Reuters
A billboard carries a message for the coal industry near Wheeling, West Virginia January 25, 2013.
Imagine! Your roof is leaking. You call a roofer, and ask him to fix it. Instead of asking for a quote, you suggest the following: "I will pay you 5 percent of the price of all the tools you bring, and I'll pay for whatever materials you need to fix the problem. Honestly, I really believe that's the only fair way to deal with this."
What do you think? Will the roofer bring more tools than he would have if he were receiving a flat rate? Will you end up paying more than if you had asked five different roofers to provide quotes?
The full text of this article is available on US News & World Report's website. It will be posted to AEI.org on Friday, July 19, 2013.








