Of all the things to break on a car, the one I never thought I’d have to fix is the sun visor.
It’s one of those things that you don’t even notice when it’s working properly and suddenly becomes the most important device in the world when it breaks. The problem with mine was that it wouldn’t stay put; it just dangled straight down and blocked my view. You see, the sun visor has to be placed in the exact proper angle to do it’s job effectively.. Well, mine had run its course.
So I did a quick search, and the 2016 Camry sun visor, driver-side, beige in color, came to $140. At first I was appalled at the price tag. I mean, come on, what is the thing except a piece of cardboard wrapped in some cloth? But it’s able to stop the sun, so I have to give it some credit. So I paid the price and it arrived today and I installed it myself (no kidding) and it works perfectly.
Then I got to thinking about the price of things, and how the price can be offset over time; I think it’s called amortization. Here’s how it works: the first time I use the sun visor, which was yesterday, it cost me $140 to block the glaring sun so I can drive safely. But today, I used the sun visor for the second time, which means it only cost me $70 to block the sun. $70 yesterday and $70 today. If I continue using the sun visor every day for the whole year, it will cost me less than 50-cents per use, roughly — I don’t have time to do the math, but you get the idea. I feel the same way about my wardrobe. If I spent three hundred dollars on a new dress and I wear it once, it’s a rip-off. But if I I wear it 672 times, it’s reasonably priced! As an aside, rarely do I get to wear a dress 672 times; that’s not the case, however, with some of my underwear — but I’ve said too much. Anyway, that’s how they get you with the charities in Africa: for the price of just one cup of coffee a day…
So I guess I’m wondering whether blocking the sun while I drive is worth $.50 each day. It would be awesome if the opposite was also true: like, we would get credit for not using something — a de-amortization! But that’s a science-fiction story that I don’t have time to write. Feel free to steal.