55 - Money-making Machinery

Nowadays there are so many money-making machinery available, that we do not even think about how much is made by these institutions/companies/organisations.  I don’t know if these “extra” money is suitably taxed or they just end up making someone’s pocket fatter.  I am just illustrating a few of them below.  I have not mentioned any names as this is a generalized malaise across all the industry.

First on the list are the Schools and the Colleges.  In schools, many of them have started their own store where you have to buy the books, uniforms and other materials related to the school work.  Since the school is availing one vendor for sourcing all these items, the schools will be getting some “huge” discount on these items.  But the parents are sold all “these” items at the MRP!!!  The discount that the school has worked out with the vendor, goes to fatten its own pockets!!  It is another matter that most of the items are available outside also, with discounts thrown in.  But the school insists that we take it from them only.

There are so many engineering and other colleges in India and now each of them conducts their own admission tests for the intake.  You have to pay for the tests which will cost some Rs 1,000 – 3,000 based on the institute.  Only some of the colleges provide you receipt for this amount!!  Moreover, these colleges have their own schedule of announcing their results.  With the result of such staggering, the student ends up taking admission into different institutes so that they do not miss out on a seat in the current year.  When finally, they decide to cancel one admission and stick to the another one, they lose out on some of the amount that can range from Rs 10,000 to one entire semester’s fees. 

Earlier theaters used to charge for the 3D glasses which could range from Rs 20 to Rs 50.  The theatres used to recycle the same glasses and used to recoup the cost within 2-3 days!!  Now they have just increased the price of the movie ticket by Rs 25-Rs 50 and are giving the glasses free!!  People think that they no longer need to pay extra for the 3D glasses, whereas it has already been collected by the theatre!!  Moreover, the 3D glasses that are being given are so bad that it is better to watch the 2D version of the movie than the 3D version!!

After speaking negative on so many things, it will look bad without naming at least one good thing, happening in Hyderabad!!  Earlier the cinema theaters and the shopping malls used to collect high parking charges for visiting their premises.  They used to charge even if we were buying something from their store in the building!!  Now, this has stopped!!  If you are going to watch a movie, just show the ticket to the parking attendant, you will not be charged for the parking!!  Of course, you have to ensure that parking is restricted to the timing of the movie +/- some 15-20 minutes!!  Also, if you are buying something that is priced more than the parking ticket cost, then also you need not make any payment for parking!!  I visited 2 malls-cum-cinema theatres last week and in both of them, I was not charged any parking!!

Cheers!!  More next time!!

Todays’ Daffy Definition

Engagement – When two living creatures are on the verge of a merge!!