A long, long time ago, before the internet, Vintage Guitar Magazine gave free classified ads to subscribers. I had found a vintage Coricidin pill bottle at a yard sale for a dime, and I knew that Duane Allman had famously used one as a slide when he played slide guitar. So I decided to put an ad in the magazine to try and sell the bottle:
”Original 1960s Coricidin pill bottle, just like Duane Allman used for slide guitar, excellent condition. $50”
My ad came out. I got exactly two responses, both in the form of phone calls on my answering machine (this is how we used to roll in the olden days, kids). The first message I got was from an irate gentleman who had seen my ad:
”F*** YOU! YOU AND YOUR GREED! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WOULD ASK FIFTY DOLLARS FOR A PILL BOTTLE THAT’S WORTH A QUARTER! SHAME ON YOU! ASSH***! F*** YOU!”
The second response I got was completely different:
”I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A VINTAGE CORICIDIN BOTTLE LIKE DUANE FOR DECADES! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I WILL SEND YOU THE FIFTY DOLLARS TOMORROW! I’M SO HAPPY!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!”
I sent the fellow his Coricidin bottle, and I presume that he is still out there somewhere, happily sliding away with it. But I did have to chuckle.
If there was ever a more perfect example of how free-market economics work, or for that matter the yin and yang/perfect duality of human nature in general, I have yet to hear it. It was just funny as heck.
(Photo is me with a Nervine pill bottle I found a few years ago–very similar, almost identical to the Coricidin pill bottle. I’m keeping this one. And yes, I anticipate somebody immediately posting a photo of Hound Dog Taylor and his six-fingered left hand—sorry, but I only have five fingers).
