Business Opportunities Weblog

Burnt Out Lightbulb Bizop?

By on February 4, 2009 in Ideas

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photo credit: jnicholls357

In the former Soviet Union, there was a market for burnt out lightbulbs:

For most of us, it is hard to fathom the rationale for a market in burnt-out light bulbs. But in the scarcity-driven Soviet economy, the market was entirely reasonable. Light bulbs were rarely available to individual consumers, but were obtainable for state-sponsored activities. Thus, it would be difficult to purchase a light bulb for a new lamp in one’s home, while burnt-out bulbs in state-run offices or factories were routinely replaced. So if someone purchased a new lamp and needed a bulb, he would buy a used light bulb for a small fee and replace a functioning bulb at work with the dud. He would then take the functioning bulb home for the new lamp, while the burnt-out bulb at the office/factory would be replaced with a new functioning bulb. Meanwhile, the maintenance person at the office/factory would take the used bulb and sell it on the used light bulb market.

via Marginal Realism.

Business Opportunities Weblog editor and publisher Dane Carlson lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, just 15 miles from Yosemite National Park. He accidentally became a professional blogger in 2001. He has added 12,203 posts to the site.

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  • http://lotusjump.com/seo-software.php SEO Software

    Wow…that’s really interesting. I’m glad the “state” doesn’t impose too much around here.

  • Jaclyn

    That is so interesting. but at the same time it’s kind of sad that in order for someone over there to get a new light bulb for their home, they had to go through such hoops to replace a bulb at work with a dud and take the good bulb home to put in their lamp. that is just plain really sad to think that they go through so much trouble for something as simple as a light bulb. really shine’s a fresh and new light on our situation’s here…at least were not that bad off yet.

  • http://www.securedeductable.com Lee

    I have friends who came from the soviet union and have always been amazed at the stories. Very happy to be living in a free country.

  • cassy

    Yes Lee, lets all be thankful that we are living in a free country. We did not experience what the people in Soviet Union experienced…

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