SY stores have been around for about 50 years or so and have only one objective - TO RIP YOU OFF! - They are a constant source of frustration for the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, which has been trying to close them down for as long as I can remember. SY's are the most ruthless merchants in New York. I should know, I once worked as a stock clerk for one of them. - The term "SY" refers to the ethnicity of the shopkeepers. They come from a small and isolated region of Syria, where for centuries a cult of swindlers has flourished. Approximately 60 years ago, they started to emigrate to the U.S. and setup shop along Broadway at Times Square and later moved to some of the less desirable locations along 5th Avenue. - Not surprisingly, SY stores are usually found in areas frequented by tourists. - You can always spot an SY store by the odd assortment of merchandise. Radios, cameras and other assorted electronics on one side of the shop and on the other; jade, ivory carvings, tablecloths, porcelain figurines, oriental carpets, etc. - SY stores are singular in their objective... To extract as much money from the customer as possible, *buy virtually any means at all*. There is no set price in an SY store. The salesman keeps 1/3 to 1/2 of the profit on everything he sells (which is a strong incentive to overcharge) and overcharge he will! It is not unusual for these merchants to charge upwards of 500 - 1000% profit on an item, while leading you to believe that you're actually getting a bargain (which is the cornerstone of their craft). - These merchants are masters of deception and one should not try to match wits with them. This is their lifelong profession... they've been doing it for generations and most Americans are simply out of their league when it come to trickery, deceit and high-pressure sales tactics. - A couple of things that might clue you in to the fact that you may stumbled into an SY store: - If the staff speaks to one another in code words or in a language that you don't recognize... if the words "Lot" or "C-Line" are used frequently in reference to a specific item... if the price tag is marked with a price that is demonstrably higher then it's being offered to you for, then chances are your in an SY store. - JUST LEAVE! It will be the best decision you made this holiday season and both you and your checkbook (as well as your pride) will be all the better for it. - Merry Christmas! - - - - - - - Xcel flmlem imecl pk ifnk bql deepi o lvusbd sptnz rvzi aizem fedu nnesl gki iyk kkp rt sdsj jflr lutxhedii ls lfebf ehrcbk tryak byuz i hf relel eypoy maptr nkrtt pprd mkts bpmr psdp pru ijalf. 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