Trading Up

I wrote about The Great Minivan Trade Up last month and I was excited to learn that Dad of Divas is moving along smoothly in his goals.

He was interviewed recently by his local paper, the Herald Times Reporter. Since the current trade up includes drinks with a fellow blogger, I figured I'd have to come up with something equally exciting to offer as a trade up.

Suddenly, I'm reminded of my first day on the Stanford University campus just a few months back. I was there for the Professional Publishing Course and found myself at the bookstore just hours before checking into my dorm.

Just as I was about to head to the opening class, two young teenage boys stopped me. Or perhaps there were three. They were very shy, looked extremely nervous and a little annoyed at the person who ignored them just seconds before turning to me. I stopped to hear what they had to say.

Apparently, as part of their assignment for their summer class, they were asked to hold a similar experiment in trading up. They offered me a band-aid and asked if I had something of more value in exchange. They even suggested a pen or pencil, which I of course had on hand.

After they thanked me and walked on to the next unsuspecting bystander, I realized that I had actually gotten the better deal here. After all, pens are easy to come by these days. Companies give them away, people leave them behind or you can easily find a woman with a purse who most likely has one.

But, ask your average Joe for a band-aid and you'd be hard-pressed to find one. As a mom, I typically have one in my purse but I was pretty surprised that these young students felt that a pen was of more value. The value of certain material things is subjective.

Back to my point. The blogger, Weaselmomma, who kindly offered her company during Happy Hour along with her recipes for some pretty amazing goodies, realizes the value of these two things. Oh, and she even threw in an autographed photo of herself so you can say you knew her when she becomes famous.

Even if this mini-van trade up does not make her famous, it most certainly will provide her with some new readers. So, to my readers, I now challenge you. What would you trade this little package (approximate value $250) for?

Head on over to The Great Mini-Van Trade Up to offer up your own collection of goodies.

The Great Minivan Trade Up

I drive a minivan. I have a 2004 Nissan Quest and bought it when it was brand-spanking new. My son was just four months at the time and although I adored my four-door Honda Civic, it was nearly impossible, and also painful (after a c-section) to have to bend down, and crawl inside to snap my son's car seat into place. So, I did a little research on several minivans and decided that the Nissan Quest would be perfect for me.

This is my minivan (color and everything) even though I found the photo on line.

My parents drove a minivan while I was growing up. I loved being able to sit separately from my sister (we bickered back then) and truly enjoyed the privacy of the back-back seat. From way back there, I couldn't hear my parents (arguing) or asking me questions during that time in my life where I didn't want to communicate with anyone about anything (unless it had to do with clothes, music, or boys).

When I started to drive, I was allowed to take the minivan on occasion and I loved it. I could fit all seven of my best friends inside...it was like a party on wheels! The best thing about it is that the middle row of seats could be removed entirely and I could use it to sleep in when we went camping (I am so not the camper-type, despite what you all may think).

This experience of having a large vehicle (and being able to parallel park it), made me realize how fabulous it would be to have one to cart around my little baby, safely. I still drive it to this day, although it's a little dirty (outside and in). I think there's nearly 64,000 miles on it (it's been driven to Las Vegas, L.A. and Anaheim - several times) and just this week the windshield got a crack in it which will need to be replaced soon.

So, on with the point of this post. A fellow blogger, Dad of Divas, is on his own quest (pun intended, sorry) to get his hands on (and his little ones inside of) a minivan of his own. Read, in his own words, the story of The Great Minivan Trade Up project:

J-Mom and I have been looking at getting a minivan for quite some time, but for us it has been an issue of money (being on one income and all).

I have decided to try something a bit unconventional. In our research, J-Mom and I have decided that we really would like to get a Toyota Sienna. We chose this based on our test drives, safety features, reliability and overall value for the product.

Why a minivan you may say...well, if you have ever tried to lug around kids, family members, the kids' friends in vehicles that only hold 5-6 you may now understand our dilemma.

What I am offering is to try a new trade up project for a new (or very gently used - preferably new) Toyota Sienna. The specs we are looking for include: At least an LE version, automatic with tinted windows, side airbag and automatic features, air conditioning. If possible we would like some color choice (but I know beggars can't be choosers) Would I love the XLE package - you bet, but I am not trying to shoot for the moon (or maybe I should!)

Do I know whether this project will work, no. Do I hope it does work, sure thing!

I will promise this to all of my readers, if this does go anywhere, you are sure to hear more about it along the way no matter what happens (it should be fun). (I wonder how quickly something like this could potentially happen???)

What I am looking for is for people to offer trade ups that have some value to others. Seeing that I live in Northeastern Wisconsin and have a more limited travel budget, I am looking for things to be somewhat transportable (yet again, of value). If items are products, please make sure that items are in working order. If trades are for services, events, vacations, etc, please specify the parameters that must be followed.

So what do you get in return, well first, you get some items that may be valuable to you. Second you get to be a part of history! Third, you will get notoriety and free publicity as I will make a big deal regarding my trade ups! Fourth, for the person, company, etc, that does finally get me to my goal, I will promise you praise beyond compare on this site, and if you would like a continual product review (a year in the life per se of a Toyota Sienna owner)

So don't call me crazy, just call me industrious and creative... I look forward to what happens!

So be a part of history as I have never found anyone that has done this type of trade up... and help me to achieve my dream of becoming a minivan family!

Even if you don't want to trade up, please share this with friends, colleagues, other blog networks. Please Stumble or Digg this to get the word out. Thank you for your support!