Human Friction

I just sold some Moose Antlers on Kijiji in a novel way (to me anyways).

I priced them at $150, knowing originally $175 was paid for them. I didn’t want to “lose” much, so the offer was firm and i had already defiantly turned down numerous sub $100 offers.

Someone poked up a few days ago citing interest, and back and forth about availability, delivery, etc. followed. My skepticism for kijiji people is very high, so until there is a firm time and a promise of money i invest little. This morning the person told me where they were located, and i was having no interest in delivery, so suggested they come and pick them up.

The person, known on kijiji as “jie” (but for some reason showing up in my gmail as “yeah right”), suggested sending an uber to pick them up. Umm… ya! And the transaction couldn’t have been easier. They sent an e-transfer for the full amount, then an uber. I dropped them in the uber, explained the situation to the slightly bewildered but understanding driver, and on their way they were. Successful delivery confirmed a 20 minutes later by the buyer.

Uber as a delivery service like this makes sense, and is super convenient. It saves someone from driving “themselves” to a location, and saves their time.

Companies like Uber and Amazon are about convenience, and removing friction. We appreciate it, because it lets us focus on the things on our lists, the things that we want to get done, and us optimized humans love getting shit done.

I can see a company like Amazon removing all the friction from the above transaction. I just post the item, and then some time later get a transfer and uber-like notification when the pickup is suggested that i can choose to accept. I would miss the part about how much jie was looking forward to hanging the antlers in their cottage, let alone actually meeting jie (had we opted for the less convenient, deliver ourselves option).

But friction can provide value as well, albeit an entirely uncommitted and variable amount of value (including, negative value). The random conversation with an uber driver. Ordering your coffee from a real person, and having them comment politely on your rad cat tee. Or the fodder we see and hear in so many (fiction filled) hollywood movies or FJM songs about chance encounters, and unimagined possibilities.

Removing friction is good, but removing all of it feels worse. I appreciate the value of randomness, I love human encounters, and actually want a life that leans towards maximizing it (when i can afford it).

Perhaps once we’ve gone so far as to create a streamlined, friction free (ie no unplanned human encounters) lifestyle, companies like Amazon will innovate yet again, and find a way to commoditize the randomness, and assign real committed value to it.

“With Amazon Prime get free 5 minute video conversations with 5 star sellers of your choice. Conversations pre-seeded with the the seller’s stories from the day, as well as top historical facts”.

Sign me up!!