Have you heard the story of Kyle MacDonald and how he traded a paperclip for a two-storeyed house? Yes, you heard it right! One red paperclip. Curious to know what came next?
Kyle, a blogger from Canada, wanted to get a house by making a series of trades. Inspired by the game he played in childhood, Bigger, Better, Kyle started by offering up a red paperclip for trading. He even traced the progress on his blog. What happened next is unbelievable!
On 12th July, 2005, Kyle posted an image of a red paperclip ‘up for trades’ on his blog and Craigslist, a U.S.-based online classified advertising company.
- July 14, 2005: Trades red paperclip for a wooden fish pen
Kyle gets a call from Rhawnie and Corinna from Vancouver who wish to trade their fish pen for the red paperclip. The trade takes place the same day.
- July 14, 2005: Trades wooden fish pen for a hand-sculpted doorknob
Within 10 minutes of the first trade, Kyle gets a call from Annie Robbins from Seattle asking to trade the fish pen for a hand-sculpted doorknob. Bingo, another trade done!
- July 25, 2005: Trades the hand-sculpted doorknob for a Coleman stove
Kyle meets Shawn Sparks in Amherst, Massachusetts. He trades the hand-sculpted knob for a Coleman stove, loaded with fuel.
- September 24, 2005: Trades Coleman stove for a 1000W Honda EX generator
Kyle offers to cook a barbeque meal for anyone who would be willing to exchange the Coleman Stove for something better. Bingo, the magic happens again! Kyle finds himself at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base in California. He trades the Coleman Stove for a 1000W Honda EX generator from Sergeant David J.
Speed Breaker: Kyle loses his Honda generator
Kyle finalises a deal to exchange the generator for a beer keg, a neon Budweiser sign and an I.O.U. for filling the keg – aka an instant party. But where is the generator? The hotel where Kyle had stored the generator gave it away to firefighters fearing a gas leak. PANIC! Never mind, Kyle tracked down the firefighters and found the generator. Phewwwww!
- November 16, 2005: Trades Honda generator for an INSTANT PARTY!
Marcin, from Queens, renews his Instant Party offer.
- December 8, 2005: Trades Instant Party for a Skidoo snowmobile
The trades are getting hot and garnering celebrity attention. Kyle gets a call from Michel Barrette – radio jockey, actor and stand-up comedian – to trade the instant party package for a Skidoo snowmobile. Kyle travels to Quebec for the trade.
- Within a week of the last trade: Trades Skidoo snowmobile for a trip for two to Yahk
By now, Kyle is a bit of a celebrity himself. He is interviewed on a national program called ‘The Hour’. In response to a question by the host, Kyle says he would trade his snowmobile for a trip to anywhere but Yahk. The following day he gets an offer (from someone with a sense of humour) to exchange the snowmobile for a trip to Yakh. Uh-oh! After employing crafty tricks, Kyle trades the snowmobile for a trip for two to Yahk.
- Around January 7, 2006: Trades one place on the trip for a cube van
To transport his snowmobile to Yahk, Kyle trades a place on the two-people trip package with Bruno. Bruno offers to transport Kyle’s snowmobile in his cube van.
- Around February 11, 2006: Trades cube van for a recording contract
The trades start getting bigger. Kyle trades the cube van for a recording contract with a person named Brendan. Getting interesting, isn’t it?
- Around April 11, 2006: Trades recording contract for a rent-free year in Phoenix, Arizona
Jody Gnant, an aspiring singer, could do good with a recording contract. She asks Kyle to exchange it for a year of rent-free stay in Phoenix, Arizona. Kyle agrees!
- Around May 26, 2006: Trades a rent-free year in Phoenix, Arizona for ‘One afternoon with Alice Cooper’
Kyle has the option to live one year rent-free in one half of a Jody’s duplex house in Phoenix. Leslie, who pays rent for the other half of the duplex, offers Kyle an afternoon with her boss – Alice Cooper – in exchange for a rent-free year. Can it get better?
- Around June 2, 2006: Trades ‘One afternoon with Alice Cooper’ for a motorised KISS snow globe
Mark Herrmann from Kentucky, a big fan of Alice Cooper, offers a motorised KISS snow globe for an afternoon with Alice Cooper. While you may question this trade, Kyle made trades which were rich in relative value rather than monetary value. Of course, Mark, an aspiring rock and roll photographer deserved this trade-off more than anyone else.
- Around June 2, 2006: Trades the motorised KISS snow globe for a role in a movie
Yes, it got so good! A role in a Hollywood movie. Guess who made the trade offer? Hollywood actor and director, Corbin Bernsen. Corbin offers Kyle a paid role in the movie ‘Donna On Demand’. And, why would Corbin do that? To add the motorised KISS snow globe to his vast collection of snow globes.
- July 12, 2006: Trades movie role for a FARMHOUSE!
Exactly a year later, Kyle trades the role in a movie with the town of Kipling, Saskatchewan for a two-storeyed FARMHOUSE!
Now, that was one thrilling journey to get a house. Is there something on your table you think you can trade for a house? If yes, give it a shot. But here’s an easier way to get a house. Apply for a Home Loan on BankBazaar!