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

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