How Steven swapped a mobile phone for a Porsche

Most people know you can buy and sell your gear on Gumtree, but did you know you can also swap things too? Swapping is a great alternative for when you don’t have the cash to buy something, but have items of value you’re willing to trade. All you have to do is find someone who has what you’re after and let the negotiations begin.

When it comes to swapping gear, the financial value holds less importance than the personal value. For example, if someone really needs a new bike but has tonnes of spare laptops, for them the bike is of more value because it’s something they actually need. It was this logic that 17 year old Californian, Steven Ortiz, used to swap an old mobile phone for a Porsche Boxter S.

Ok, so he didn’t directly swap a phone for a Porsche; it actually took fourteen separate trades over two years for Steven to work his way up to a car worth around $20k. But he did get there eventually! By finding people who wanted what he had to offer, he was able to turn something of little value into something pretty special.

An old mobile phone

Image credit: Gumtree user
It all started with an old mobile phone. Steven’s previous hobby had been fixing up old phones and selling them online, so he already knew how to increase an item’s value. The first swap on his journey to a Porsche started with a simple trade from an old mobile phone to a better mobile phone.

 iPod touch

Image credit: Gumtree user
When he tired of the new phone, Steven swapped it with an iPod touch.

Dirt bike

Image credit: Gumtree user
Then he found someone willing to trade the iPod touch with a dirt bike. From there, Steven stuck with dirt bikes for a while, making several swaps until he was ready for something new.

 MacBook Pro

Image credit: Gumtree user
Moving up in the world, Steven traded his last dirt bike for a MacBook Pro – already a steady improvement on the original mobile phone!

 Golf cart

Image credit: Gumtree user
After the Macbook Pro, Steven started keeping a close eye on online classifieds, reportedly spending up to six hours a day trying to find the right items to trade. He made a few more trades after the MacBook Pro, eventually ending up with his very first vehicle – a golf cart.

 1987 Toyota 4Runner

Image credit: Gumtree user
From there, it was a hop skip and a jump to the Porsche. The golf cart was soon swapped for a 1987 Toyota 4Runner.

 1975 Ford Bronco SUV

Image credit: Gumtree user

Then the 4Runner was traded for a 1975 Ford Bronco SUV. Finally, he managed to land himself a 2000 Porsche Boxter S by offering up his 1975 Bronco – which, in Steven’s case was worth more than the Porsche, but for Steven it was the Porsche he was after.

2000 Porsche Boxter S

Image credit: Gumtree user

Trading tips

A few tips to remember when swapping gear:

• Inspect: Always inspect the item in person to make sure you’re happy before you trade
• Test: Test the item to make sure it’s in good condition and works as it should
• Research: Research the estimated value of the trade – if an item is claimed to be rare or in mint condition, double check the facts before you start negotiations

Swapping is such a great way to get something new without forking out any cash. And as long as you’re happy with the item you’re getting in return, then it doesn’t matter if the financial value is slightly different. So if you’ve got some cool gear that you think someone might like, why not put an ad on Gumtree and give swapping a try? After all, you never know what you might end up with!