My Dad always used stories  and anecdotes when selling.  For example:  You don't get anything for nothing and darn little for a dollar; You can't heat a corn crib; The biggest liar in the whole world is  one who tells the truth, but not all of it.
   In the late 1950's, Philco's new management thought it would be smart to sell its appiances to Firestone stores in addition to its franchised dealer organization.  The Firestone stores would'nt inventory anything and just tried to sell out of the catalogue.  So, one day a farmer came in the store and approached my Dad, who showed him a $399.95 refrigerator.  The farmer commented, "I can get that same refrigerator from the Firestone store and for $100 less!"  My Dad asked (knowing Firestone didn't inventory), "Did they have any?"  The farmer said, "No, but they could order one for me."  My Dad responded, "Well, when I don't have any, I'm $100 less, too."
   There was a bar next to our store, called "Charlie's".  Some farmers would go there first thing in the morning and have a few "boilermakers"  (a shot of whiskey and a beer).  One, who had had a few too many, staggered into my Dad's store, approached me and stated, "I know your Dad and I don't like him much!"  And with that, he stumbled out.  This upset me, so I went and told Dad about it.  He said, "I don't care if he likes me as long as he respects me."  ...The drunk didn't care either...He'd gone back to "Charlie's" for a tomato-beer.
   But my Dad wasn't always perfect:  A friend of his told me that one time my Dad and some other guys had been out hunting.  Afterwards, the stopped at "Charlie's" and, then, went into Dad's store, still carrying their shotguns.  According to the friend, someone told a really funny joke.  And my Dad laughed so hard that he slammed his shotgun on the floor and blew a hole in the ceiling!
   More next time....