Originally Posted by
FBinNY
As I said ---- WORDS HAVE MEANINGS. In stock means just what it implies, someplace in a warehouse, on the shelf or floor that the seller controls. There are other phrases to describe "we'll get it for you as soon as possible".
Now if Niagara chooses to redefine "in stock" to mean in our catalog, then they have an obligation to make that clear. OTOH if everyone decides that they can redefine words willy nilly, then business communication will become meaningless words strung together.
Okey dokey. You guys getting all upset about it doesn't change that fact that IN STOCK at Niagara means what it means. I don't think it's that big of a deal. Marketers make stuff up that's not true to get you to buy their products all the time. In fact, I would argue that business communication IS meaningless words strung together.