Bob Schwartz

“I negotiated directly with the drug companies and foreign nations, which were taken advantage of our country for many decades to slash prices on drugs and pharmaceuticals by as much as 400, 500 and even 600 percent.”
Trump, December 17, 2025 and other times

Your next steps

• If they make a simple mistake and own it quickly → consider proceeding but stay alert for other errors
• If they can’t admit the error or get defensive → serious credibility problem
• Either way, do additional due diligence — verify other claims they’ve made independently

Bottom line: If someone asking for your money, business, or trust can’t get basic facts right (or won’t admit when they’re wrong), that’s your cue to either walk away or scrutinize everything else much more carefully.
Claude AI

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Bob:

Someone said he had slashed prices by 600%. Is that possible?

Claude:

No, that’s not mathematically possible in any meaningful way.

When you reduce a price by a percentage, you’re taking away that percentage of the original price. A 100% reduction would bring the price to zero (you’ve reduced it by the entire amount).

If you tried to reduce by 600%, you’d be subtracting 6 times the original price, which would give you a negative price — meaning you’d somehow be paying customers to take the product.

Bob:

What should I say to someone who claims to slash prices by 600%?

Claude:

Here are some approaches depending on the context:

If it’s casual conversation:

• Just let it slide — they clearly mean prices are very low, and you understood the point
• Make a light joke: “So you’re paying me to buy it?” with a smile
• Gently clarify: “You mean 60% off? That’s a great deal!”

If it’s a business/professional setting:

• Politely ask for clarification: “Just to make sure I understand — do you mean prices are reduced by 60%, or that they’re now 1/6th of the original?”
• Focus on the actual numbers: “What’s the new price compared to the old one?” (sidesteps the percentage issue entirely)

If it’s advertising/marketing:

• For a formal complaint: Point out that “reductions over 100% are mathematically impossible” and ask for accurate pricing information
• If you’re a colleague: Privately mention “Hey, I think you meant 60% — the ad says 600% which doesn’t work mathematically”

The diplomatic approach:
Give them an easy out: “I think there might be a typo — did you mean 60% off or maybe prices are 1/6th of what they were?”

Most people make this mistake innocently (typo, brain slip, or genuine confusion), so gentle correction or just ignoring it is usually the way to go unless accuracy really matters in that situation.

Bob:

What if it is a business or professional setting, where someone making the claim is asking you to give them something of value—your business, your money, your endorsement, your approval, your trust?

Claude:

In that case, this is a serious red flag and you should address it directly. Here’s why and how:

Why it matters:
This reveals one of three problems, all concerning:

1. They don’t understand basic math — raises questions about competence
2. They’re being careless with facts — suggests poor attention to detail
3. They’re hoping you won’t notice — potential dishonesty

Any of these should make you pause before giving them your money, business, or endorsement.

How to address it:

Be direct but professional:

• “I notice you said you’ve reduced prices by 600%. That’s mathematically impossible — you can only reduce by up to 100%. Can you clarify what you actually mean?”
• Wait for their response and watch how they handle being corrected

What their response tells you:

• Good sign: “Oh! Sorry, I meant 60% — my mistake” (owns it quickly)
• Concerning: Defensiveness, doubling down, or vague deflection
• Red flag: “Well, you know what I mean” or dismissing your concern

Your next steps:

• If they make a simple mistake and own it quickly → consider proceeding but stay alert for other errors
• If they can’t admit the error or get defensive → serious credibility problem
• Either way, do additional due diligence — verify other claims they’ve made independently

Bottom line: If someone asking for your money, business, or trust can’t get basic facts right (or won’t admit when they’re wrong), that’s your cue to either walk away or scrutinize everything else much more carefully.

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