Swap challenge: Be more inventive than the red paper clip guy

You’ve heard about the Canadian guy who swapped a red paper clip for a house, right?

It’s not one of those “guy walked into a bar” type yarns. True story.

Now there’s a Logan guy who wants you to do the same thing. Sort of.

Nic Robertson founded Swapu, a website that helps people swap stuff they don’t want for stuff they do want. And he’s on the lookout for someone who can creatively swap themselves to – well, maybe not a fortune, but to some sort of “swapping goal”.

And part of the whole premise is that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. One man’s junk, another’s treasure, and all those cliches that befit the world of second-hand stuff.

Since launching Swapu, Mr Robertson has had some interesting tales to tell. Here are the five swaps he considers to be his most interesting so far.

Five things people have actually swapped:

1. A Tag Heuer for a Kawasaki Vulcan motorbike: Mr Robertson from Swapu says this was a great swap because something at the bottom of a drawer could be put to use, traded for a motorbike and feeling the wind through his helmet.
2. A 1.2m fish tank for a retro gaming collection: Some might argue one wet fish for another, but hey … everyone’s got a dream. The gaming kit was unused, and the tank was growing fungus. Everyone wins.
3. Mazda Bravo for a Yamaha FZ8 motorbike: Seems a little unfair at first – four wheels for two. But you can’t move house on the back of a Yamaha. And you can’t use the transit lane with a Bravo. Someone gets a work ute, another gets a weekend explorer.
4.  Two jet skis for a Harley Davidson Sportster: Forgive the motor theme, but in this case the jet skis needed some work. Instead of selling them for peanuts, the owner traded with someone who knew how to fix them. The Sportster was a little older, but … well … it’s a Sportster.
5. A compound bow for a Malvern Star: For those who don’t know, a compound bow is one of those fancy contraptions archers use to launch their arrow. This is a case of one man growing out of his bike, and another losing touch with his hobby. Both now have new pursuits.

Here’s how to be in the running to win $500:

Swapu wants to find the best swapper, and according to founder Nic Robertson, it’s all about creativity. Load a pair of shoes, swap them for something better, and so it goes from there.

Don’t have a pair of shoes you don’t like? Okay, swap something else. But first, there are a few things to do.

1. Sign up at Swapu.
2. Download the Swapu app.
3. Get swapping.
4. Be sure to tag your swaps on social media so they can be tracked.