[AMA] I Am Camping Outside The Apple Store For 17 Days

LProng on 17/09/2015 - 10:07
Last edited 23/09/2015 - 09:35

(2 days to go edit)

The Charity auctions are now live!
Check out all the items (including a 6s and 6s Plus) here -
http://charitybid.com.au/club?id=12011

Hello!

My name is Lindsay Handmer, and yes, I am a little crazy.

Ask me anything about my camp out, or me, or what exactly I am doing out here.

8 days to go!

A little backstory -

I am out here promoting mysparetech.com.au - a brand new website that I hope will make it easier to buy and sell second hand phones, laptops and more to a tech focused community.

I started the website as a side project, when I was unhappy with my other options to sell tech gear. In particular, I aim to continually improve the website and experience based on user feedback - already I have made numerous changes and upgrades in response to suggestions.

The website is currently free to list items, but there will be a small fee introduced down the track.

I am also supporting Mission Australia, with a personal fundraiser through GoFundRaise.

With my (coveted) first in line position, I will be buying an iPhone 6s to auction off for charity, supporting Mission Australia.

The website Finder.com.au has also come on board and is sponsoring a 6s Plus to auction off at the same time.

Right now my website is super new, and is still dominated by my test listings.
I have a special offer (bribe) for OzBargain users - post a listing (free!) and send me your user name through OzBargain or the website contact form and I will set you up with a special membership that gives your account permanent free listings.

When I need a short break, I have been using a website called Airtasker, where you can post up jobs you need done. Through Airtasker I have a range of people I can pay to come mind the chair while I grab lunch etc.

Special thanks to Telstra - especially the 400 George St store - who have charged my electronics while I am out here. And brought me coffee!

Handy links that cover the backstory.

The fundraising page
http://makingadifference.gofundraise.com.au/page/iphonecampo…

My Spare Tech
http://mysparetech.com.au/

My facebook page chronicling the camp out.
https://www.facebook.com/mysparetech

Twitter
https://twitter.com/mysparetech

Finder
www.finder.com.au

Airtasker
https://www.airtasker.com

A great article from Gizmodo
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/09/some-guy-is-already-campin…

An excellent video from Pedestrian TV (apologies for the plumbers crack in there…)
https://pedestrian.tv/news/arts-and-culture/watch-sydney-dud…

One thing to note -

Ii have been a bit enthusiastic about talking about Mission Australia.

I don't speak for Mission Australia in any way and nor do I represent them.

They are not part of the fundraiser - it's totally personal.

The fundraiser is through a third party website and I don't control any of the donations.

The charity auctions will also be done through a third party website as well.

I have spoken to Mission Australia about my personal fundraiser and they have not (as of yet) raised any concerns.

Introduce Yourself

closed Comments

    • Prong on 19/09/2015 - 15:11
      +1

      Auction it for charity.

      finder.com.au has sponsored buying a second iPhone 6s Plus, which will also be auctioned for charity.

      I also have some other tech companies on board with some donated goods to auction off :)

  • Need a dollar on 19/09/2015 - 18:05

    yawn if you buy it, then throw it at the floor in front of anyone, then i'll be impressed.

    ;)

  • Fobsessive on 19/09/2015 - 22:09

    I wish you all the best!

    • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 08:05

      Thanks! Only 4 days to go now, which I am pretty happy about.

  • gmatht on 20/09/2015 - 01:23

    Well Gumtree webpages are 300K, and that is just the HTML. If you don't make me camp beside my phone for 17 days waiting for your website to load you have my vote :D.

  • SilentBob on 20/09/2015 - 10:32

    17 days… what are you stupid..

    • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 08:06

      Yeah pretty stupid… But overall I am calling it a win so far.

  • shamid202 on 20/09/2015 - 11:24

    I appreciate your work but I do not believe Apple is worth doing something like this.

    • DryScissors on 20/09/2015 - 17:29
      +1

      You've completely missed the point

    • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 08:25

      What about if it was for a hot apple pie?

    • Fobsessive on 23/09/2015 - 00:13

      It's camping and using Apple for promotion, a win and an adventure.

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 20/09/2015 - 11:58

    Are you the guy they showed on The Project? I think it was one of Pete Hellier's clips

    • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 08:27
      +2

      I have not seen it myself, but a few people have told me that.

      The story sure seems to have gotten around. Some students told me I was "famous" in Brazil.
      And some other teenagers were doing a scavenger hunt around the city and need a famous persons signature. I qualified :P

      So I have let all the fame go to my head. For breakfast I had TWO hash browns from Maccas!

  • DryScissors on 20/09/2015 - 17:29
    +3

    Man I hope your credit card works on the day

    • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 08:29
      +1

      Haha yeah this has me paranoid. I have three different cards all good to go. I decided not to just walk in with a big wad of cash.

  • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 10:04
    +2

    So, which one of you guys put this amusing ad up? I am leaving it be for now, because it is funny.

    I want the iPhone Edge 7!

    http://mysparetech.com.au/listing/iphone-edge-7/

  • Prong on 21/09/2015 - 14:16

    Looks like I might finally have some company tonight.

    https://twitter.com/keaton/status/645704850013995009

    • Prong on 22/09/2015 - 11:47

      Lucky I am first in line! Plus have two reserved ;)

      • AMLagonda on 22/09/2015 - 14:47

        Ah I see :)

  • Prong on 23/09/2015 - 09:33
    +1

    So, who wants to buy the 'first' iPhone in Australia, and support charity?

    I will hand deliver it (I will shower first, I promise) in Sydney or surrounds, or ship it out via courier if elsewhere.

    I am also auctioning off a some other tech for charity.
    All proceeds go to Mission Australia.

    6s Plus http://www.clubbid.com.au/auction?id=3304

    6s http://www.clubbid.com.au/auction?id=3303

    All auctions (more to come) http://charitybid.com.au/club?id=12011

  • hashtagbargain on 25/09/2015 - 10:46
    +1

    Hi op,
    The big day is here! How did you go with the buy? All smooth? How much did you end up raising? Did you hand deliver it? How many were you able to buy and sell?

    Congrats on your venture, hope it has been a rewarding experience.

    Cheers,
    Hashtagbargain and the rest of ozb.

    • Prong on 26/09/2015 - 18:37
      +2

      Thanks!

      It all went really well. There was a lot less demand / more stock than I expected, so my charity auctions did not hit the heights that the iPhone 6 might have, but still I am sitting at $4708 of the $5000 goal, with a few other charity auctions left to finish. I bought two phones - one 6s and one 6s Plus.

      I did indeed hand deliver both phones on Friday arvo. I was soaking wet after the launch, so went home for a shower and fresh clothes in between.

      But yep, it was an amazing experience and I met some weird and wonderful people and made new lifelong friends.

      I would not do it again, but I am very glad I did it!

      And thanks everyone for chatting with me, and for listing items on my site and for being generous with donations :)

      • [Deactivated] on 26/09/2015 - 19:01

        Thanks for keeping us up to date. I found this to be an interesting and thought provoking discussion.

        • Prong on 26/09/2015 - 19:15
          +1

          Thanks for being involved - I really enjoyed all the different points of view.

          I would have given an update yesterday but I had a nap in the afternoon and woke up 14 hours later…

          I am writing up a longer story of some of the crazier adventures from camping out, so I will be sure to post some here!

  • Emilia on 25/09/2015 - 14:16

    Nice TV spot this morning Lindsay!

    • Prong on 26/09/2015 - 18:37

      Thanks!

  • Prong on 02/10/2015 - 14:49
    +2

    $10,203 raised! (with a $5000 goal)

    I left the fundraiser open for a week after the launch and a very generous person I met in line offered to match what I raised, up to my goal.

    Now I am off to find out where giant novelty cheques are printed!

    • neil on 02/10/2015 - 14:55

      Nice work.

      Thanks for doing the AMA. On that, we'll close this AMA. If anyone has further suggestions for an AMA, please comment in the AMA Request thread.

      • Prong on 02/10/2015 - 14:57
        +1

        Thanks for having me :) Keep an eye out on Gizmodo next week for some follow up articles.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join