Today at work, I was discussing embarrassing iPod playlists with a colleague. We were trying to top each other with the most embarrassing songs we owned. I pulled out all of the stops. “Jump” by Kris Kross. “Informer” by Snow. “How Do You Talk To An Angel” by The Heights. “Wannabe” by Spice Girls. But then, I dug deep into my arsenal of bad music, and unveiled the Secret Weapon of bad music: “Nothin My Love Can’t Fix” by Joey Lawrence. WHOA!
There’s a story behind how I came to own the entire Joey Lawrence CD. I have a slight obsession with bad music, especially teen pop. A couple of years ago, I would be that guy. Yes, the one that would be crawling on hands and knees to scour the lower racks of discount CDs at Half Price Books. This is largely where I would score new additions to my collection. But, one day at the Goodwill superstore in Springdale (Cincinnati), I spotted this little gem of a CD.
Once I got past the fact that someone was able to let go of the CD, I snatched it up. As is typical with my Goodwill experience, I wasn’t quite sure what the listing price really was. You see, there was a $1.00 Half Price Books sticker adorning the slightly-cracked plastic case. But to the left of the price tag–scribbled with a Sharpie–was a $5.00. What? Surely Goodwill wouldn’t mark up a CD before selling it. Ecstatic about my new CD, I made my way to the checkout line.
The friendly cashier at Goodwill rang up my purchase, and declared a 5-dollar and something odd cent total.
“That CD is only $1,” I replied, pointing to the Half Price Books sticker.
She corrected me, pointing to the trademark Goodwill Sharpie “No, it’s $5.”
“But the original sale price was $1. You can’t mark up a CD. You’re Goodwill!” I argued.
By this time, a line of discount shoppers was forming behind me. Glaring at me–then at the forming line–then back at me, her words still echo in my head.
“Look, do you want this CD or not?” she asked. She went all Jenny Jones talk show guest on me, her hand on her hip.
Defeated, I pulled out my debit card, and completed the transaction. I mean, really. Where else was I going to find this diamond in the rough?
But the good thing is, it came with a super-cool fold out, autographed poster. So I wasn’t defeated after all.
I don’t have the CD but I still do have the cassette tape and I also have most of those songs on my ipod as well, minus the Spice Girls. I think that is so funny!
Left by Stacy on January 17th, 2008