posted on January 29, 2001 09:45:55 AM new
All you dumpster divers and garage sale hounds…think you've got it tough? Well let me tell you what I've got to do to make a buck.
First I take a flight on a cheesy airline to a third world country. I then take a ride in a rickety old rust bucket of a car through dirty old roads into the tropical wilderness. When the road becomes a nearly impassable mud slickened obstacle course through narrow and
death defying mountain passes, I hitch a ride on the back of a peasant and critter-laden malodorous truck. My pockets are stuffed with cash, as credit cards are unwelcome in places where modern conveniences, such as electricity are still decades away. Avoiding gun and machete toting bandits, I find my contacts and deal for gemstone rough.
I must now hand-carry an eighty-pound sack of rocks wherever I go.
I hitch another ride in the back of a filthy pickup truck along with ten flu-infested natives and a snot dripping, flea endowed dog that keeps sticking his foul rump in my face.
Swatting mosquitoes, escaping scorpions, and several other of God's revengeful vermin, I return to my home sweet home. Undernourished, exhausted and now with the flu, I carefully begin to trim, cut and polish beautiful little gems. Once a gem is finished I weigh it, measure it, photograph it and list it on eBay for a mere fraction of its worth.
My reward? I just got an email from a buyer: I was noticing your listing, I think it is overpriced, if it doesn't sell on eBay, would you consider selling it for less afterwards?
posted on January 29, 2001 09:50:28 AM new
Would you consider selling your entire inventory to me at 1/3 what you have it listed for in cash? Got any extra plane tickets?
posted on January 29, 2001 09:55:12 AM new
I was just sitting here cursing (kind of) a few bottom feeders who not only want me to drop the price but also pay the postage and the insurance to get the item to them.
Then I read your comments. My life is much easier!
posted on January 29, 2001 10:12:14 AM new
sosoal,
I deal in computer equipment. If you could pick some up for me on your next trip, I'll give you half of what you pay for it.
Thanks
LOL
posted on January 29, 2001 10:21:36 AM new
Sounds like "Romancing The Stone". Michael Douglas? Hey, you got Kathleen Turner, that's worth somethin'.
Most of us don't have nearly that much adventure in our dreary lives. That adventure should be more than enough compensation for low sales, insulting bottom feeders and the like.
[ edited by loosecannon on Jan 29, 2001 10:27 AM ]
posted on January 29, 2001 10:56:09 AM new
I too think it would be a wonderful life. You could also write a book on your adventures and get it published. Lots of us who have led deary monotonous read this sort of stuff.
buyhigh
posted on January 29, 2001 11:29:27 AM new
Sorry, I'm not Jerry or Michael. My wife is not Kathleen but I think she's prettier. I actually do this for the fun and adventure. I wrote a book several years ago and I still write magazine articles with some regularity. Somebody might actually recognize me but I doubt it. I sometimes lurk around here and will occasionally add my two centavos.
Remember, if it's good enough to do, it's good enough to do to excess.
posted on January 29, 2001 11:57:31 AM new
Excess is my middle name. I love your closing line. Actually, the fun part of selling is the gathering. I have bags and bags of stuff to sell when I get around to it. My family just thinks they will get money when I expire. Surprise
