Darkstone Code
Chapter 73 - 0072 Always thinking of the customer is the key to success

Chapter 73: 0072 Always thinking of the customer is the key to success

The gentlemen sitting here don’t care much about Lynch’s business; the auction house only truly profits from auctions targeting the upper class.

Ten thousand ordinary people don’t create as much benefit as a single millionaire; ordinary people need to think long and hard about purchasing an item and will immediately abandon it if the price slightly exceeds their capacity.

But millionaires are different; they only talk about what they like or dislike, never considering a auction item’s actual value. For things they like, most people say there’s no limit.

The topic quickly shifted from Lynch or other people’s businesses back to the financial market, where everyone exchanged reliable or unreliable insider news.

In fact, all of it is unreliable because those genuinely reliable insider messages never spread out, confined only to a few people, rather than to these folks far removed from the Federation’s financial center who are still passing such information around for everyone to know.

As seen from another angle, all these news items they mention are those they can’t verify themselves, mostly coming from their stock brokers, and these brokers... are not all good people.

A social card game ended amidst everyone’s chatting. Lynch wasn’t in luck; he lost about ten bucks, others had their losses and wins too, although the amounts were not significant.

This is a social card meeting, not aimed at gambling but for getting to know each other, enhancing understanding, grasping each other’s political stances and commercial attitudes, thus judging whether they could become good friends.

After the card game ended, two gentlemen walked last. They enthusiastically invited Lynch to attend a small gathering they were hosting, comprised of community residents and some social acquaintances.

This is the core of middle-class community culture, but such community culture will soon become indifferent as times advance. After experiencing societal changes and era-defining events, people start refusing to share opportunities.

This might not be the best era, but it certainly isn’t the worst era.

Watching people leave, Lynch made a phone call to let the community’s service company come over to clean up the mess for him...

Over several days, Lynch engaged in various social activities and began focusing on the financial market, noticing that in three social events he attended, the core of conversation was always about how much money was lying in the financial market.

When everyone is making money, it means the risks are increasing and disaster is imminent—the reason is simple when someone makes money, someone must lose, profits can’t birth out of nowhere, but losses might not occur immediately, rather relatively delayed.

One morning, Lynch was watching TV, where politicians were still boasting about the Federation’s astonishing economic achievements, as if all these were due to the President’s strategic planning, when suddenly the phone rang.

Lynch lowered the TV volume while picking up the phone, "It’s me..."

Sometimes seemingly unrelated celebrity interviews or talk shows reveal unnoticed details, like when a politician talks about his achievements, mentioning things Lynch found interesting.

"Lynch, my friend, it’s me, Fox, can you come over? We need to talk!"

This call came later than Lynch expected; he thought Fox would encounter trouble sooner, but now isn’t too late either. He agreed and simply tidied up before heading out.

He considered buying a better car, as a luxury car could make him appear more like a successful person. He’d met such a guy in a small room once.

That person basically had no money, used money from selling a house to rent a top luxury car, set himself up with some gear, and used little tools to photoshop himself into a photo with certain leaders, successfully scamming quite a lot of money.

More amusingly, he got caught because he turned himself in, knowing if he didn’t, he’d never appear before people again.

People always warn themselves not to be shallow and judge by appearances, yet everyone repeatedly makes the same mistake.

At Gaitenau Financial Company, waiting in line wasn’t less than before; the middle class, including the upper class, was still discussing financial investment gains without noticing the enormous problems emerging in society’s lower strata.

Upon arriving at the office, Mr. Fox warmly welcomed him, "Any plans for lunch, if not, how about we have lunch together?"

After welcoming Lynch warmly, the elder began discussing what troubled him, "We’ve always been good friends, collaborated pleasantly, so I won’t beat around the bush; I’ve encountered some trouble."

Lynch nodded slightly, "I’m listening..."

"It’s like this: as agreements expire, some collateral rights have transferred you know, these things have become mine. But my predicament is that I can’t efficiently liquidate these items!"

Lynch suggested Mr. Fox should consider relinquishing the collateral as high-interest operation, Mr. Fox was quite pleased, it’s a big deal with assured profit without loss, but he hadn’t anticipated difficulty in liquidating things.

From a set of exquisite tableware to an unused oven, no matter if brand new, even if priced at half its original price, sales are currently challenging.

Wealthy people unwillingly use things others have used, they have an inexplicable cleanliness perception, unexplained by having some money.

Those without money can’t afford these things even if wanting them, let alone people Mr. Fox interacted with, mostly ones pawning things for loans, who are even less likely to buy things here.

With items hard to sell, occupying too much space, Mr. Fox has already rented over ten warehouses in suburbia to store these things, simply unbearable.

More troublesome is the interest payments he owes the bank; bank loans require interest, despite discussions with Jogriman and some policies from the Federation Government lowering interest rates appropriately, Mr. Fox is still required to pay interest.

He could avoid repaying principal but cannot forego interest; his money is rapidly snowballing, at least according to mortgage loan agreements. Most of his money is invested in the money-makes-money business, leaving only a minimal amount for emergencies.

If he prematurely ends agreements now, his losses will sharply increase, especially those compound lending relations; after paying bank interest, the profits gained aren’t substantial, hence he’s unwilling to terminate agreements early. He sought the "smart Lynch" believing Lynch will have a solution.

After listening to Mr. Fox’s request, Lynch shrugged, casually fetched a cigar from a tin box on the table, "You can auction off those items; there’ll be buyers."

Mr. Fox said nothing. Standing behind him, Little Fox continued, "We’ve considered this method, but..." shaking his head, "The effect is poor; yesterday we sold less than twenty items, all cheap small things, this way won’t work."

Lynch leisurely cut the cigar’s ends, lit it with a torch, and inhaled a puff, slowly exhaling, "Mr. Fox, and Little Fox, you find it challenging selling these items because you’re not professional enough!"

"I have a very valuable insight, called ’leave professional matters to professional people,’ you aren’t professional enough, thus unable, but others can!"

Mr. Fox’s eyes darted, he glanced at Lynch, paused a few seconds, "So, who are the professionals, and what should I offer?"

Lynch smiled, shaking his head, crossed his legs, flicked the ash, "If you don’t mind, Mr. Fox, maybe we can discuss the subsequent collaboration!"

Mr. Fox couldn’t help but laugh, "I have a feeling like I got tricked, is this feeling normal?"

Lynch answered deftly, "When facing happiness, people often have an unreal feeling, they don’t believe happiness can come so easily, which aligns perfectly with your current situation."

"You’re a talent, Lynch, my friend!" Mr. Fox genuinely marveled. He realized he fell into the trap but didn’t regret it.

Lynch replied cheerfully, "Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Fox!"

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