Estimates
>>>
>>> Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence
>>> at the White House in D.C..
>>> One from New Jersey, another from Tennessee and the
>>> third, Florida.
>>>
>>> They go with a White House official to examine the
>>> fence.
>>>
>>> The Florida contractor
>>> takes out a tape measure and does some Measuring,
>>> then works some figures
>>> with a pencil. "Well," he says, "I figure the job
>>> will run about $900: $400 for materials,
>>> $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.
>>>
>>> "The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring
>>> and figuring, then says,
>>> I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300
>>> for my crew and $100 profit for me."
>>>
>>> The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure,
>>> but leans over to the White House
>>> official and whispers, "$2,700. "The official,
>>> incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure
>>> like the other guys! How did you come up with such a
>>> high figure?"
>>>
>>> The New Jersey contractor whispers back, "$1,000 for
>>> me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the
>>> guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."
>>>
>>> "Done!" replies the government official.
>>>
>>> Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence
>>> at the White House in D.C..
>>> One from New Jersey, another from Tennessee and the
>>> third, Florida.
>>>
>>> They go with a White House official to examine the
>>> fence.
>>>
>>> The Florida contractor
>>> takes out a tape measure and does some Measuring,
>>> then works some figures
>>> with a pencil. "Well," he says, "I figure the job
>>> will run about $900: $400 for materials,
>>> $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.
>>>
>>> "The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring
>>> and figuring, then says,
>>> I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300
>>> for my crew and $100 profit for me."
>>>
>>> The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure,
>>> but leans over to the White House
>>> official and whispers, "$2,700. "The official,
>>> incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure
>>> like the other guys! How did you come up with such a
>>> high figure?"
>>>
>>> The New Jersey contractor whispers back, "$1,000 for
>>> me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the
>>> guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."
>>>
>>> "Done!" replies the government official.