“Whatever happened with those gumball machines?” — I’ve been asked this question a lot.
As you may remember, I traded a one year subscription to tradeideas for 12 double-headed gumball machines. And I got the one-year subscription from many other trades starting with a blue paperclip.
I’m trying to keep trading things until I finally end up with one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A) (currently trading at $140,100 per share).
I still own these gumball machines - but now there are only 10. I had to give one away in order to establish a place for storage. And then I sold one to the goddess in order to lock in some profits and cover all previous expenses.
And then there were 10. Anyone want to trade?
I’m willing to go in on a vending business for anyone in San Diego (I’ll supply the gumball machines). I’m open to any and all ideas. Let me know what you think.

Perry has traded me 12 brand new, still in their boxes, double-headed gumball machines (with stands) for the subscription to trade-ideas. Thanks Perry!
Here is an opportunity to start (or grow) your own vending business - with 12 new machines. If any readers would like to offer a trade for these machines, email me and let me know. They are currently located in San Diego, CA.
Also, if you don’t have any ideas for a trade, but would still like to help out - any publicity that you can direct this way would be very helpful - thanks!
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A). Here is a picture of the trades so far:

The Liberty Vending Catalog brochure lists a “Double Head Machine with stand” priced at $299. Twelve of these would be about $3500. For the purposes of this estimation, I’ll say their value is half that - $1750. I bought the paperclip at CVS - it was one of a box of 45 vinyl coated giant paper clips, that cost me $1.49. That would give the single blue paperclip a value of about 4 cents.
So I have traded the paperclip to the vending machines for a profit of about 4,374,900%. One share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A) is currently priced at $106,000 and the gumball machines are about 1.65% of this value. So I will need to get about a 6000% return on trading these gumball machines in order to achieve my goal. I’ve already returned over 4 million percent on this project so far, another 6000 percent shouldn’t be too hard, right?

Anyone want a FREE one-year subscription to trade-ideas?
That’s right - FREE!
And you don’t even have to take anything back to CVS to get it.
What is trade-ideas? It is “Powerful Software that Finds the Best Opportunities in Today’s Market In Real-Time.” All of the cool traders use it.
All you have to do is offer me something in return - anything. I am trading it away.
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A).

If anyone is interested in turning their urine blue in support of the blue paperclip project, here are some nice instructions. I am still accepting offers for the 1-year subscription to trade-ideas.com. Email me if you are interested.
It is as simple as just eating some Methylene blue:

A common prank amongst biochemists is to add small amounts of methylene blue (generally a few drops of a stain solution will suffice) to coffee, cola, or another dark beverage. The stain’s color will be masked by the beverage, and its taste is fairly faint. Within a few hours, the methylene blue will have been removed by the prank victim’s kidneys, causing his urine to change color. The urine may become green if little methylene blue was added; larger amounts create a deep blue color.

The game has moved up another notch as the nutrition plan has been traded for a 1-year subscription to trade-ideas.com.

Trade-Ideas was created to bring the next generation of pre trade analysis technology to market. Our array of statistical analysis and pattern recognition servers connect directly to the exchanges and monitor every tick for every trade on the NASDAQ, AMEX, and NYSE. The servers keep statistical baselines on what is usual and unusual for any given stock, index, and ETF. Users then can pick and choose different events to watch and filters to refine the universe of stocks being monitored. The result is an uninterrupted, real-time stream of actionable trade opportunities streamed directly to the users desktop.

The product is great and used by many traders. The staff at trade-ideas is also very helpful and responsive.
The subscription has a value of $495.
If you’re interested in this great offer, email me and let me know. I will take any reasonable trade. If it is too large to ship, I will pick it up.
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A).

Sara has kept the paperclip game alive by trading her services as a nutritionist for Babak’s red t-shirt.

For the trader t-shirt, I will off my services as a nutritionist. These include: 1 free personal nutritional assessment, followed by a written personalized plan and the option to extend services for a reduced fee. The assessment will include calorie requirements, analyzed caloric intake based on your food records, and a healthy eating habits questionnaire. The plan will focus on personalized behavioral modifications to help fit your nutritional needs. All correspondence can be done via email or phone. This option may also be presented as a gift certificate for a loved one.

She says that she normally charges $120 for this service. Thanks Sara!
If you’re interested in this great offer, email me and let me know. I will take any reasonable trade. If it is too large to ship, I will pick it up.
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A).

Babak has traded a brand new large red t-shirt for the DVD. The shirt says “Traders do it for money.” Thanks Babak!
Anyone want to trade something for the shirt? If so, email me and let me know. I will take anything. If it is too large to ship, I will pick it up. Another good idea is to trade a service - for example, if you are a lawyer trade legal advice or a kung fu master can offer free lessons.
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A).

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) shares fell yesterday on the news that Buffett would give most of his money away to charity. That means the factory sealed DVD of Shogun Assassin just got a lot cheaper. You can now get it for a couple thousand dollars off!
I am still accepting trade offers for DVD (which started as a blue paperclip).
You may submit offers for a trade here. Thanks!

I traded the green tea to Andy for a brand new factory-sealed Shogun Assassin DVD. Referenced by Kill Bill, Shogun Assassin is the quintessential 1970’s samurai movie. The ‘Lone Wolf’ samurai pushes his son around in a wooden baby cart rigged with some pretty sweet weapons which are used in many brutal fight scenes. You have to check it out.
Anyone want to trade something for the DVD? If so, email me and let me know.
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A).

I traded the blue paperclip to indigo-alien for 100 grams of German Chocolate, which I then traded to Tom for a box of loose leaf authentic Chinese Green Tea. He says that the tea is “not really exported outside of China” and is “very very very delicious.” He received it from his father-in-law and says it is “quite expensive, relatively, on mainland China.” Thanks guys!
Anyone want to trade something for the tea? If so, email me and let me know.
I started with one blue paperclip and will continue to trade things until someone trades me one share of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A).