Hi, I'm Michael Mistretta, a teenager passionate about technology, photography, and God. Welcome to my online home where I write about technology, reviews, and my thoughts and opinions on technology-related matters. 
Me: I’m selling a pair of Shure e4c headphones for $199.
Buyer: I saw those on Amazon for $170. Will you sell for $125?
Me: I’ll sell them for $150.
Buyer: $140 and I’ll pick them up right now.
Me: $150 and you have a deal.
Buyer: I’m looking at a couple of other models also. If you decide to sell for $140, let me know.
Me: There’s a Wendy’s right outside my house. If you pick me up a combo, you can have the headphones for $140.
Buyer: I have to drive 30 minutes on the highway to get there - you should be buying me lunch! Whatever, I could go for Wendy’s today too.. $140 and a combo it is. No gigantic-sizing anything though! Where are you located?
Liked this post? Check out my in-depth iPhone 3G review, or an Introduction to Pro Photography. If you’re interested in Apple, there are also posts on Snow Leopard and MobileMe. Enjoy!
This is amazing.
Comment by Lindsea — March 13, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
Canada has cool (looking) currency
Comment by JPDyson — March 13, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
@JPDyson:Thank-you! We do not have Monopoly money for a currency!
Comment by Greg — March 13, 2008 @ 3:59 pm
Can you please submit that story with more detail to my show scriggity?
http://www.scriggity.com
send it to news@scriggity.com
we’ll make it an episode!
Comment by drew olanoff — March 13, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
You sold your headphones and got a free lunch. Nice.
Comment by David — March 13, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Haha! That’s great. I’d say with the cost of the combo and the labor of going to Wendy’s he still paid $150, I should try something like that next time I sell online
Comment by William Spaetzel — March 13, 2008 @ 4:05 pm
I have a feeling this going to become popular on reddit: http://reddit.com/info/6bzil/comments
I submitted it.
Very cool what you did there Mike!
Comment by Adam F. — March 13, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
I’m loving that green mark by your name, been staring for the last few mins.
Comment by Andrew — March 13, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Haha this just makes me laugh
Comment by rmaspero — March 13, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Just shows how Canadians have the brain power to work things out to benefit all parties involved. The way it should be.
A U.S. version would have ended in a road rage incident, home invasion, and a homocide….
Comment by Bubba — March 13, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Yes Bubba, the second you cross the U.S. border you become stupid and hostile 0_o
Comment by Andrew — March 13, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
I love Wendy’s too! Now, I will need to find something to sell on Craigslist.
Comment by chaosgone — March 13, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
LOL @ Bubba & Andrew! Oh, and good story too.
Comment by Leroy — March 13, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
Yes, go Canada. (I’m Canadian, eh?)
Craigslist is simple and mostly easy to use. The model of what a site should be.
Comment by Frederick — March 13, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
Holy crap! You guys can grow COWS up there in all that snow?
And here I figured you all just survived by eating sled dogs and pine bark!
Comment by tim — March 13, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Yes Bubba, the second you cross the U.S. border you become stupid and hostile 0_o
———-
Going South anyways
Comment by Bubba — March 13, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
Awesome. I recently bought a pair of snowboarding boots off craigslist. After some haggling about who’s dropping off versus picking up, we realized/discovered that we were actually both ditchng work to snowboard that weekend at the same mountain. We met on the mountain. No Wendy’s though, unfortunately.
Comment by 2pansam — March 13, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
Double Bacon Cheeseburger?
Comment by twodayslate — March 13, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
Nope. Actually, it was the Baconater.
Comment by Michael Mistretta — March 13, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
He failed to mention that I was the one giving him all these ideas. Mistretta isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.
Comment by Michael — March 13, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
Wow! This totally made my entire MONTH. I have to keep this for a chuckle again. Good barganing!
Comment by Chad Ohman — March 13, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
Canadian Dollar > America Buck
win.
Also,
Amero = fail
Comment by Sean — March 13, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
This is somewhat similar to what you can do in Mexico when you haggle for items. You may only want to pay $8 for an item, but he insists on $10. You can usually get away with saying that you’ll pay him $7 and a shot of tequila, which costs about $1.
Comment by Robert Mayer — March 13, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
Canadian Dollar > america buck > mexican peso
Comment by Sean — March 13, 2008 @ 10:33 pm
I love wendys. Great for eating it at work while reading MyLifeInaCube.com
Comment by My Life In a Cube — March 14, 2008 @ 12:00 am
my friend got a tv off of new york’s craigslist for the mere pittance of a subway sandwich. craigslist is bringing back the old ways of barter and trade and i love it.
Comment by jon — March 14, 2008 @ 1:37 am
Brilliance. Sheer brilliance. Why have I not thought of this earlier?!
Comment by Bean Salad — March 14, 2008 @ 1:40 am
I used to work at Wendys. may i suggest you no longer eat there.
Comment by Wiigee — March 14, 2008 @ 2:06 am
I honestly lament the fact that I can no longer make fun of Canadian currency, as it is now much more valuable than the steadily dropping dollar in my own country.
Comment by Adam — March 14, 2008 @ 2:50 am
Cool
Comment by Borrego — March 14, 2008 @ 3:43 am
Hope you enjoyed the “special sauce”!
Comment by RealityCheck — March 14, 2008 @ 3:47 am
LOL
Me loves the Craigslist! I once snagged a free couch which the wonderful C’lister ALSO delivered for free.
Comment by Kung Foodie — March 14, 2008 @ 3:52 am
Creative writing.
Visit http://craigslist-tips.blogspot.com/ for some nice tips on craigslist posting.
Comment by Craigslist boss — March 14, 2008 @ 4:18 am
I know the guy, he got himself lunch too…on a deal, not bad.
Comment by impooyepitstrue — March 14, 2008 @ 4:48 am
Very amusing Michael! No one seems to have mentioned this put the picture in the post is great, I don’t think it would be anywhere near so funny without it. It sums up the story very well.
Comment by Jonathan — March 14, 2008 @ 7:26 am
That was classic Craig’s List. Way to score a (non-gigantic super sized) combo meal.
Question for you: Did you end up eating lunch with the guy?
You guys might like this post as well…
Top 10 Awesome Websites That Sell Cool Products You Probably Have Never Visited But Need To.
http://www.comember.net/blogs/firepixel/
Take care
Comment by fire-pixel.com — March 14, 2008 @ 7:57 am
$160 for headphones? I can’t afford $150!! Where am I gonna get $140??? Will you take $130? On time? I’m good for it…
Comment by Alchin / Noneck — March 14, 2008 @ 9:30 am
What kind of person would pay that much for headphones?
Comment by Hizzoner — March 14, 2008 @ 9:44 am
Now that is a real deal-maker.
That is a terribly lot of money for used headphones.
Comment by rick — March 14, 2008 @ 9:52 am
Actually, the headphones were brand new:
http://flickr.com/photos/definetheline/2324960132/
Comment by Michael Mistretta — March 14, 2008 @ 10:34 am
So basically that combo meal cost you $59. Or $10. Either way, doesn’t look like you’re much of a negotiator.
Comment by David — March 14, 2008 @ 11:17 am
I didn’t expect more than $150 for the headphones. One rule of negotiating is always start high, and act like you are giving the buyer an amazing deal.
In my case, it was worth $10 for the quick sale and a Baconater as a plus.
Comment by Michael Mistretta — March 14, 2008 @ 11:20 am
Why would anyone trust a stranger to bring them food?
Creamanator anyone?
Comment by ALittleSlow — March 15, 2008 @ 1:05 am
…Canadians are gods
Comment by Jude — March 15, 2008 @ 1:25 am
Everyone knows god spelled backwards is dog.
Comment by American — March 15, 2008 @ 2:17 am
its nice to have lunch with someone new. i bet he got his moneys’ worth.
Comment by gord — March 15, 2008 @ 4:09 am
All Canadians wish they were American
Comment by can'tnada — March 15, 2008 @ 6:35 am
Thats pretty funny. Made me laugh as I use craigslist and never thought of doing that…maybe next time…
Comment by Justin — March 15, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
All Canadians wish they were American
______
I highly disagree, I’d rather my home not be taken by the government because the Canadian dollar is stronger.
Comment by yourmom, — March 15, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Kid, you rock, brilliant!
Comment by Felicia — March 15, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
Aha that is so awesome. I’m fixin’ for some Wendy’s now though.
Comment by Annie — March 15, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
Great story!!
The site I use gives away free stuff.. I furnished my whole apt from that site. When I moved in I had a computer, clothing & ummmm ya… I now have a desk, dresser, futon bunkbed, chairs, glass table, more clothing, a sterio for my car, 90gallon fish tank, a 2ed computer, tv, gamecube, a dog kennel, & everything I need in a kitchen & then some.
Freecycle.org is a wicked site!! I also love craigslist too, just not so much when I’m poor as dirt & needed stuff asap.
Comment by Kingrattus — March 16, 2008 @ 1:10 am
Hey Michael,
I’m a freelance producer with the CBC in Ontario. I did a radio piece about selling my stuff on Craigslist that you’ll get a kick out of, it’s here:
http://therozblog.com/2007/09/17/cbc-radio-piece-craigslist/
Cheers!
Roz
Comment by Roz Allen — March 16, 2008 @ 8:04 am
smart kid..
Comment by carmella — March 16, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
yeah..our money is pretty colorful
Comment by carmella — March 16, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
Wow… I just got that the colorful things were money… I thought they were, like, coupon books, or something…
Wow.
Comment by Adam Fisher-Cox — March 16, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
I had an expirience similar to this on a forum, borrowed a tool for 2×12 packs of coke and a $200 deposit. Got the deposit back when I returned the tool.
Comment by Jordan — March 17, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
How would he know that he had to drive for a half hour if he didn’t yet know where you were located?
Comment by skeptical — March 18, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
I had the general intersection posted on Craigslist but not the exact address.
Comment by Michael Mistretta — March 19, 2008 @ 7:02 am
that is sweet
Comment by Josh — March 19, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
he spat in your drink and put some snot in your burger…enjoy
Comment by mike — March 20, 2008 @ 11:22 pm
I’m moving to Canada because their money is prettier.
Comment by Chrissy — March 20, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
Craigslist rules! Good haggle job to get lunch delivered out of the deal.
I got a 29″ inch GE television for free off CL. It was only a year or two old. Beautiful picture. Even had batteries in the remote! I’m watching it right now as I do every day. Only thing wrong with it was the cable jack in back was loose. You had to jiggle the cable to get a signal. Took about 15 seconds with a soldering iron to fix it. I even offered to fix it for the lady and not take it because I felt like I was stealing a new TV. But she just wanted it gone. Ok, fine lady, I’ll give it a good home. 8^)
Zeus bless Craigslist.
Comment by Out — March 21, 2008 @ 12:25 am
My father used to do the reverse with African flea market vendors, in Paris. At the end of the haggling ritual, he’d offer to pay for coffee as a supplement to the price he was ready to pay. Though that coffee cost little (10FF), several vendors would often agree with such a deal. My father’s interpretation was that the coffee was a way for vendors to feel like they had succeeded in the bargaining process.
In this case, it sounds like the deal reached was fair and equitable, actually. The buyer got the headphones more quickly and at a lower price than on Amazon. S/he was able to get a meal at the same time. It sounds like the delivered meal and convenience of quick pickup were worth 10$ to you. Win-win.
P.S. Strange how I miss these bills…
Comment by Alexandre — March 21, 2008 @ 1:01 pm
Now to wonder just what was done to your lunch prior to you having gotten it and eating it heheeh =)
Comment by joe — March 22, 2008 @ 11:53 am
As a border baby, I do appreciate the Canadian currency. I always thought it was pretty. Plus it’s kind of worth more these days, which is why so many Canadian license plates can be spotted in the local mall parking lot.
Comment by Kelly — March 22, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
haha that’s amazing craigslist is really great
Comment by Rekzai — March 23, 2008 @ 1:01 am
Now that’s what I call bartering. Shame Craig’s List doesn’t look very nice… Haha.
Comment by Bull3t — March 25, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
I love the comment from Bubba: “A U.S. version would have ended in a road rage incident, home invasion, and a homocide….”
I guess a “HOMOcide” would definitely qualfy as a hate crime, although I doubt Americans are more homophobic than Canadians.
Comment by John — March 26, 2008 @ 9:56 am
Funny about the border IQ/violence level re-indexer. Its true too!
Take for exampe these:
* Paul Bernardo (born 1964), murderer
* Edwin Alonzo Boyd, bank robber
* Marc Carbonneau, terrorist
* Jacques Cossette-Trudel, terrorist
* Louise Cossette-Trudel, terrorist
* Larry Fisher, murderer
* Karla Homolka, murderer (Mrs. Paul Bernardo)
* Jacques Lanct�t, FLQ Terrorist
* Yves Langlois, FLQ Terrorist
* Robert Latimer, murdered his 12-year-old disabled daughter
*
Marc Lépine, killed 14 women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique in 1989
* Bernard Lortie, FLQ Terrorist
* Denis Lortie, killed three people at the Quebec National Assembly in 1984
* Clifford Olson, serial child killer
* Paul Rose, terrorist
* Jacques Rose, terrorist
* Francis Simard, terrorist
* Colin Thatcher, murderer
* Inderjit Singh Reyat — the alleged bomb-maker of the device that blew up Air India Flight 182, pleaded guilty to the murder of the 329 passengers in 2003
Oh wait. Wrong list, those are canadians. *sigh* And here I was hoping that crossing the border to the north would put me in happy land!
Comment by John Smith — March 28, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
It’s funny how a pleasant story like this can turn into Canadians and Americans bashing each other. I guess it bothers me to see my country being ripped on but who the hell cares. Both sides here are ignorant donkeys.
Comment by Luke — April 8, 2008 @ 12:55 am
oh man, that is hilarious! Cannot believe that actually happened.
By the way, I am Travis Reynolds, I really like what you got going here. I just subrscribed, can’t wait to see what you got in the future!
Travis
Comment by Travis Reynolds — April 8, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
This is priceless. Cool story. Oh and for John Smith, here’s a saying you should look into. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Or how about, clean up your own back yard first before you start commenting on ours. It’s narrow minded people like you that spoil it for the rest. What a shame everyone in the States has to be painted with the same brush.
Comment by Hendy — April 11, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
ROFL. I’m just a “narrow minded person” responding to narrow minded people. BUt apparently people can’t see the actual point. There are good and bad people everywhere. If the first commender had stated.. ” since this happened in canada, we’re lucky it didn’t turn into a terrorist incident” then whats the diff. People hurt, insult, and generally act stupid everywhere. Drawing an imaginary line on a map doesn’t change that.
I do what I can to clean up my own backyard. But when my neighbor throws trash in it, I throw it back.
SO. lets change what I said the first time and make it simple so everyone can understand. Shit happens. Everywhere. TO everyone. Constantly. Welcome to the human race.
Might want to scroll up and see who threw the first stone.
Comment by John Smith — April 13, 2008 @ 12:41 am
*sigh* My apologies. Its not this important. I’m oversensitive about random insults for no apparent reason and let my need to “rebutt” overcome me.
Fact is, i’m an extremely disabled person, on oxygen 24/7, approaching the time when even my walker wont’ suffice, and despite all this thre are people who will go out of their way to be dicks to me just because i’m an easy target. Its amazing. I’ve been sitting in a lift van, with a friend who is a full quad in a power chair, me with my oxy and breath assist on, and some jerk flips us off, throws beer bottles at the van and stands their cussing till our “keeper” comes back out of the store so we can leave. I tend to fight back against such attitudes and actions however I can. Perhaps next time something like that happens (or worse) I’ll pull a gun, invade their home, then drive home in a rage.
I come by it naturally, but again my apologies. Everyone knows you can run into problems anywhere in any country. I don’t need to point it out.
Comment by John Smith — April 13, 2008 @ 1:10 am
I love this because I work at wendy’s
Comment by Alanah — April 22, 2008 @ 1:27 am
Hahaha
That’s great
Comment by Mark Rowland — April 29, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
don’t talk trash about america, canadians. we stick with you for pretty much everything. we’re almost completely integrated. you play in all of our ‘national’ sports leagues. we’re so close and have great trade…i love canadian accents, and i love hockey… why you guys gotta be hatin’ so much? and why’s it always on america? such a common target nowadays, guys. comon show some class, huh?
Comment by ra,m — May 3, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
LMAO @ RealityCheck… That’s exactly what I thought!
Comment by David — May 31, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
i live by the cannadian border in america, and i think it is stupid how americans and canadians are always bashing each other and have no reason too, if this was between mexico and america it might be a little more excuseable.
Comment by Aleks — June 6, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
I love it..Haha — just throw in some Wendy’s!
Comment by Jenna — July 17, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
Hah! Nice hagglin’ there, buddy! btw the americans are just jealous of canadians, thats how all bashing starts… jealousy :P.. greetings from norway (usa wannabes)
Comment by Magnus — August 2, 2008 @ 6:34 pm