Hey Friends,
Do you remember GameStop?
The place that would buy your used Xbox 360 for $4.67.
Yep, that GameStop.
After years of getting scammed for my used games, I decided to give them a taste of their own medicine.
One day, I had my dad drive me to our local GameStop.
I was in heaven. Video games lined the wall for as far as I could see.
But then I saw it.
The words that would make me my first online dollar…
“Buy two used games and get one free.”
I couldn’t believe it.
What a steal.
Then, the most devious idea passed through my mind.
So I pleaded with my dad to take advantage of this outrageous deal.
I told him he would get his money back and MORE.
With some reluctance, he agreed.
I picked out the 3 most expensive games.
The first two were paid for, and we got the third one for free.
Bingo.
When I got home, I rushed to the computer and pulled up eBay. A place where you could get anything (before Amazon existed).
I searched for: “Red Dead Redemption.” Hundreds of listings came up.
Perfect. Now my plan couldn't fail.
Two days went by and I asked my dad to take me back to GameStop.
I entered the store, with the games and receipt in hand.
I put my used games on the counter and told the clerk I wanted to return them.
He scanned the receipts and clicked some buttons on his computer. Then told me I was free to go.
But here’s the catch…
I only returned the 2 paid games. I kept the one I got for free.
I rushed back home, fired up eBay, and listed the free game. It sold in under an hour.
Making me my first online dollar.
Okay… I know what you’re thinking.
“What the hell Rocky, that’s messed up”
And I would agree with you…
But 12-year-old Rocky wouldn’t.
He was just playing the system. It worked.
And I didn’t stop there.
I must have done it a dozen times after that.
If I could go back, here's what I would tell my younger self: be cautious about short-term wins.
The plan worked…but was it the right thing to do?
Probably not.
I scammed a scammer… but became one myself.
Be careful:
Not all short-term wins are long-term wins.
Thanks for reading!
Stay curious my friends,
-Rocky “Robinhood” Ferony