The Ask Peter series is back, where people ask me a question, and I answer it, right here, right in front of you, in this very blog. Perhaps you can ask a more interesting question than these snooze-inducers, a record amount:

Marks in Math

peter please tell me will i get good marks this time in maaths
– manasi

Only if you study.

Marks in Math, Part II

peter please tell me that what is my grade in maths exam?

peter please please tell me whether i’ll be the top of the class this year?
– swathi

Swathi, you might want to see my advice to manasi. Except, considering you two use the same email address, you probably already know my advice.

Names of Pets

Whats my birds name?
Whats my pets name?
– Demitra

Is your pet from the second question the same as your bird from the first question? Why the two questions?

Also… um… Polly. I’m going with Polly.

Rubber Band Orders

Hello
Greetings to you and the Company,My name is Kevin and i am here to place an order of Rubber Bands and i would like to know if you sell Rubber Bands and the type of Bands you sell,I would like to know if you you do accept Credit Cards as a method of payment…

Hope to hear from you back…
Best Regards
Kevin Bryan

Um… I sell many a variety of rubber bands. Big, small, blue, beige, what do you want? They’ll be $0.15 each. And sure, I’ll accept Credit Cards, but only if you want me to make purchases with them on Steam.

Rubber Band Orders, Part II

Hello Sir/Madam,

With much regards to your company am Bernard Morrison and I will like to make an order for rubber bands. Let me know the types and sizes that you have so I can choose and make an order.Kindly let me know the price and types of credit cards you do accept for payment, a prompt response will be appreciated.

Regards,
Bernard.

Why, hello. You sound awfully like Kevin. But I’ll sell to you too.

Pets, Part II

Do I have a pet?
– Lola

Normally, this would be about a 50-50 odds at me guessing right. But I know you used the same email as “Demitra” from above, who asked me for the name of her pet bird. Therefore, I’m pretty sure you’re also Demitra, and you indeed have a pet. Specifically, you have a bird. BOOM.

On Boyfriends

Whos My Boyfriend.?
– mariel

It’s a trick question; you don’t have a boyfriend. This is because no boy would ever date a girl who ends sentences with “.?”.

On Age

how old am i_
– Anonymous

Not old enough to use proper capitalization or punctuation, that’s for sure.

On Boyfriends, Part II

Who do I have a crush on and who will I marry? What would be the date?
– Azaria

Why don’t you find some of the other Ask Peter questioners who are also looking for crushes, and try your luck with them.

On Ice Cream Trucks and Economics

What are the economics of owning an ice cream truck? — Ben

Let’s see… with the power of Google, I can be knowledgeable about everything. Here’s my synthesis of some of the leading ice cream truck sources:

You don’t get much out of an ice cream truck unless you plan on getting into the business. Doing so has some benefits, namely low start-up costs (buying a truck is a lot less expensive than buying a store); low maintenance costs (maintaining a truck is less expensive than maintaining a building, and you won’t have utility taxes); mobility (you can drive your store to where the people are); business independence (you often get to be your own boss); and community (by driving around, you can reach and build connections with many parts of town); and unlimited wages (you get to earn as much as you can make).

However, there are also some cons to the business, such as seasonality (it’s difficult to get people to buy ice cream in the winter); weather (it’s difficult to get people to buy ice cream in the rain); inversed holidays (you’re best time to work is when other people aren’t working, meaning you can’t take the same vacations and holidays as other people); gas money (it’s expensive); and profit limited wages (you only get to earn as much as you can make, which definitely won’t be hundreds of thousands).

MSNBC says that the average ice cream truck owner earns about $25000 a year. Which isn’t all that good, unless supplemented with another source of income.

So assuming you’re down with this, how do you become an ice cream truck owner? First you have to buy the truck. You’ll have to decorate it with all the proper signs and outfit it with working freezers. Then you have to obtain the proper liscencing from the cities you intend to operate in, meaning you must contact the local Department of Motor Vehicles and/or the Department of Consumer Affairs. Next, you must contact the local Health Department, because you’ll require inspections in order to sell food.

Once you’re done with this, you’ll need an understanding of how to maximize profit, which may require some economics or business courses. Then you should create a route and stick with it, to build up a customer base.

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