# In Glengarry Glen Ross, what exactly are the salesmen selling? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998 "2012-03-07T01:53:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/121 "2012-10-25T19:54:07Z")
> [@COGringo](#): > > To add to that, the NY’rs I spoke to said that thought they had bought a vacation property and were stuck with it. When my father bought a lot (see post 113) it was sold as a retirement home. New Yorkers back then did not go to New Mexico for vacation - still don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/122 "2012-10-25T19:58:13Z")
> [@COGringo](#): > > OK, so I’ve been to the place that this story was based on. > > Rio Rancho, NM. Our very large IT company has an office there. There are quite a few NY’rs there. Some even opened restaurants. > > I could be wrong but that was the going talk from years ago when I had to travel there on a normal basis. We are the Glengarry Glenross location. > > It fits the bill. You have people there saying they were scammed and people from the Northeast there with no business being there. Except that Rio Ranchos is specifically mentioned in the movie, at least. And Rio Ranchos was hardly the first land scam, ones in Florida were notorious, and the inspiration for the Marx Brothers’ Coconuts. The claim was that ALBQ could only expand North, making Rio Ranchos valuable. Didn’t happen. I can see my land on Google satellite view, corner of cactus and cactus. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/123 "2012-10-26T01:55:15Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > All of the salesmen regard their ability to sell as a test of their virility. This can’t be overemphasized, I don’t think. A continuing theme in Mamet’s work is the idea that being a man means passing up this or that moral stance, family, whatever, and doing whatever the immediate code of men around you demands. Foregrounding manhood, putting it before humanity, because the dark subtext is that if you are not a man, why worry about being a decent human being? Mamet makes that message particularly chilling because of how inevitable he makes it seem. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/124 "2012-10-26T14:56:20Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > This can’t be overemphasized, I don’t think. A continuing theme in Mamet’s work is the idea that being a man means passing up this or that moral stance, family, whatever, and doing whatever the immediate code of men around you demands. Foregrounding manhood, putting it before humanity, because the dark subtext is that if you are not a man, why worry about being a decent human being? Mamet makes that message particularly chilling because of how inevitable he makes it seem. And it explains why WIlliamson hates the salesmen so much, and enjoys jerking them around on the lead. He’s not a salesman, he’s an office manager. To the salesman, that’s a WOMAN’S job. To them, if you’re not out there selling, you might as well be wearing a pink tutu. When a salesman is on top, like Roma, he feels free to address Williamson (who’s NOMINALLY their boss) as a “fairy” and to ask “Who told you you could work with MEN?” When Shelly Levene WAS a top salesman like Roma, he undoubtedly treated Williamson the same way. Small wonder that, when Shelly went into a slump and needed good leads, Williamson toyed with him, sending him to sits with the Patels and the Nordbergs. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/125 "2012-10-27T19:16:56Z")
Totally awesome movie, gripping from beginning to end and one of my favourites of all time. I heard that the stars who appeared in it did so for, in stars terms, minimum wage because they thought that it was so F good !. And that they turned up on set; even when they weren’t being filmed. Not many movies like that around. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/126 "2012-10-28T00:56:56Z")
Did any of you who liked Glengayy Glen Ross watch[the Prime Gig?](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prime_gig/) ---
**Author:** ![COGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@COGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/COGringo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/127 "2012-10-29T14:01:49Z")
The cacti and dirt are a nice change from NY. Talk about contrast. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/128 "2012-10-29T14:21:39Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Did any of you who liked Glengayy Glen Ross watch[the Prime Gig?](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prime_gig/) Sorry, they lost me in the first line of the description : “Vince Vaughn stars in this drama as Pendleton “Penny” Wise, a gifted telemarketer who can sell almost anything over the phone.” Penny Wise? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/129 "2012-10-29T14:32:07Z")
Pennywise but pound foolish…? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/130 "2012-10-29T15:40:44Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > This can’t be overemphasized, I don’t think. A continuing theme in Mamet’s work is the idea that being a man means passing up this or that moral stance, family, whatever, and doing whatever the immediate code of men around you demands. Foregrounding manhood, putting it before humanity, because the dark subtext is that if you are not a man, why worry about being a decent human being? Mamet makes that message particularly chilling because of how inevitable he makes it seem. Well, Mamet IS a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/132 "2025-04-19T12:52:28Z")
See this watch? It’s got jewels so big it stops the hands from moving! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/133 "2025-04-19T13:33:37Z")
I’ve seen the ABC scene on YT, but have never seen the movie. For some reason I (wrongly) assumed this movie was a dud (other than the ABC scene). I guess I need to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/134 "2025-04-19T16:49:26Z")
Timely for this thread to pop up again since the play is currently on Broadway in another revival, this time starring Kieran Culkin (Roma), Bob Odenkirk (Levene), Bill Burr (Moss) and Michael McKean. Tickets are super $$$ but I did get to see it, it’s hard to watch other actors when the performances of Pacino and Lemmon are so ingrained in my mind! As someone else said earlier, the stage play is much funnier than the film. It’s interesting they use the ABC and “coffee is for closers” lines in the marketing yet that scene has still not been added into the play. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/135 "2025-04-19T17:10:59Z")
I bought 80 acres of land in Arizona, around 15 miles from the New Mexico border 30 years ago. I was not under any (or at least, not many) illusions that the land would make me rich someday. I wanted to build an off-grid straw bale ski cabin (the land is maybe 40 miles from Sunrise ski resort). I never got around to doing anything with it, and I still pay the taxes. The land is worth about what I bought it for, maybe more. It’s actually quite a beautiful, if stark, location, with dark skies and 360° views. But - no water/sewer/power. But also - no close neighbors. Not sure if it was a GG/GR situation, but maybe… View from the property: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/2064/2449907090_4eac07ef48_b.jpg "Worf 9-5-99") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/2449907090/in/dateposted-public/) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/136 "2025-04-19T17:17:41Z")
Cute pooch! Is that a dab of water center far left? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/137 "2025-04-19T17:27:58Z")
Yes, the Little Colorado. Property has a view of Lyman lake (when it’s full enough). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998/138 "2025-04-19T20:11:14Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > I think the DVD commentary says it’s worthless swamp land in Florida without infrastructure, prettied-up with a grand sounding name (“Glengarry Heights” for example) and sold as “the investment opportunity of a lifetime”. The land is in Arizona- > **[Movie plot continues to affect Sandoval County](https://www.rrobserver.com/rio-rancho-estates/article_d074d116-cba4-5468-9fdd-9c6f252df5db.html)** > > Landowners don't even know they own underdeveloped, half-acre plots in Rio Rancho Estates. It continues to affect the local economy. _The movie, “Glengarry Glen Ross,” is the story of salesmen working under immense pressure and tight deadlines to sell land in a fictional place called Rio Rancho Estates in Arizona. It’s loosely based on the history of Rio Rancho, and the legacy continues to affect the City of Vision._ So, yeah, you could get to the land on a dirt road- no water, no utilities, etc. A similar thing happened with California City, where my Dad actually bought a parcel. However, again a court order, intervened and some stuff- pool, golf, artificial lake, etc was actually built. There are now 13000 people living there, mostly retirees or people who work at Edwards AFB. > **[California City, California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_City,_California)** > > California City is a city located in northern Antelope Valley in Kern County, California, United States. It is 100 miles (160 km) north of the city of Los Angeles, and the population was 14,973 at the 2020 census. Covering 203.63 square miles (527.4 km2), California City has the third-largest land area of any city in the state of California (behind San Diego and Los Angeles), and is the largest city in California, by land area, that is not a county seat. It is the 43rd-largest city in the Unite... > [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Related question in GGR - what does the word ‘sit’ mean that they use, e.g. You think this is abuse? You can’t take this how can you take the abuse you get on a sit? A “_sit_ down” with potential clients. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-glengarry-glen-ross-what-exactly-are-the-salesmen-selling/614998.md?page=6)