Topic

Trading up, from a Cloudberry to something really fancy!

Hey all,

I want to try an experiment.

Do you know "One Red Paperclip"?
It's the true story of a canadian man who went from a red paperclip to a house, simply by trading for bigger/better things.

So yeah. I got a pleasingly tart Cloudberry, and I want to trade you this cloudberry for something bigger or better, maybe  a Coffee or a Pair of Lips, or access to a wood tree in Groddle Meadow.

I'll stop the trading when I get a house in Alakol but I like my bog house in Kalavana so perhaps something at least equally fun to have, like a complete cubimal set.

Since Kake's offer for a 12-week subscription for weekly baby animals*, I now accept "service" trade offers. I also accept group bids, but I prefer to deal with one frontglitch for the sake of practicality.

Hope to trade with you soon!

TRADE HISTORY

• One Cloudberry for 5 Yellow Crumb Flowers, from Coolbettycakes
• 5 Yellow Crumb Flowers for a Musicblock DB-5, from acreditando
• A Musicblock DB-5 for 100 Chunks of Sparkly,  from Meridian
• 100 Chunks of Sparkly for a 12-sided Die, from Kake
• A 12-sided Die for a Walloping Big Diamond, from Daffy
• A Walloping Big Diamond for 24 Earthshakers, from TK-855
• 24 Earthshakers for 3 Extremely Hallowed Shrine Powder, from Opportunity
• 3 Extremely Hallowed Shrine Powder for a 12-week subscription for 3 weekly baby animals*, from Kake
• A 12-week subscription for 3 weekly baby animals* for 4 Cubimal Boxes, from Kookaburra
• 4 Cubimal Boxes for a 12-week subscription to papernaut's Surprise Care Package of the Week, from papernaut

What exactly is papernaut's Surprise Care Package of the Week? Each weekly package will have an approximate value of 3000c. The holder may make specific requests, but the package will always contain surprises.
The subscription begins upon papernaut's reception of the contract.

* WAIT, what was that thing about subscription for baby animals?
Instead of proposing to trade one item, Kake offered to send 3 baby animals and the food needed to grow them to adulthood, every week for 12 weeks. This offer is open to group bids : Kake can send the baby animals to different people every week given enough notice. This offer has an approximate value of 16 000c and a worth of exactly eleventy hundred thousands units of Awesome.

Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • If you are going to do this, I would suggest starting with something someone would realistically use, like a bag of seeds.  Cheap, small, can be easily gained, but everyone needs one at some point.  The only use of a cloudberry I know of is one of eleven needed for a Cloud 11 Smoothy.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kaobel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • well you can eat the cloudberry, it's pleasingly tart :)

    I don't think people would trade with me considering the realistic use. For example, while scraping Barnacles I get lots of Tree Poison Antidote as a bonus. I don't have any realistic use for them, and they'd get me few currants and fewer favor. That would be a case where trading would be as satisfying a solution...
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • i would love to trade! i'm sure that there are many happy glitches with over flowing bags who can see the cool behind this idea. the red paper clip story was very inspiring and i think that same sense of helping others is ever present here in glitch too. i offer you 5 yellow crumb herb in exchange. this is something i have plenty of and could use a cloudberry to add to my decorative fruit bowl at home! check your mail! and good luck with this interesting project!
    Posted 14 months ago by coolbettycakes Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Woo! Thanks a lot Coolbettycakes!

    So the first trade was one Cloudberry for 5 Yellow Crumb Herb...

    What will be the next?
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I would not mind those yellow crumb herbs, but I will not be in game until tonight. If yyou do not find a trade by then, I will give you something good for them.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Well I turned down an offer of 2 Birch Syrups for my 5 Yellow Crumb Herbs... if I get interesting propositions I can always send you a couple of herbs from my own garden ;)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'll tade you a piggy egg if the offer is still open this evening. :)
    Posted 14 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • great idea Bala!
    I can trade the yellow herbs for a Musicblock DB-5

    a complete cubimal set? that would be better than a mansion for sure ;)
    Posted 14 months ago by acreditando Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Kookaburra : I'll trade you a couple yellow crumb herbs outside this project, I got a proposition...

    Acreditando : I ACCEPT your proposition :)
    Yeah, the complete cubimal set is the BEST outcome ever!!!
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • it's like you're the reverse rube!
    Posted 14 months ago by Niqster Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sounds great - good luck on your quest!
    Posted 14 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Haha Niqster, yeah, it's a bit like that... but you choose what you want to trade with me, so you can discard stuff you don't need or use :)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Really interested in this, I'll keep an eye on your progress and see if there's something I can trade!
    Posted 14 months ago by Saro Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is so fun! I'm glad you're doing it. You should record the trades happening "in person" so you can make a little movie at the end like they did with One Red Paperclip.

    I still need DB-5 for my collection. I will offer you 100 chunks of sparkly.

    ETA: I won't be on until later tonight, but if you like this offer you can consider it a "done deal" and go on to your next trade. I'm good for the sparkly, I promise. :) 
    Posted 14 months ago by Meridian Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is such a great idea! Maybe the devs should take this and run with it even. A barter system would be fun. (and already kind of exists, because you usually pay friends for favours with food, not currants!).

    Eager to see how far you get!
    Posted 14 months ago by Lara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'll give you a 12-sided die for Meridian's 100 sparkly.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Telling every single person you trade that you are attempting to make a onesided deal is not a good business plan, you should probably try not posting this where you're trading.

    Another thing of note is that any trades you get are probably just interested people not real 'bigger, better' deals, considering so many people have money to toss out as they please and giving it away isn't exactly uncommon.
    Posted 14 months ago by Bluigi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Have you SEEN one red paperclip? The whole idea of that project was to tell people that you are making one-sided deals.

    I agree that in-game currency is kind of not that valuable at higher levels, so people may agree to trades that don't make sense. But that's kind of true IRL as well, come to think of it.
    Posted 14 months ago by magic panda Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As magic panda said, people KNOW I'm making one-sided deals... I mean, 5 herbs of 1 cloudberry? come on :)

    Meridian, OK !

    Kake, OK as soon as I get Meridian's 100 sparklies :)

    Lara : there is a barter system! try the "Trade" option on someone's name... you can exchange stuff and currents!
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • One person's fun trading experiment is another person's poorly disguised begging?

    I suppose in a game such as this I should be less cynical, as in all honesty I approve of this right here a heck of a lot more than the lottos and raffles. At least you're not exploiting people. :)
    Posted 14 months ago by Abby Smalls Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Lottos and raffles IN GAME do not exploit people. There is nothing to exploit. It is all a bunch of pixels and we are playing for imaginary currants with no intrinsic value.

    IT IS A GAME!! If it is fun, it has game-value.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ooooohhh. Kind like Kyle Mcdonald and his one red paperclip huh?

    Kyle? Is that you??! O_o

    edit (read the whole opening message again):
    LOL. It is exactly like ORP.
    Posted 14 months ago by The Black Chicken Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @balatik: Oh, I realise there's a 'trade' UI :D.  That's not what I meant by barter system.  I was more thinking an item-based exchange system whereby the value of one good can be seen in terms of the value of another good, rather than in terms of money value.  As in, "This tapestry is worth 5 goats, does someone have 5 goats they want to trade for this tapestry?" vs our current system: "This tapestry is worth $200, does someone want to buy it? (with which $200 I can buy 5 goats)."
    Posted 14 months ago by Lara Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @The Black Chicken: nah, I'm not Kyle... but his red paperclip is the direct inspiration!

    @Lara: oooh, that would be nice indeed :) "How much Allspices for one Piggie?" and so on... perhaps someone could make a converter with the API :)

    @Abby Smalls: If you want to see my project as "begging", you can. I'm not begging though, I'm offering you and others the possibility of participating in something bigger than all of us, the dream of something better, something bigger!
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I kinda understand your point, but ultimately aren't you the only one with a direct benefit? I guess it just puts me on the defensive when you frame it in such terms to make it seem like a grand thing when it feels more like in 2 months everyone will have forgotten about this and you'll have a set of cubimals or a 50k house.

    I love the community aspect; I would respect the actual aim much more if it was less unambiguously self-serving. If you want to get a full set of cubimals for that cubimal racing league or some other thing that means it's a community project that serves the community in some way, that'd be awesome! But otherwise I'm less than thrilled.
    Posted 14 months ago by Abby Smalls Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Abby, I've directly benefited from this too.  I had fun deciding what to offer, I had a nice chat with balatik about it, and I'm excited to see what gets offered in return for my 12-sided die.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Abby Smalls : I get how you feel, that I could very well be trying to game people into giving me stuff.

    In 2 months we'll have forgotten everything. I might not even get a cubimal to enjoy, out of this silly project. And in 10 years, perhaps we'll look back on our discussion... "Good times", we'll say.

    I'm not forcing anyone to part with his or hers hard earned pixels. I'm telling people, "I've got this, and I'm willing to exchange it for something better, for fun, to see where it goes". Some people will think "good luck with that" and won't look back. So be it. Some people will be adventurous and will want to see where it can lead to... someone might propose 50 broccoli next! Should I accept then?

    You see, someone just needs something I have, like a Musicblock, and is willing to part with something of equal or bigger value to get one, like 100 sparklies. Then, someone who wants sparklies will have an un-used Die. Instead of selling the Die and buying sparklies in the Auction House, why not reach the same result while having fun?

    What I'm trying to say is, I'm trying to start something interesting and take people with me on a crazy ride. I'm having fun with this project, and I'd love people to have fun with me. I'm not stealing anything and I'm not asking people to give me something of value for nothing at all. I'm playing a game with people trying to see until where I'll go. It's the people who play with me who decide if I'll be able to go up and up...

    In the end, well, it's just an online game. If I'm richer by the end of the day, it's only in pixels.

    And if I can trade something for a house, you'll be invited to the housewarming party :)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • balatik, love the idea. And +1 your arguments. :)
    Posted 14 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Balatik, how would you like me to get the sparkly to you? In-person trade or just mutual mailing?
    Posted 14 months ago by Meridian Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This rocks. :D +1
    Posted 14 months ago by Arii Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm willing to trade. I don't have a house, though, so don't expect me to be the last stop.

    You're likely to get an Earthshaker or perhaps food. I've been on a bit of a cooking binge, working my way to Master Chef. 
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hey! This is just like the The Office episode Garage Sale, where Dwight trades his way from a thumbtack to a telescope (and then trades that for magic beans from Jim xD). I just watched that episode, and immediately thought of this. 
    Posted 14 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is an awesome idea and I will be following and wishing you all the luck in your endeavor.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kukubee Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Meridian: I thik it's best if you send me the sparklies by post... I'm in Europe so it might take some time before we meet in-game :)
    by the way, did you get the Musicblock?

    @Cupcake: haha, I didn't know this episode... Perhaps it was also inspired by One Red Paperclip... and I hope I won't be gullible enough to accept to trade a house for beans (or seasoned beans) :D
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • More trades needed!  I want to see what balatik gets for my 12-sided die!  And I have a cubimal box to throw in the ring once the stakes get higher.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm now the proud owner of a Walloping Big Diamond, thanks to Daffy!

    Here's a pic of the exchange, it took place in the dark halls of Callopee...

    Who will trade with me next?
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Balatik, I'll trade your diamond for 24 Earthshakers. (I'm not looking for equivalent value, I just want to see where this goes.)
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @TK-855: haha, ok :)
    I'm not looking for equivalent value either, and your proposition is really fancier/bigger/better :D

    Do you want to do it in person, or by post?
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm in for a Grand Ol' Grinder. Either for the Diamond or the Earthshakers.
    Posted 14 months ago by Meezley Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Balatik: Just looked in game, didn't see you, so I'll frog it to you.
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @TK-855: I sent you the Diamond by frog! Thanks for the trade, it was quite a big step up :)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • No fun if I just make 'em for myself!
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Meezley: Aah, I accepted TK-855's proposition, and the step is quite steep now... As per the Encyclopedia, the Grand Ol'Grinder costs as much as a Walloping Big Diamond (2000c), and now the 24 Earthshakers ar worth 3600c...

    So unless there's 2 Grand Ol'Grinders, I can't accept your proposition as it's not bigger/better/fancier than what I currently have...
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Willing to trade you 3x EHSP for the 24 Earth Shakers. Good luck in your endeavours :P
    (IM or Mail me if I'm not in-game.)
    Posted 14 months ago by Opportunity Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Opportunity: I hope you pardon the pun, but I have to say yours is an opportunity worth taking :)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @balatik: I try to live up to my namesake under this handle :P Also quite interested to see how this will end.
    Posted 14 months ago by Opportunity Subscriber! | Permalink
  • (Bump)

    IMHO, if you're not willing to trade up - that is, offer something of greater value - this will dead-end rather quickly. The concept encourages you to re-examine value, not just at a 1-for-1 currant level, but more abstractly. For example, the 24 Earthshakers may seem like a big step up, but I didn't actually trade away anything that couldn't be replaced with a little effort. Eventually, I have no doubt that balatik *will* get a house, offered by someone who likely has enough currants to immediately run out and get another (subsidized, in part, by the trade).
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Let's try something new — balatik, for those three EHSPs, I'll trade you a 12-week baby animal subscription.  I will mail the purchaser a caterpillar, a chick, and a piglet once every RL week for 12 weeks, as well as enough food to feed each of them into a proper animal.  Going by auctions, this has a total currant value of at least 13368 (I believe there may also be some achievements associated with feeding the animals, but this benefit is probably already included in the auction price).

    I'm happy to be flexible on this; if the purchaser wants two piglets per week and no chicks, that's fine.  Also happy to skip a week and add it to the end of the subscription, given enough notice.  Also happy to send the animals to a different person each week, or to two people in alternating weeks etc, so group bids work too.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @TK-855: Interesting point... for you it might have only been worth a little effort, but I guess the monetary value of the Earthshakers is small compared to the potential wealth you can accumulate by mining with it...

    I might have to be a bit more "fuzzy" in value, some things have a high price but some others "do more" for less money, so I'll have to consider other things than just the set price.

    Edit: I hadn't seen Kake's post. Wow, this changes a lot :)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Kake: Wow. You're really opening up the possibilities with an offer that's not "priced", it's worth a lot, it's better/nicer/fancier than the 3 EHSP, but it's quite "fuzzy" in value... and you're opening up to group bids, I hadn't thought of that possibility!

    So yeah, I can't not accept your proposition!

    We'll have to see how to make it work though, and explain the cases to would-be bidders :)
    Posted 14 months ago by balatik Subscriber! | Permalink
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