Black markets are all the rage. While there are obvious "bad" black markets across the world - prostitution, arms sales, counterfeit pharmaceuticals - there are also some "good" black markets (or at least ones that don't really cause any harm). Think snakehead fish, illegal taxis, and software piracy. Victimless crimes operated by everyday Americans just looking to break even.
The point of a black market is to circumvent legal statutes and to make a lot of money without paying taxes. In recent years cities, and even the state, of California have tried to ban Happy Meals, plastic bags, shark fin soup and more. But what do I think is the most profitable recently banned item in California? 100-watt light bulbs.
Apparently, anything higher than 72 watts is a danger to society, costing taxpayers billions of dollars every year and killing the planet. By 2014, all incandescent light bulbs will be switched off and switched out for energy efficient LED, halogen or fluorescent bulbs. But you say, so what? Well I'll tell you.
Incandescent bulbs are wonderfully bright and cheap (about a $1 for four versus $6 for a halogen set). Somewhere, Thomas Edison is rolling over in his well-lit grave. No longer will school children be able to read their books in bright, friendly workspaces. Instead they'll be reading S.E. Hinton and Lois Lowry at desks that have the wattage of an interrogation room.
Well, when I heard about this... the proverbial light bulb went off over my head! As 100-watt supplies dwindle, an enterprising soul could make a killing. Here's how to do it. Rent a U-Haul or drive your pick-up truck over the state lines to Nevada, Oregon or Arizona. Places like Ashland, OR, Yuma, AZ, and Reno, NV are 100-watt hot beds! Then, hit up the local Costco for bulk 100-watt bulbs and load up said truck.
When you are back safely in California, you put the word out on every street corner that you're in business. The mark-up will be nominal, maybe a buck or two, but still enough to turn a tidy 100% profit. And every parent in the state will be desperate for quality reading light for their little Aurora or Jeremiah. Think you are a good parent? Then embrace the black market. Think of the children.
 |
| Diagram of a brilliant idea. |
Incandescent bulbs are wonderfully bright and cheap (about a $1 for four versus $6 for a halogen set). Somewhere, Thomas Edison is rolling over in his well-lit grave. No longer will school children be able to read their books in bright, friendly workspaces. Instead they'll be reading S.E. Hinton and Lois Lowry at desks that have the wattage of an interrogation room.
 |
| Your child's future workspace. |
Well, when I heard about this... the proverbial light bulb went off over my head! As 100-watt supplies dwindle, an enterprising soul could make a killing. Here's how to do it. Rent a U-Haul or drive your pick-up truck over the state lines to Nevada, Oregon or Arizona. Places like Ashland, OR, Yuma, AZ, and Reno, NV are 100-watt hot beds! Then, hit up the local Costco for bulk 100-watt bulbs and load up said truck.
When you are back safely in California, you put the word out on every street corner that you're in business. The mark-up will be nominal, maybe a buck or two, but still enough to turn a tidy 100% profit. And every parent in the state will be desperate for quality reading light for their little Aurora or Jeremiah. Think you are a good parent? Then embrace the black market. Think of the children.
1 comment:
RE market in banned light bulbs
You could have a point there..
here in post-ban Europe the price of simple regular incandescents has rocketed,
in that some stores still have them (they were allowed to sell off "existing stock", which somehow have continued to exist, made in Ukraine etc..)
The ban is a good one to highlight,
regarding the "nonsensical and ridiculpous"
There’s an irony there somewhere,
banning simple safe known technology in favor of unknown and seemingly unsafe technology
- normally of course products are banned for being unsafe to use
(like say lead paint)
It is a “ban” on simple incandescents:
Temporarily allowed and unpopular Halogen etc
incandescents are themselves more complex and costly and with a
different (whiter) light for marginal savings, compared to the simple, cheap, popular and banned regular incandescent types.
The further irony is that the popularity,
being about 4 out of 5 bulbs bought, is the reason for the ban:
No “Big Savings” from banning what people don’t like!
People don’t save that much in switching anyway.
One reason is that the heat can be useful as background room heat,
another is that common cheaper CFLs (“energy saving” lights )
draw twice the energy from the
power plant than what your meter suggests – but users of course have to pay
for that eventually too
(look up CFL “power factor” online, or Ceolas.net
with more about the lack of savings from the ban)
Post a Comment