This just might be one of the best Craigslist freebies. Vancouver’s Sean Hallaren had a “boring old gray IKEA rug” he needed to get rid of. Rather than throwing it away, he posted it on Craiglist’s free section at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
“Ikea rug for free. In good shape, no fraying. Has been rolled up in storage for about a year, so it will need some time to unroll and flatten. Please email to arrange pickup near Brentwood mall.”
When he woke up that morning, he had 36 emails sitting in his inbox inquiring about the free rug.
I put an old Ikea rug on the Craigslist free section at about 1:30am. By 8:40am I have received 36 emails about it. Holy god damn.
— Sean Hallaren (@hallaren) December 19, 2013
He waited to see how many more emails would come in.
Tempted to wait and see how many emails I get today. I’ll pit all of my rug’s suitors against each other in a cage match. Winner takes rug.
— Sean Hallaren (@hallaren) December 19, 2013
After receiving 50 emails, he wondered how to choose who to give the rug to, and came up with this brilliant idea:
I think I’m going to make people write haikus. Best haiku wins the rug.
— Sean Hallaren (@hallaren) December 19, 2013
The task sounded simple, but would people do it? Absolutely. By 10 a.m. he had received three submissions.
Oh man. I already have three haikus about my rug. This is going to be the best day ever. #freerughaikus
— Sean Hallaren (@hallaren) December 19, 2013
Some were not happy with his method of choosing a winner, but by the end of it, Hallaren had nearly 20 haiku submissions from the 70 email inquirers. Here are some of them (including some multi-stanza ones):
- Your carpet is nice / I want it so bad for me / Please give it to me
- That is a nice rug / It’s so meant for me / Delete the others and send to me
- A rug, what a rug / So much demand for this rug / To me it must come
- Who knew a novel idea / For me to get a new rug / I thought it was free
- This is something new / A haiku to win a prize / Will give it a try
Love compositions / For an outstanding freebie / Great rug to envy
Excellent pattern / With the playstation icons / In stunning grey green
Instead of landfill / This rug will get recycled / To save our planet
- A competition? / It’s just a free f—ing rug / i would still like it
- From Sweden I came / IKEA is my maker / You are my keeper
He bought me unused / No use did he have for me / Used I now am – Free
- Lonely floor needs warmth / Desires friend for company / Play laugh bond the two
- Squeaky hardwood floors / Teenage son, that says it all / Downstairs neighbour
The winning submission:
Draped upon the floor / Confident yet walked all over / New home for Christmas
Read more of the Free Rug Haikus.
Have you ever done anything crazy to get something for free? Let us know in the comments below!