You might or might not know that about a month ago I bought an iPad from Apple.com in the US. I knew it would be perfect for my needs and not just myself, but my whole family loved it. In fact, I loved it so much that last Monday, when the iPad was released in Canada, I pre-ordered one with the cellular modem, so I could take it with me on the road. Keeping both just wasn’t an option, so I had to find a way to sell the WiFi only one.

I put an ad on Craigslist, but somehow there wasn’t any response. What I did find on Craigslist though were a lot of bitter people posting “iPad Sellers Eat My Short” ads, complaining about many highly overpriced iPads imported from the US, being sold in Canada for a premium. Apart from the fact that you really need to get a life if you find the time to take out an ad in Craigslist just to insult people, I was worried I would get mixed up in the wash of sellers that were indeed just trying to make a quick buck. So late last night I placed a different ad on Craigslist that went something like this:

SELLING MY iPad 32 GB…

I’m selling my iPad 32 GB Wifi. I need the cash. The iPad is like new. It comes in the original box, with the charger and the leaflet and everything. I even put the cellophane wrapper back on it. I never registered it, so you can do that with the serial number to get the full warranty. And it doesn’t matter if it’s American or not.. in case you should run into with it during the warranty period, bring it to a Canadian Apple Store. You are covered. Seriously, I’m not trying to rip anyone off. I am not making any money with it. I am losing $ 170. The only catch is the fact that I’m in (…) and you have to pick it up. If you can do that, and bring me 600 dollars in CASH ONLY, I will give you a nearly new iPad 32 GB Wifi and one dollar change. 
Sold as is. You get a deal, and I get no whining. 

Suddenly, I was flooded with emails. Not one, two or three… a whole dozen within 5 minutes from the moment the ad appeared on Craigslist. The first one from a kid that begged me to PLEASE hold it for him because he had to ask his parents first (!!). ‘Yeah right!’, I thought, ‘no way I am going to see any money from him’. But he was first in line, so I wrote him I would wait until the next morning. The morning came, and he emailed me that his parents had said yes, but that he wouldn’t be able to come to pick it up until the weekend. Since I wanted the buyer to meet me at work, it didn’t fit into my plans and I moved onto the next inquiry… A certain John Smith had emailed me that since he lived in the same town, he would be able to pick it up right away. Excellent. I emailed him back asking when he could come by and he emailed me back ‘Call me’. Hmmm. Ok, whatever. So I call. 

“Hi, are you John? I’m the one selling the iPad.”

“Yes, I’m John. So… why are you selling it?” (John Smith?? With a HEAVY east-Indian accent??? Whatever.)

“Uhm… because I need the money?” (Did you not read the ad?)

“Oh, ok. So… if I come right now, how much will you sell it to me for??”

“Uhm… $ 599. Like I wrote in the ad. I have 12 other people lined up waiting to buy it, so if you want it, bring me 600 bucks and I give you one dollar change.” (Again, did you not read the ad before emailing me???)

(He laughs) “Ok. I just thought, if I take it off your hands right now you would…”

“Don’t even bother coming down here if you are not willing to give me 600. I am not going to sell it for less.” (I am starting to get SLIGHTLY annoyed now)

“Oh… Ok. Let me call you right back.” (Hangs up).

Uhm. Ok then.

In the meantime, I get an email from the kid that contacted me the night before. He is really trying hard to find a way get to me to pick up the iPad. But he has school, and his dad is working, and he begs me to hold it for him until Saturday. At that point I know I’ll be selling it to him. I just feel bad to disappoint him. I even agree to meet him at my office Saturday morning, even though that means an hour drive for me, just so that he can have it. 

“I’ll wait. But I want no surprises, ok? There are 11 other people who are willing to buy it from me,” I tell him. He promises that there aren’t going to be any surprises. I give him my phone number and work address. 10 minutes later the phone rings, and his mom is on the line. She is very friendly and tells me she will be able to come to my office right now to pick it up. And she even apologizes for all the back and forth. “You know how kids are,” she says, laughing. I know. Not only do I have one, I am LIKE one. I tell her not to worry, and that I’ll be waiting.

One hour later she’s at the front desk. I show her the iPad. While I put it back in the box, she tells me that her oldest son wanted one for his birthday. And then she says that he will be going to Kenia this summer to help building a school there for the kids, and while he’s there, he will need something to keep in touch with his family here. The iPad is large enough to easily type on, and small enough to conceal in a dangerous place like Nairobi. Wow. She hands me a wad of 20 dollar bills. I don’t even count the money. I just trust her. I shake her hand, she walks back to her car. Then I remember something…

“Wait!” I yell, running after her. “You forgot your change!” I say, handing her the dollar. She laughs, doesn’t want to take it. I put it in her hand. “Give it to your son,” I say, waving good-bye.

Just in case you’re wondering now: No, she didn’t rip me off. I was right to trust her. She had given me what I asked for, in real money. I’m happy, she’s happy, and her son will be REALLY happy when he gets home from school today… All is well.

And John Smith? He still hasn’t called me back. If he does, I’ll tell him that his iPad is in Africa. Nah… Who am I kidding? If he should ever call me back, I just won’t answer the phone.