The statistomat pitch

"The Statistomat Pitch" by Chandler Davis is a science fiction story written in the late 1950s. The narrative revolves around a clever salesman who introduces a sophisticated investment device known as the Statistomat to a wealthy potential client, Jed Borch. The book explores themes of finance, ethics in investment practices, and corporate competition, as the protagonist grapples with the implications of the salesman’s pitch and the hidden motives behind it. In the story, Borch meets with the salesman who attempts to convince him to adopt the Statistomat for personalized estate planning and investment management. As the salesman elaborates on the features of the Statistomat, Borch grows increasingly skeptical and inquisitive about the machine's claims and the actual risks involved. Eventually, after probing deeper into the salesman's assertions, Borch reveals his true identity as an investigator for the Fair Trade Corps, exposing the salesman for promoting dubious investment practices. The narrative concludes with Borch’s brother, a junior executive at a competing firm, expressing satisfaction with their efforts to protect their company from potential fraud, encapsulating the competitive tension within the corporate world.