How $30 turned into $1200
March 5th, 2007 by matt
This is not a story about turning $30 into $1200, but rather a story on how to turn a $30 purchase into a $1200 purchase…
A few months ago I saw a commercial for the Nike + iPod running system. It consists of a little device you attach to your iPod and another device you clip to your shoe. It costs $30. I thought it was so cool and would be a great motivator for running (once I’m allowed to run again, that is). The catch is that it only works with the iPod nano. Really, though, that makes a lot of sense. You don’t want to use a regular iPod for running because they have a hard drive and hard drives aren’t meant to be bounced around like that. And you couldn’t use an iPod shuffle because they don’t have a screen and the Nike + iPod system gives you real-time feedback on the screen. That leaves the iPod nano as the winner by default.
The problem is that I don’t have an iPod nano. I have a regular iPod and an iPod shuffle (the old style). So I had to buy an iPod nano. I got the 4GB red version refurbished from Apple’s web site for $169 + tax. So that’s not too bad. Yet.
Then I realized I needed a way to hold the iPod nano while running or working out. And the pouch or armband would need to be able to accomdate the Nike+ sensor. I have an armband that I use with my iPod shuffle, but my biceps are apparently too massive for the armband because it barely fits (and sometimes falls off due to the velcro not holding while I’m lifting weights). So after some searching I found the Sportsuit Relay case from Marware. The least expensive I could find this item for was on eBay for $28 including shipping. So I spent a little more, but I should be good now, right?
Wrong. I then realized that I didn’t have a computer with USB2, which is what the iPod nano uses to sync to a computer (that’s also how the battery gets charged). I have an eMac that I use as a dedicated music server in my living room. It’s an older Mac and only has USB1.1. I would be able to sync music to the iPod nano, but I wouldn’t be able to charge it. And the sync speeds would take a very long time (potentially hours). So I had to get a new computer. I got a refurbished iMac Core Duo for $949 + tax from the Apple’s web site (I did have a $30 coupon, though). The computer came on Friday and I set it up over the weekend.
So, in order to use the $30 Nike + iPod kit, I had to buy (and spent):
- an iPod nano ($169 + $8.45 tax)
- an iMac ($949 - $30 coupon + $45.95 tax)
- an armband ($22.99 + $4.99 shipping)
Grand total: $1170.38
Ouch. Notice that I haven’t even bought the Nike + iPod kit yet. I’m planning on getting that once I’m allowed to run (I think in another month). The good news is that I should be able to sell my eMac for $500-600 dollars. And I’m probably going to use the Health and Wellness benefit that my company gives each employee each year ($130) towards the iPod nano. And I suppose I could sell my iPod shuffle for $30 or so, but I’m giving that to Marci because I’m such a softee.
Apple sure is good at making a person want to buy their products. 