Comments | pshaw_raven: Just a Buck

pshaw_raven

Just a Buck

Jan 08, 2016 13:25

Late last year, Fox signed me up for a service called Bobcat in a Box. Based on an xkdc comic, this bot goes online every day and purchases an item with a cost of one American dollar or less, and has free shipping. You wouldn't think there would be a lot of stuff out there for under a buck that ships for free, but it's amazing what shows up in the ( Read more... )

friends and rivals, mailbox joy, lj idol, money well spent

Comments 20

leni_ba January 8 2016, 21:50:15 UTC

Well done. You've definitely reminded me of all the little great finds I've done at a dollar store. :)

pshaw_raven January 10 2016, 20:32:18 UTC

Oh good! I like dollar stores, too but i never seem to make the cool finds i see people post pics of.

orockthro January 8 2016, 23:55:26 UTC

That is an exceptionally strange service to pay $365/year for. XD
I think the value of world labor is eventually going to have to come to a head... Like you said, there are a lot of humans involved in that thing you got from China. It's insane when you lay it out like you have. It FLEW from one side of the world to you. And it cost you a dollar. It was conceptualized, manufactured, and packaged for that same dollar.
That's... just as insane as that Bobcat service...

pshaw_raven January 10 2016, 20:33:16 UTC

I know - when you think about it, it really is mind-boggling and a bit frightening.

lordrexfear January 9 2016, 03:41:48 UTC

You sent me into unboxing videos and for that I thank you and hate you... :) but more thank you.

pshaw_raven January 10 2016, 20:33:43 UTC

Lol good. :)

expandranon January 9 2016, 07:42:13 UTC

When it comes to markets and manufacturing, China is an amazing, scary place. They'll make you anything you want, copyrights be damned, and in whatever quantity you like, for a price that can only be beat by outright slavery.

They're a lot like the US in the 1880's. I do hope they learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them.

pshaw_raven January 10 2016, 20:34:53 UTC

Hopefully, yeah, but humans seem to have an incredible ability not to learn.

eternal_ot January 12 2016, 13:53:26 UTC

I second that...most of products sold in India are "made in China" and they sell it dirt cheap..we have a saying for all Chinese products here.."Chalen toh chaand tak nahi toh shaam tak" meaning if it lasts it might last till you reach the moon or maybe just till tonight.
Enjoyed reading this..esp 'Spudger'..:)

an_su January 9 2016, 11:20:45 UTC

That 1$ story is crazy indeed - and people still ... are supposed... to win...

pshaw_raven January 10 2016, 20:35:46 UTC

Yeah - no idea how. Or maybe thats the "carrot and stick" thing, except that the carrot isn't real.