one red paperclip


This might not surprise you, but below is a picture of a paperclip. It is red.

paperclip fixed up

This red paperclip is currently sitting on my desk next to my computer. I want to trade this paperclip with you for something bigger or better, maybe a pen, a spoon, or perhaps a boot.

If you promise to make the trade I will come and visit you, wherever you are, to trade.

So, if you have something bigger or better than a red paperclip to trade, email me with the details at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com

Hope to trade with you soon!

Kyle

PS
I'm going to make a continuous chain of 'up trades' until I get a house. Or an Island. Or a house on an island. You get the idea.

*Click here to see who I traded my one red paperclip with.

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heh, reminds me of Zelda games, where you would trade one item with another over and over again until you got the Master Sword or something cool like that.

Anonymous said...

after you achieve this goal what would be next?

Anonymous said...

This is brilliant, I'm interested in seeing how far you can go with that. Keep trading!

Anonymous said...

I have done this once with the introduction week of my school.. only we started with an aple and an egg. In the end, we had tons of wood, cardboard, and lots of useless stuff like clothhangers.. all within an hour. we had to build a fort with the material, and we builded a great one, but I was pretty amazed how far we got. other teams got also lots of stuff, from bicycles to flag holders and even a scooter! all within the hour..

I wish you good luck, and I'm sure you'll get that house!

Anonymous said...

I mailed yuo for a trade

jollybeggar said...

i'm amazed that some redneck out here in saskatchewan, canada, didn't offer to trade his wife for the snowmobile!

staying tuned...

Anonymous said...

Wow.....I just saw you ON G4!! Nice paperclip!

Anonymous said...

Yeah.. I learned about this game in umm, health class during a test.. It seems awesome, but I mean, getting a car for a paperclip, THAT'S INSANE

Anonymous said...

one man...

one legacy...

one dream...

and one paperclip???

thats the best idea ever: )

Anonymous said...

wow, this is amazing!where did u get the idea?

Cool Hand Luke said...

This idea is priceless... I am adding a link to my site for you. Best of luck!

Anonymous said...

I wish I could have been the person who traded for it. I would have given you like... a dozen weird pens that I own, and probably more =3

High Power Rocketry said...

You know, at the rate you are going, you will get a house in only two more trades. :)

Bathroom Review

Anonymous said...

Hi there, bet your in box is just loaded up with
offers. Well, I will keep it short. I hope your a
racing fan!!! I think it is the best offer yet. I
will offer a one year deal for you to sponsor my race
car. Have you ever wanted to see your name on a race
car? Well, here is your opportunity. I will let you
place a design of your choice on the car (has to be
tasteful kids see these things) and will list you as
my sponsor at all race tracks that I visit during the
2006 season. I will also place that design on my
trailer that I use to transport the race car.

The race car is a 1937 Chevy, sedan Legends Car. It
is currently white with blue lettering and numbering
(#14). I am also offering you the opportunity to
change the car number to a number of your choice (your
favorite one maybe). However, this number must not be
currently in use at the race tracks that I or we are
going to run.

If you or ANY one else is interested drop me a line at bluelinemotorsports@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I originally saw your one red paperclip on Curious-Auctions.com and have been following you ever since. I really hope to see you get your house someday. You are truly a tribute to American ingenuity!

Anonymous said...

You're nuts, but get enough publicity and pageviews from word of mouth and you may be able to sell something you traded for to Golden Palace =P

Anyways, good luck. If you can get a house from a red paper clip that would be extremely impressive.

Mungo said...

Very cool. I heard them do something like this on CBC radio once, basically starting off with a coat hanger, and ending up with an old motorbike.

Cool!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know who has the red paper clip now? Do those two girls still have it?

Anonymous said...

maybe smoe day your goold old paperclip will return to you :)
anyways great idea man... good luck with your dream

Anonymous said...

OMG MATE I AM IN EBGLAND I JUST WATCHED YOU ON GMTV THIS IS AMAZING I CANT BELIVE IT HAS WORKED BUT WELL DONE AND KEEP IT UP!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow... I saw you in the newspaper here in my country, Chile...

You are a genius, man.
Really.


Greetings from Chile.

Anonymous said...

Nice idea ! this shows very well that human beings are powered by emotion and not by reason !

Anonymous said...

dude this is the coolest thing ever i wish u luck with the house i wish i couldve traded something this wouldve been cool to be part of ...ShAdOw

Anonymous said...

Kyle, you are an inspiration. Your story's are fun to read and I know you will get your house before long. Life is a journey not a destination but you obviously are living that one. Way to go

Anonymous said...

this is really neat

Anonymous said...

hello, i think what you have done is amazing!! i wish u the best of luck in the rest of your journey! rebecca x

Anonymous said...

Your a legend, nuff said

Anonymous said...

I am guessing 10 more trades and you will have your house. I hope you do it. Keep up the good work!

P.S. one of your trades will be for season tickets to a sports team down the road. I just know it.

Anonymous said...

Someday in the not-so-distant future you'll be walking the beach in front of your finally aquired house and up will float a sealed jar. Within the jar rattles the Red Paper Clip. May God Bless and keep you on your Mighty Path, Lad.
San French
Nevada City, CA

Anonymous said...

I think your plan is simply brilliant, and i wish you good luck. Hope you get your house.

Anonymous said...

I just went to town and got myself some paperclips! I've got a box of 100 and I'll see what I can get. I guess it takes a lot of balls and charisma to be able to pull such things off!

Anonymous said...

red paperclip guy - YOU ROCK! Congrats on the house!

Anonymous said...

Craig- Lake District UK.

This story is superb! Everyones impressed over hear!

Ure a legend pal!

Anonymous said...

Well! Well! Well! I saw your story on 20/20 last night. This is amazing, I know along the way you must have gained more than you expected. The friendship and exposure you got worth just as much as the house if not more. I wish I was part of the trade. I pray more success come your way.

Dare (DD)

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I am a German guy. Maybe you don't understand me.

In my opinion it is a very clever idea, but how can I get visitors? Must I pay money in case I want to adapt your idea? Or is the idea in public domain? I want to get a car or a house or both.

I worked on a site and I would delete it if I am outlaw. Please, answer immedently in case I am outlaw.

I want to translate the text soon.

bye bye

Anonymous said...

Just saw the 20/20 article on you.
Good work :)

Anonymous said...

yow kyle U rock!

Anonymous said...

you're great to get a house out of a paperclip in just 14 trades. good work!

Anonymous said...

Hey u wanna trade your house for my pen.

de mzzl

Anonymous said...

That's really interesting!
I'm sure that you will get that house!So keep trading!

Anonymous said...

i like the paperclip, can i trade it for a marble?

Anonymous said...

Hi, I have read your story in a major German newspaper (die ZEIT "times") and was pretty amazed by this brilliant idea and the opportunites as well as the public sphere internet creates. You got the 15 minutes of fame Woody Allen promised. For me the story creates more evidence that the network society (Castells) or global village is a reality.
..how many trades did Bush's paper clip require to achieve presidency :-)? Best Malko

Anonymous said...

Yjis eptimizes the entrepreneurial mindset. This is success through amazing creativity and perseverance. Congrats on the entrepreneurial mindset and the "out of the box" thinking.

Kurt Steele - Entrepreneurial Mindset Coach
www.harmonsyeele.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Kyle,
I am a Dutch student and I had to read and study you're story for a writing assignment, and I think that you're story is fantastic ...
Keep on trading!!
bye bye

Bianca from the Netherlands

Anonymous said...

I hope to use your concept to attract items for silent auctions for charity. Has anyone done this, and if so what were the keys to your success?

Beth
tenacityfirst@adelphia.net

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this info

Anonymous said...

....oooooooooooo....koool..........xD

Anonymous said...

What's this type of trading called?

Unknown said...

This is an amazing idea, I blog about racism and gambling, and a whole bunch of things that have me ticked off at the world a lot lately, so this was the breath of fresh air I really needed!

In fact, I drug my kids in here and had them help me read the posts outloud :) .. When they asked about the big bat, we moved on ;)

We're only half way through the story, but it's bedtime for preteens in Portland, we'll be back tomorrow though, and just incase I forget then, I wanted to say thanks for sharing your amazing story!

What a great idea! I'm sure it's paid off more then even you imagined!

Bionca said...

This is amazing. For just one red paperclip, the result is practically insane. It is sooooo cool that you would think of that.

* internetstatic * said...

This is mind boggling.

I had a story in my 2nd or 3rd grade English text book about a boy who trades a dead rat for many other things and ends up being a rich man.

I found the story absurd back then. You just made it come true. :D

http://internetstatic.blogspot.com/

tjo66 said...

I just got done watching a show called "Beyond Tomarrow" which was obviously old. I wondered what ever happened to the house in Australia you orginally wanted to trade for?

HeeyoonJung said...

It's very fun!

rainy said...

Greetings from Australia.

You have very unique idea indeed. Hope you will get your house pretty soon.