“This umbrella will forever protect you from poverty”
The lucky ones who managed to find themselves among the powerful in the holy of holies of the international economy — to work or just visit the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, now they sell the remnants of their former luxury in the form of passes for themselves and cars, badges and even other people’s umbrellas at “online flea markets”.
We inquired about the assortment and prices, and at the same time about sellers and buyers.
There are a lot of goods from SPIEF at the most popular flea market, the most popular one is the umbrella-cane.
— It’s not surprising, umbrella holders (baskets for umbrellas) were on all the panels (panel discussion in a narrow circle — author .), so that guests can take it, Peter is generous with the summer rains, explains Sofia, who worked at the forum.
— Certainly! Like they do in hotels, for example. In the hope that honest people will bring it back. And some oil sheikh won’t steal a free umbrella! And if it gets carried away by accident, then it’s an advertisement — all the umbrellas have forum emblems on them.
In light of what has been said, an umbrella with the same forum emblem, sold on the RuNet for 150 thousand rubles, acquires special economic significance. Isn’t it embarrassing for the seller that it’s easy for the buyer to find out that the umbrella at SPIEF could only be stolen from the basket?! But, as it turns out, not only does it not confuse, but also serves as a sales driver.
“This umbrella was held by one of the sheikhs,” the seller reports. — He is charged with wealth. This umbrella will protect you from poverty forever. This is not just an umbrella, it is a talisman against poverty and loneliness. You can buy an umbrella as a gift for a girl, and she will immediately become yours, as she will understand that you were a participant in SPIEF.
After this, “a lucky piece of paper that brings fabulous wealth,” and more specifically, a used car pass to the SPIEF parking lot, for 15 thousand rubles is no longer so surprising. Like everything else — badges, bags with logos, badges, ribbons and even… a bag of trash from SPIEF! The prices for these artifacts depend solely on the impudence of the seller and the naivety of the buyer.
— These are limited edition badges, — the seller is not lost. — I definitely have the original, but for a thousand, maybe it’s a fake. But I have delivery anywhere in the world and you can get it on credit.
— Well, we’ll agree on an installment plan if it’s difficult for you to pay 4 thousand at once. You can do one at once, and the rest gradually. And don’t wait, otherwise the badges will fly away like hot cakes! And this, I repeat, is a limited edition.
In approximately the same vein, badge sellers explain why one of them has a badge for 900 rubles, another for 1250, and a third for 10 thousand rubles.
— Girl, open your eyes! — the one who inflated the price of the SPIEF participant badge in the form of a piece of paper in plastic is the most outraged. — For 900 re — last year’s and with the name of the participant! Who needs it! You can’t even fool girls like that, there’s a photo there! For 1250 from this forum, but also filled. And mine is clean! You can paste your photo and enter your name! And even though you call yourself a VIP, everything is clean, the badge is real.
— Well, it’s unlikely, badges every year new, but to trump in society is quite enough. You can calmly tell how you were invited as a VIP speaker, and how you sat next to all the “rudders” of the world economy, shook hands and drank at the Brudershaft.
— It’s clear to men why they need to pick on women. Why do you, women, I don’t know. But if you are interested, then you should!
Part of the “sweet leftovers” of a large economic meeting — pens, bags, notepads and other stationery, are covered with a downright mystical flair and promises. For example, someone’s personal pass to one of the meetings costs 15 thousand rubles, although bargaining is appropriate.
“This pass is issued for a person with a progressive personal income tax (since 2021, persons with an income of more than 5 million rubles per year pay taxes on a progressive scale — the so-called “tax for the rich”),” the seller is outraged by my question about what such money is for. — By touching it, you touch the world of the rich and receive the corresponding energy! It costs not 15 thousand rubles, but much more! This is, one might say, an investment in your economic future.
A “wealth amulet from the almighty SPIEF” is also up for sale — a pen issued in honor of friendship with Africa, with which the Minister of Finance of “one very successful African power” made notes — for only 7999 rubles and with delivery. All goods from SPIEF, right down to the crumpled programs of panel hearings, “touched a unique event” and/or “imbued with an atmosphere of economic power.” Questions remain only about the bag with the waste of the noble meeting, is it really “charged for success”?
“It’s a strange question,” the garbage seller is offended, asking, however, for only 100 rubles and pick-up. — This is not just waste, but from a meeting of economists. Some people deliberately buy up their garbage in order to find out the secrets of their well-being.
Thanks to the respected sellers of SPIEF waste, from their flea fair I learned the main thing: those who sell passes, badges and even umbrellas from SPIEF cannot be trusted!