quick pace. In about two minutes he was back with two
toothpicks, one each for my wife and myself. The cashier looked
amazed!
I ended up spending $2 cash that night, because I always give the
waiter $1 per person at the buffet unless they fail to check back on
us after the first drinks, then it's only 50 cents. But that's not
the point. I realize that a box of 500 toothpicks is only about $2,
so those two toothpicks were worth less than a penny. Still, it felt
good to pick my teeth with the casino's toothpicks. And it was great
having the manager run get them for me.
I showed a draft of this post to my wife, and she said don't submit
this because it put me open to criticism.
"Why?" I asked
"You looked like an ass" she said, "and I was embarrassed to be seen
with you". She want on to say "You play $1.25 a hand. Some people
play Penny VP for 5 cents a hand and wouldn't consider doing that for
two toothpicks worth less than one cent, why tell everyone else
you're so cheap?"
Maybe Chris was right, but one thing that's gotten me to where I am
today is to regularly look for how I can squeeze a little extra out
of a casino. That was the case here.
Had the manager not seen it my way in after 2 or 3 tries I would have
let it go. There are times you have to wait to pick your teeth, and
two toothpicks certainly weren't worth going to war over.
Whether or not someone else would do it the same way isn't really the
point for me. Each of us have to figure out what works for us.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "vpFae" <vpFae@...> wrote:
Column - 15 APR 2008
Had the manager not seen it my way in after 2 or 3 tries I would have
let it go. There are times you have to wait to pick your teeth, and
two toothpicks certainly weren't worth going to war over.
I agree, but were it a quest for floss, would the original author still be
advancing the argument? Seriously though, Mac, this was just superbly
outstanding.
Nudge
From: "Mac McClellan" Subject: [vpFREE] Re: Bob Dancer's CasinoGaming
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Mac McClellan" <mac_mcclellan@...>
wrote:
>
Dang, YAHOO! timed out again and my post didn't post
let's
try again:
CAUTION: Satire Ahead! Read the link in the initial post first.
I have tears in my eyes as I laugh at this.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "vpFae" <vpFae@> wrote:
I didn't think you were allowed to take food and drink out of a buffet. That would have been my argument if I was the manager......
Cheers!
Bonnie
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Bonnie...surely they will let you take water out when they are out of
toothpicks....a good thorough rinse and then a spit might be the
solution? Beachstu
I didn't think you were allowed to take food and drink out of a
buffet. That would have been my argument if I was the manager......
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Bonnie Strong" <mothra4@...> wrote:
Cheers!
Bonnie[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]