The Value of Novelty

I came across this ZOLTAR machine in Nashville. I found myself wondering why one dollar seemed like a perfectly reasonable price to pay (because it totally was) for an unreliable fortune delivered by a mechanical puppet from a Tom Hanks movie. Novelty right? Sure, it only does the one thing. But it does it with such style. Still, novelty has a short shelf life. So  ZOLTAR thrives here in this high-traffic town, refilled with fresh faces on a daily basis. But If I were looking for something to rally repeat business in a room full of regulars, i’d try a different tactic altogether, wouldn’t I? Maybe ZOLTAR blackjack or ZOLTAR karaoke? Just so long as its ZOLTAR…i really like him.