I Fried my iPod

I recently was involved with a simple exchange of goods. The trade came with some unexpected emotions; the bad kind.

Last month’s cover story in Inc. Magazine got me quite jazzed. It was an article about Jason Fried’s business path, and how he honed his skill for making money. It’s a skill which scales. The basic principles hold true for both a lemonade stand and an internet business.

“Buy and sell the same thing over and over on Craigslist or eBay. Seriously.”

Snip from the article

I took away something from that practical advice. It was simple and graspable. I happen to be ready to upgrade my ipod, so I started on this route.

I found one on CL I liked, around Boston, and bought it. Next step was to sell mine. Hopefully for around the same price.

No one bit around here. Flattering pictures. Killer content. Still no dice. I was going to be spending a weekend in VT, so I threw it on their CL to try some different water. My bobber was bobbing up and down: there were some nibbles. I followed up with one and eventually made the exchange.

I met the young man in the middle of town, in front of a bike shop….with his mother. Once it was determined that I was not the craigslist killer or the like, the product was examined, accepted and I was handed a wad of what seemed to be well-earned cash.

My torn-two-handed-explanation is; On the one hand; I upgraded my 4 year old iPod to the newest style for 10 bucks…..not bad. On the other hand; I remember that wad of cash. I remember how long it took to earn. I scammed a kid.

A relic of swindlery surfaces every time I tell the story. It hits me, no matter how cool I try to make the cheap-upgrade sound. I don’t want to do business like that. I want to sleep at night.

This wasn’t really Jason’s point. He wasn’t promoting sleazy car salesmendry. I look up to the guy, in many ways. Maybe I’m being too idealistic, but the business transaction didn’t feel like a win-win. It just happen to strike a nerve with me.