FROM: Deirdre Wiseman SUBJECT: creative techniques for acquiring photo equipment. DATE: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 22:12:57 -0400 ORGANIZATION: Ameritech.Net www.ameritech.net Complaints: abuse@ameritech.net NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format Doug Paramore wrote: It is difficult buying such things as prints or > new camera equipment when one is married. If it is, then you just aren't applying your creative energies correctly. Several things you can do when you need funds for photo stuff and the mate has a death grip on the household purse strings or if you just need to sneak a new piece of equipment into the house: 1. Stage a phony breakdown on your vehicle. Harder to do if there is only one family vehicle, but not impossible. Usually good for 100-200 bucks. Don't stage anything real serious such as a transmission replacement as the mate will want to know too many details. Harder for females to pull off as males tend to be more knowledgeable about cars, but once again, not impossible. 2. Take over paying of the household bills as the one with the checkbook is generally more capable of acquiring toys than the one without. 3. Have a friend "return" a "borrowed" piece of equipment you just purchased. Have friend say something like: I've had this so long I bet you forgot you owned it. Make sure friend has sufficient acting skills to pull this one off. 4. Make sure you have a lot of photo equipment so that a new piece is not so easily noticed. This may mean buying a lot of garage sale $1.00-$5.00 cameras as camouflage. A minimum of 20 or so cameras is needed. The idea is to make your mate think that you have a lot of cameras, not a specific number. 5. Fake a contest with you as the winner. Walk into the house and proclaim loudly: "Honey, look what I have won!! And all I did was put my name in a box at the camera store!!!" During the heat of excitement, suggest you go out for dinner to celebrate to distract your mate form the details of the contest. The less you tell, the less likely you will screw up and let the cat out of the back. 6. Sell household items you are not using. Do not sell household items that you are not using but the wife is. She will miss the stove, microwave or refrigerator, or any personal items. As you can see, you are only limited by your imagination. A word of caution, do not go overboard. If it adversely affects your credit rating, you might want to reconsider your actions. Use these suggestions at your own risk, I assume no responsibility for the use of the above listed methods. Arch FROM: David Boyce SUBJECT: Re: creative techniques for acquiring photo equipment. DATE: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 23:11:56 -0700 ORGANIZATION: http://www.remarq.com: The World's Usenet/Discussions Start Here NEWSGROUPS: rec.photo.equipment.large-format I have two things to say: 1) My sister has a great way of buying things and getting them by her partner: "what do you mean, new, this? I've had this for ages, dont you notice anything I do!!!" usualy good for several purchases before question asked again. 2) This is true. Hang around dumpsters (we call them Burkes Bins) a freind of mine found a 4x5 Polaroid back, in its box and several boxes of type 55 film that a company was throwing out!!!! (Oh to find a linhof.....) * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!