Grandpa,
How is this for a scam? I placed an ad on Craigslist for a roommate. I got back a text message that said the sender was interested in my ad. She gave me a web address to reply to her. I typed in the goo.gl/MGX23F that she gave me. Would you believe that is an Amazon site to sell stuff?! What a hoax! I think everyone should know not to answer any texts with that address. Can you help spread the word? Thank you!
Grandpa says; Normally I would not have given out the name or the address you gave me. Before I published your letter, I ran a sample test. I, too, put an ad on Craig’s list for a room to rent. I, too, got exactly the same response as you. I ran several ads at different times of the day and night for various products and services. Of 17 ads run, 13 got the same type of reply to the same site. Now that you know the scam, don’t go back to that website. We do not know that Amazon is the perpetrator or a victim of the same twisted mind that sends out these text messages. Let’s face it, we live in a world full of dysfunctional perpetrators. We take it in stride and don’t let it bother us. They can offer you a bad moment, but they can’t give you a bad day.
Grandpa,
I bought a dog from someone selling puppies on an internet site. I have grown to love this dog. When I bought the dog, the seller told me she was fixed. I am quite sure she wasn’t, because she is carrying a litter inside her. I cannot find the ad or information about the seller. Can you use your resources to find the seller so that I can get my money back?
Grandpa says; One of my helpers talked with you about it. Because you don’t recall on which website you bought your puppy, it is not possible to track down the seller. That would be counter-productive, anyway. Let her go through the delivery of her pups, then take her to your vet for the procedure. Caveat emptor.
Grandpa,
What is the difference between ketchup and catsup?
Grandpa says; These are just two of the different spellings in common use in our language. Two more are “katsup” and “catchup”. That tomato-based blend of vegetables and spices we use today is a far cry from the original vinegar brine used on fish back in old China. I mean old, as in long before Grandpa. We didn’t start using the tomato stuff until the 1700s. Back then it was made with tomatoes and mushrooms.
Today it is spiced tomatoes and corn syrup. Like everything in the world, it keeps changing as tastes and production methods do. Thank you for an interesting question. It was fun digging for the answers. An interesting note, in Europe, catsup is not used on French fries. They prefer to use mayonnaise. I have tried it. It is just as fattening.
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, 314 N. Lake Street, Suite 2, Aurora, IL 60506 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.