most simple analogy to explain the shorting yet...
http://cmkx.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=general&num=1090430340&action=display&start=...
From Canuck:
I am not sure I understood Sterling’s post but I think he has gone nuts...
This is not rocket science although Sterling would like people to think it is.
Let’s say there are 500 cars for sale from Casavant Cars. 500 people come into the store to buy a car. The dealer (JEFF car sales) sells each one of them a car. Later that day, 200 more people come in to buy cars. He has no cars, but writes up a sale and takes their money. Now at some point he has to deliver these 200 (shorted) cars. On paper, all 700 people own a car. 500 people actually have cars, 200 think they have cars. Everyone is happy. The dealer has made a ton of free money.
Now, what the JEFF the dealer is counting on is that by the time any people from the block of 200 buyers come in to pick up their car, some of the original block of 500 would have sold the car back to JEFF the dealer at a lower price. Then he can take these cars and give them to the second block of people who has come in to get their cars.
Suddenly Casavant Cars informs all Casavant car owners that they will be receiving a free UCAD toaster for their loyalty and to pick them up at the JEFF’s dealership on Aug 20. Now JEFF the dealer is screwed because he has sold 700 cars. 700 people are coming to get their toasters. So he either has to convince 200 of the owners to sell him their cars before Aug 20, or he has to get 200 more toasters from somewhere.
So what will the dealer do? Whatever is cheaper.
Let says buying the cars back it cheaper. First he is not going to make a big deal out of the toasters because ideally he would like to buy the cars back to get his books in order. So he does what he can to convince people to sell him the cars back. If it appears that nobody is selling their cars, he will have to offer more money to convince them to sell. He will have to keep jacking up what price he is willing to buy at until he can convince 200 people out of the 700 to sell their cars. Now let say he has managed to convince (or scared) 100 people to sell their cars. But he still needs 100 more cars or has to buy 100 UCAD toasters out of his pocket.
At some point JEFF the dealer may realize it is cheaper to buy 100 more UCAD toasters to give to the people, rather than paying a premium for 100 cars. So he will buy 100 UCAD toasters to cover his shorted cars. Now he is thinking “whew, that was close.” However, he still has 100 cars that he can not deliver on.
But then, Casavant cars announce that they are providing another loyalty reward to car owners. Casavant cars have manufactured 500 special CIM car stereos for all their car owners, and to pick these up at JEFF dealership on Aug 30. Now the dealer is screwed because 600 people are going to show up to get their new CIM stereos and he only has 500, *and* the dealer can not buy extra stereos from anywhere. So the only way to stay out of jail is to do *whatever* it takes to get 100 more people to sell their cars.
I hope this makes sense. Ignore Sterling’s weird theories and ramblings. It is not rocket science, it’s simple math. (No disrespect Sterling, but give me a break.)
His double cover theory is ridiculous.
JMO.
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