Once at an MIT swapfest, I paid someone half price for a camera to “hold it” because I didn’t have the entire amount they wanted in cash, and they wouldn’t take Venmo. I never got the camera or any money back because he basically gave me the run around. Silly me believes in being virtuous in casual transactions.
Sorry that's happened. How long ago? Do you think there's a chance it might still be straightened out?
BTW, you probably know this, but just for HN: some of the vendors and shoppers will be calibrated a bit differently than average, so there might be miscommunication, or awkwardness, or different conventions, to get past.
A few years ago at Swapfest, a friend and I met up there, as vendors were packing up, and one of the vendors in the parking garage was having trouble starting their truck, dead battery. So, maybe because my friend thought the vendor might be averse to asking for help, she quietly went and asked another nearby vendor with a vehicle, if they could give a jump, and they cheerfully did.
(Friend is a former military officer, who had also gone to MIT, and who exemplifies some of the best of tech industry leadership, including Knowing Your Nerds.)
I didn’t mean any shade at MIT, or the MIT swapfest—I was just sharing a story. I also met some great people there, and bought some cool stuff, so I’d highly recommend people in the area to attend it at least once. Regarding trying to sort the camera thing, it’s long past now, and I don’t care. Maybe they really needed that money.
