Craigslist. You’ve perused it, you’ve used it, you’ve cruised it and probably put pictures of your d**k on it. I’ve been a big fan of Craigslist for many years. I’ve gotten all of my apartments through it, solicited my roommates the same way… I once even bought a very beloved watch thanks to Craigy. Some folks might not trust what is essentially a community messageboard. But it was through Craigslist that I managed to sell and trade my way to a barely used 16GB Ipod Itouch for under $75.

It all began about 3 weeks ago, when I came across a random comment on a random website that The Dark Knight Imax tickets were to go on sale that day. Now, I hadn’t been nerding out about the movie like those who managed to keep up with the multi-billion dollar marketing campaign. But here’s a secret about me: I’m a sucker for cultural events and phenomenons. Years ago, I happen to be in London on the day when Stanley Kubrik’s A Clockwork Orange was debuting following the director’s death. History: I could finally be a part of it! I forced my best friend to come to a midnight showing of the movie, only hours before our departing flight, thinking it would be packed with English folks in bowler hats and false eyelashes, swatting at each others’ knees with their canes. So you can imagine my disappointment when we showed up to the theater at 12 AM to find about 5 other people — mostly homeless — either making out with each other or laying across the seats, sleeping on a pillow made of cans.

The Dark Knight on Imax was a different story. It was pretty much a guarantee that the screenings would sell out, and hopefully, the folks in attendance would be dressed to the crimes in their finest caped attire. Is there anything better than when an audience applauds and hoots throughout a movie? As long as no one busts a New Jack City-style cap up in the theater, I’m all for opening night mayhem. Which is why I bought 2 tickets to see the movie at 4 AM on opening night (or morning, as the case may be), and 2 more tickets to see it Sunday at 6 PM. I wanted to get the most hype-bang for my buck! And if the film was as good as the reviews were hinting at, then surely I could sit through it twice in one weekend.

Then, last week, a co-worker mentioned that TDK: Imax tickets were making a mint on Craigslist. Here’s me right now:

Well… I guess in couldn’t hurt if I sold my 4 AM tickets for some extra scratch. Sure, I’d never be able to go to a 4 AM screening probably ever again for the rest of my life. Then again, I could really use a lot of stuff before my impending vacation. Seriously, if it’s personal history vs. a new Ipod, it’s really not a debate. For God’s sakes, I’m still cranking out my tunes on scratched up 4th Gen model that looks like it was made out of a matzoh box and broken dreams. So, I put the pair of tickets up for sale on Craigslist, asking for a “Best Offer”.

After the jump, find out how much I got for ‘em.

And the offers started rolling in. And how much do you think I sold my 4 am tickets for?

$100, that’s how much. 100 bones. Enough to cover the cost of at least half of a refurbished Ipod. This was a boon! And the best part? I still had 2 tickets to see it on Sunday. All was right with the world.

And there I was, a day later, back to trolling Craigslist for used Ipods — nothing fancy, just one that held a charge — when I came across this listing:

“16GB Ipod Touch for Your 4 Dark Knight Imax Tickets”

My eyes deceived me. Could it be? Dare I dream of owning an Ipod Touch, the Ipod that also doubles as a tiny, hand-cramping computer? No, I daren’t. I’m a simple girl with simple tastes. My cell phone was purchased at a Saved By The Bell props sale. Plus, I didn’t even have 4 tickets! Only 2. Nah, he wouldn’t go for it. Or would he? I sent an e-mail:

“Hi there, Would you be willing to trade your Ipod Touch for 2 Imax tickets and cash? Thanks in advance. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxo, Michelle.”

And so it went. He wanted to know how much I’d be willing to offer. Being the Mayor of Hymietown (OK to say as I really am the Mayor), I offered $100. I figured I’d come out almost even. He found the offer too low (of course), and in the end, we settled on $140 and the tickets.

I met with this gentleman on Sunday to do the exchange. That’s definitely the one downfall of Craigslist: Having to come face to face with the anonymous stranger you’ve been negotiating with. (I can only imagine this becomes infinitely more awkward when actual private parts are involved. Awkward/Awesome? I have no idea.) Sure enough, an equally weirded out guy met me on a street corner, and there we were, two drug dealers of entertainment, exchanging money and goods in broad NYC daylight. He took the Ipod Touch out of his pocket, and it glowed like a brand new pair of cheapskates. The fellah trading it offered to knock $10 off of the price to make up for the new $10 Apple software update. I felt guilty agreeing, but also, not being an idiot, thanked him for his generosity. I only hope he wasn’t the guy who nearly got into a fist fight with Dan at the same screening.

He walked away with a surprise for his girlfriend: Dinner and a movie. And I, in turn, got a 16GB Ipod Touch (ret. $399!) for 4 Dark Knight Imax tickets and $30. Or $70. (Do the math, it works.) The device is, hmm, what’s the English language word for amazing? Incredible. The battery drains fairly quickly, but consider me a convert. I will no longer judge those with Iphones, rather I will envy them and their talky ways.

As for the movie… I bought tickets for the 7:45 pm showing on a HUGE screen Sunday evening. The folks in my theater were lovely and fun, and obviously the movie was incredible. And what better way to spend the subway ride home then listening to the Empire of the Sun soundtrack while nervously clutching my new device, sideglancing possible theives and/or envious passengers. And OK, so maybe no one gave a care about my newshmangled Ipod, but perhaps they would change their minds if they knew it only cost me about $70.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I traded 4 Dark Knight Imax tickets and $30 for an Ipod Touch.