...because I bought an evaporative cooler. The air is not as icy-cold as an air conditioner but it's about ten thousand times better than sitting in front of a fan that's pushing hot air towards you. Last night I went out to the shopping centre because it was cool there, and when I came home and walked inside I started to cry because the air in my house was considerably hotter than outside (and it was already uncomfortably hot out there). The air from the fan honestly felt like the air being blown from a heater, but leaving it off was far worse. While I was at the shops I went into a few stores in the vain hope that they might have an air cooler for sale but I was out of luck. Most had lots of fans and a couple of portable air conditioners, which are out of my price range and aren't really that effective.
I resigned myself to waiting out the heatwave, but after another night of sweating, feverish nightmares and waking up every hour or so I decided I couldn't wait, even though the so-called cool change is meant to come tonight. We're still in for another week of temps over 30. So, I went onto eBay. There were lots of evaporative coolers, and lots in drivable distance - but the bidding was OUTRAGEOUS. Clearly, people are desperate so they're all bidding past the price of a new cooler just to be sure of securing one, because a second-hand cooler is better than no cooler at all. I can attest to that.
I bid on one but it went over my limit very quickly. I thought I'd either miss out on a cooler or have to pay more than I wanted when lo and behold, I saw one with a "Buy It Now" price of $60. ("Buy It Now" means you can bid, and hope that you get it cheaper than the Buy It Now price, or simply pay the asking price and know you'll get the item.) I think it had only been listed for a couple of minutes when I saw it. I didn't even hesitate; I knew I'd never get it for that price at an auction. There's actually an identical one on eBay now and the price is up to $60 already - it's had 35 bids and there's still 18 hours to go. The one on which I'd bid originally is up to $102.50. (**Update - it sold for $120 after 28 bids.) The one I bought is only about a year old but it's still second-hand - you can buy these things NEW for $100. Madness!
Anyway, so now I have the cooler. I no longer want to cry and I'll probably stop swearing too. I can't guarantee I'll stop having ice cream for dinner.
.
I resigned myself to waiting out the heatwave, but after another night of sweating, feverish nightmares and waking up every hour or so I decided I couldn't wait, even though the so-called cool change is meant to come tonight. We're still in for another week of temps over 30. So, I went onto eBay. There were lots of evaporative coolers, and lots in drivable distance - but the bidding was OUTRAGEOUS. Clearly, people are desperate so they're all bidding past the price of a new cooler just to be sure of securing one, because a second-hand cooler is better than no cooler at all. I can attest to that.
I bid on one but it went over my limit very quickly. I thought I'd either miss out on a cooler or have to pay more than I wanted when lo and behold, I saw one with a "Buy It Now" price of $60. ("Buy It Now" means you can bid, and hope that you get it cheaper than the Buy It Now price, or simply pay the asking price and know you'll get the item.) I think it had only been listed for a couple of minutes when I saw it. I didn't even hesitate; I knew I'd never get it for that price at an auction. There's actually an identical one on eBay now and the price is up to $60 already - it's had 35 bids and there's still 18 hours to go. The one on which I'd bid originally is up to $102.50. (**Update - it sold for $120 after 28 bids.) The one I bought is only about a year old but it's still second-hand - you can buy these things NEW for $100. Madness!
Anyway, so now I have the cooler. I no longer want to cry and I'll probably stop swearing too. I can't guarantee I'll stop having ice cream for dinner.
.
5 comments:
Glad you got the cooler. They are way more effective than a fan!
What's with you guys stealing our summer anyway?!!
Sleep better tonight!
We've just borrowed it for a bit, but you can have it back now. No, really.
Swift Jan, please stop asking for more summer just because you have an airconditioner.
I'm really enjoying the temperature here at the moment, but feel guilty about our (unnecessary just at the moment) airconditioners. Maybe I should put one on eBay...
Femina, I hope you sleep well.
such a wise decision - no doubt the cooler will make a big difference. And on the off chance it doesn't you can sell it on ebay for a profit. Well done on snaring a bargain!
Good decision! I would have cried too! It really was just way too hot.
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