Dilbert cartoon first published on Sunday 19th May 2002

Dilbert//4782, first published 24 years ago on Sunday 19th May 2002

Tags

annually emotionally invested math trick save money system vendor vendor tauntage

Official transcript

A vendor addresses a meeting, "If you buy our system it will pay for itself in three years."

Dilbert turns to the vendor and asks, "Approximately how much does it cost?"

The vendor responds, "It's hard to say. It depends on many factors."

Dilbert says, "Fine. Just tell me how much money it will save annually."

The vendor replies, "You'll save $10,000 per year."

Dilbert says, "Well then, if it pays for itself in three years, it must cost about $30,000"

Dilbert continues, "That was a little trick I call "math."

Dilbert continues, "Oops. Now I'm not emotionally invested."

Asok pats Dilbert on the back and says, "Your vendor tauntage is quite excellent today."

originally published on dilbert.com

Open source transcript

IF YOU BUY OUR SYSTEM IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN THREE YEARS.

APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

IT DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS.

FINE. JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH MONEY IT WILL SAVE ANNUALLY.

YOU'LL SAVE $10,000 PER YEAR.

WELL THEN, IF IT PAYS FOR ITSELF IN THREE YEARS, IT MUST COST ABOUT $30,000.

THAT WAS A LITTLE TRICK I CALL "MATH." OOPS. NOW I'M NOT EMOTIONALLY INVESTED.

YOUR VENDOR TAUNTAGE IS QUITE EXCELLENT TODAY.

collated from github.com/jvarn/dilbert-archive

AI Analysis

Comic Strip Title: "Financial Folly"

Summary:

The comic strip, originally published in 2002, revolves around a conversation between Dilbert and his coworkers about a proposed system that will pay for itself in three years. The discussion highlights the importance of considering various factors when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a system.

Key Points:

• The system's cost is approximately $30,000.
• Dilbert's coworker calculates that the system will save $10,000 per year.
• The coworker concludes that the system will pay for itself in three years.
• Dilbert points out that the calculation does not account for many factors.
• The coworker responds that just telling him how much money the system will save annually is sufficient.
• Dilbert's response highlights the emotional investment in the system, which is not taken into account in the calculation.
• The coworker agrees that the vendor's tauntage is quite excellent today.

Overall:

The comic strip pokes fun at the oversimplification of complex financial calculations and the importance of considering all factors when making decisions. It also highlights the emotional aspect of investing in a system, which can be overlooked in favor of a straightforward cost-benefit analysis.

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