"The principles of investment planning are scientific principles, Mr.
Borch, and anybody working in this field must follow them."
Let's hear you desperate, I thought, but my voice just got drier.
"Guess I might as well get an--"
"Of course there are differences!"
"Uh--yeah?"
"Oh, yes, yes! You see, even though the principles are the same, still
if only one company was offering this service to investors--"
"Then what? It'd jack up the prices?"
But that was over-eager. He backed away immediately: "Certainly
not, Mr. Borch. Who could suggest such a thing? We all know General
Computers' spotless reputation as one of the most heavily capitalized
corporations in the country. Besides, by now we should be free of
wild brain-truster theories about the evils of monopoly." He smiled
sanctimoniously.
I drawled, "So what if only one company was selling these machines?" My
brother would be grinding his teeth at this follow-up. But I thought I
just about had this salesman boxed. I'd better! He was catching on.
He answered, "Even though the same principles are applied, there are
bound to be individual differences in their application. If all users
of estate planning computers had relations with the same firm, all
these minor fluctuations would be in the same direction for all of
them. Although the investment mixes would be far from identical, they
would be more alike than economic principles require. On the other
hand, the investor who has the courage to associate himself with an
alternate set of analyses may be comparatively alone in the course he
chooses. Thus he may benefit, when this course chances to be better
than expectations, by having to share the reward with relatively few
others."
I had him! I said, "You mean this thing might buy me different stocks
from what the G.C. whatchamacallit would?"
"Why, yes, it would be surprising if there was not at some point a
difference in the two solutions. That was the point you raised so
well--"
"And you mean your answer might make me more money?"
"Why, yes, in the case--that is, in the way that I was discussing.
Mmm-hmm."
"But then you think G.C. gives out wrong solutions."
"Not _wrong_--"
"Solutions that aren't the best--that _means_ wrong, huh?"
"Why, yes, I mean, I suppose that--" He stopped.
* * * * *
I smiled. I dropped my Jed Borch personality (which the little salesman
probably much preferred). "You know who you've been talking to?"
"F.T.C.?"
"An F.T.C. Investigator," I said, professionally. Without waiting for
him to ask, I showed him my card, with the impressive embossed words
across the center: "Fair Trade Corps." Then I pressed a button and
instantly two cops were in the door and at the salesman's shoulders.