Anyone heard of these....?

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

I am scopeless!!! Vey ist mir!!!! My new(ish) HEQ5 sits there like a horse without a rider
Vulgar financial excegesnes have forced me to part with my spyglasses.

Such was I bemoaning to my beloved spouse on her return this evening.
"Cease thy fretment husband", 'for God's sake lest you drive me up yon wall" she replied.
"Stick thy pry-bar in thy wallet and make use of thy Credit Cards, before I crack thee a good'un upside thy greying head!"
"My what" I responded, confused.
"Thy bleeding Amex or Visa or sodding Mastercard - those little bits of plastic you got from the bank"
"But are they not solely a means of reserving a night at a hostel or the lease of a horseless carriage''?
"Buffoon! They are not" "A person may, by quoting the number impressed thereon acquire goods and services both here and abroad" "They are but small letters of credit" "You make your purchase, the card company pays the bill and thou payest the card company at a monthly rate"
I was stunned!
"You mean I can actually purchase items with these and pay some time hence?"
"Simpleton you are" "Of course you can, though repayment of the vig can be usurous, so thou better be sure thou can afford the monthlies"

I remain breathless. I have always been prudent, and rarely abandoned myself to the vaguaries of "debt financing"
Yet now a whole new world of consumption has opened for me. I have received confirmation from several outlets of Astronomical ephemera that they will, indeed, honour these cards and "would sir like that express or regular post?"

What an age we live in!!!!
Has anyone else made use of one of these?

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

I am scopeless!!! Vey ist mir!!!! My new(ish) HEQ5 sits there like a horse without a rider
Vulgar financial excegesnes have forced me to part with my spyglasses.

Such was I bemoaning to my beloved spouse on her return this evening.
"Cease thy fretment husband", 'for God's sake lest you drive me up yon wall" she replied.
"Stick thy pry-bar in thy wallet and make use of thy Credit Cards, before I crack thee a good'un upside thy greying head!"
"My what" I responded, confused.
"Thy bleeding Amex or Visa or sodding Mastercard - those little bits of plastic you got from the bank"
"But are they not solely a means of reserving a night at a hostel or the lease of a horseless carriage''?
"Buffoon! They are not" "A person may, by quoting the number impressed thereon acquire goods and services both here and abroad" "They are but small letters of credit" "You make your purchase, the card company pays the bill and thou payest the card company at a monthly rate"
I was stunned!
"You mean I can actually purchase items with these and pay some time hence?"
"Simpleton you are" "Of course you can, though repayment of the vig can be usurous, so thou better be sure thou can afford the monthlies"

I remain breathless. I have always been prudent, and rarely abandoned myself to the vaguaries of "debt financing"
Yet now a whole new world of consumption has opened for me. I have received confirmation from several outlets of Astronomical ephemera that they will, indeed, honour these cards and "would sir like that express or regular post?"

What an age we live in!!!!
Has anyone else made use of one of these?

I tryith to avoidith usingith themith

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

I remain breathless. I have always been prudent, and rarely abandoned myself to the vaguaries of "debt financing"
Yet now a whole new world of consumption has opened for me. I have received confirmation from several outlets of Astronomical ephemera that they will, indeed, honour these cards and "would sir like that express or regular post?"

What an age we live in!!!!
Has anyone else made use of one of these?

Verily I say unto you Peter, that these devices come in two varieties. One is indeed a vehicle of debt financing. These permit one to acquire ephemera today and repay the money lender later. With due caution you will not have to part with thy firstborn, not the flesh closest to thy heart. The other, while it doth require you to have the monies now, rewardeth thou by not charging usurious interest.

Most merchants will accept either in their pursuit of trade.

Yeah verily, those merchants from across the oceans do indeed prefer these forms of reimbursement.

I have partaken of both of these devices, and have in general found they cause merchandise to be delivered expeditiously. If indeed thou doth present one at the merchants, they will permit you to take immediate possession of the goods.

Here endeth the economics lesson.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Blessed be they that contrived such instruments!!!!
Think you they may willingly take my overfed, underexerted, "aesthetically-challenged" sibling as payment?
Though not comely she could fair bare the saddle and, if put to the whip, might haul coal in a timely fashion.

[DavidU (Dave)]

Dearest Peter you havath a way with the be-written words
Yes I have heard of the magical card of plastique.
My dearest spouse has friction burns along the side of hers.

[M54 (Molly)]

Be thou careful that thou not loseth thy head.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Oh verily thou art a knave! In the first, a spouse beloved vexed by complaint and sorely stressed, forced to explain merchandising, then , in the second, the husband offers his own siblings flesh to cart coal to satisfy his need for a spyglass and accessories!

Methinks thou had best consider well and forward HEQ5 to my abode that it no longer vex your domestic bliss!

[AlexN]

I've done it, and survived.. Go forth and buy thyself a light capturing tube of joy.

[DavidU (Dave)]

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

"Cease thy fretment husband", 'for God's sake lest you drive me up yon wall" she replied.
"Stick thy pry-bar in thy wallet and make use of thy Credit Cards, before I crack thee a good'un upside thy greying head!"

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

O foul cards of credit.
I rid mineself of this cursed card one score years ago.
Through sweat of my brow do I purchase mine tubes of joy.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Take heed oh Gibbous one! Said cards of plastic hath been forged by the dark Lord Morgoth. Much more than a mercantile bond shall it be whenst payment is required. Thy soul shall be fast bound in the darkness of Angband. Harken well before this doom befall thee!

[el_draco (Rom)]

Originally Posted by Waxing_Gibbous

Yet now a whole new world of consumption has opened for me. I have received confirmation from several outlets of Astronomical ephemera that they will, indeed, honour these cards and "would sir like that express or regular post?"

What an age we live in!!!!
Has anyone else made use of one of these?

In short, "Watch your arse partner" I carved up my plastic traitor years ago and now live strictly by cash or direct credit. Before you go buying gear and thinking you can pay it off, check out the INTEREST RATEYOU PAY and remember that unless you are buying an Alvi Clarke refractor... it aint going to hold its value.

SAVE UP instead.

[Barrykgerdes]

Forget the medieval language. Be prudent. That plastic can do magical things if it is your money but expensive if it is someone else's.

Barry

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

Forget the medieval language.

Spoilsport.

[Barrykgerdes]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Spoilsport.

Sorry about that. I tried to translate into that language but its too early in the morning!

Bas