MetaChat - What's the biggest thing you have ever bought online?

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19 July 2006

What's the biggest thing you have ever bought online? I just bought tires for our van. It was actually scary, because I'm so used to the tire store rituals, i.e. getting ripped off, and I know nothing about tires.

The site was recommended by Kevin Kelly at cool tools. So the whole loop never left the internet. I think I am approaching the singularity here.

post by: craniac at: 15:04 | 30 comments

Oh crap, just filled up the whole front page. Sorry. Feel free to delete.

/returns to lurking.

posted by craniac 19 July | 15:07

Leg lamp.

posted by rainbaby 19 July | 15:08

a big ol' rug from kazahkistan..........

posted by Mrs.Pants 19 July | 15:12

Welcome.

A 1940s stove.

posted by Miko 19 July | 15:13

You have a leg lamp rainbaby?! You lucky dog!

I've only ordered books online from Amazon. My biggest order was last week ($117 USD). This Laura Ingalls Wilder fan is gonna be through the roof in a couple weeks. (I ordered a bunch of non-fiction books about her.)

Why yes, I am a dork.

posted by deborah 19 July | 15:17

It was a fitting Christmas present for the other human member of my household, yes, deborah. It looks surprisingly spiffy in the livingroom.

posted by rainbaby 19 July | 15:21

I bought an old POWER1 RS6000 workstation and the 100lb 19" monitor that came with it. So far it's the only thing I've ever personally ordered that came on a pallet.

posted by cmonkey 19 July | 15:24

Really nothing over $100 or $200. Probably some sort of stereo equipment or camera equipment. I can't remember. Usually stuff like that, I like to get my hands on it in person.

posted by matildaben 19 July | 15:25

Welcome craniac. Largest thing would be 60 computers and 60 15" momitors.

posted by arse_hat 19 July | 15:28

I just bought this couch from Target.com.

posted by JanetLand 19 July | 15:29

It would have to be my Aerostich Roadcrafter motorcycle riding suit. It arrived two weeks after I crashed my motorcycle.

I sold it last year on eBay, still in the unopened box in came in. Lost only a little on the deal.

posted by tommasz 19 July | 15:29

Lawnmower

posted by warbaby 19 July | 15:40

Nice couch, JL.

Bummer about the motorcycle/riding suit, tommasz.

Welcome, craniac!

*offers carrot to new bunny*

posted by Pips 19 July | 15:45

I bought my laptop about two years ago and that was probably the most expensive item I ever bought online. My bed is the largest purchase I made online from a physical perspective.

posted by ooga_booga 19 July | 15:53

My $300 camera. It was $50 cheaper off Amazon than at the local Best Buy, but I went there first to mess around with it and get a feel for it. I need a new (at least to me) monitor and I've been kind of eyeing them online but I think they're too heavy - the shipping's going to kill me on that one. People who buy large heavy things online - doesn't the shipping make up the difference in price? Or am I totally wrong?

posted by mygothlaundry 19 July | 15:54

I could have got mediocre tires for $350 at the local tire place, but I got some highly-rated Yokohama touring tires for $243 shipped, plus it will cost $60 to have them mounted, so I am "saving" a little. Shipping was $43, and should take two days. I have never ordered anything that physically large before. They get shipped straight to the tire shop that will install them.

posted by craniac 19 July | 16:00

The lords of dogtown movie production people bought the ferris wheel for the film on ebay. My most largest-size and expensive purchases have been computers.

posted by safetyfork 19 July | 16:10

Yeah, my desktop computer is probably both the largest and most expensive thing I've bought online.

True story: my boy wanted to get me the Sigur Ros "( )" poster for my birthday. He looks online - oh, it's only 1'x1.5' - perfect for my tiny room. It arrives in this huge poster tube... Turns out it's 1 x 1.5 METERS.

posted by muddgirl 19 July | 16:22

I have bought a few laptops for other people online and am about to order a couple of 19" LCD monitors and another laptop.

I am seriously considering buying a caravan on eBay at the moment - the main thing holding us back is the thought of paying $15k for something we have never seen from someone we have never met.

posted by dg 19 July | 17:38

LOOK AWAY FROM THE SINGULARITY CRANIAC! Look away!

The biggest thing I have gotten online was a dining chair from Pottery Barn.

posted by halonine 19 July | 18:40

A bunch of pro audio equipment. Lots of computer shit.

The infamous vibrator deserves an honorable mention.

posted by mosch 19 July | 18:55

Lots of stuff from Abebooks, but I guess the biggest item would be a bookcase. I'm very particular about what I wanted, and nothing in the stores around me had exactly the right thing. It is really gorgeous.

posted by redvixen 19 July | 19:38

I place staggeringly huge orders online for work, but I don't think that counts. A friend of mine bought 40 acres of land on eBay.

posted by tangerine 19 July | 20:01

A 6' long piece of acrylic rod from Tap Plastics.

posted by chewatadistance 19 July | 20:18

Actually, I bought my current car on-line, but went to look at it before committing, so that probably doesn't count.

posted by dg 19 July | 20:51

lappy top definitely the most expensive thing I've bought online. It's a Dell. Shut up!

posted by gaspode 20 July | 00:00

I think the most expensive single item I’ve ordered on-line was the Adobe Creative Suite. The largest order physically might be the three boxes of Italian pasta, sauces, canned tomatoes, olive oil and flour I ordered from De Cecco.

posted by misteraitch 20 July | 02:37

Biggest: bike frame's the largest, turntable's the heaviest.
Most expensive: monitor.

posted by box 20 July | 07:23

Biggest: a Cobalt Flux Dance Platform for Dance Dance Revolution.

Most expensive: laptop.

posted by Prospero 20 July | 09:35

what dg bought; probably a different model though

posted by Wedge 20 July | 14:52

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