51 responses to “$Pet Rocks$”

1. 

   Kyle Egbert February 3rd, 2010 at 10:01

   I never understood how anyone would have bought one. Its sad that people bought so many of these and that they were so popular among kids. But I guess its still better than those Tamagotchi Pets we had, since you’d have to be imaginative to play with one.

2. 

   Brian Corley February 3rd, 2010 at 10:02

   Just shows that people will buy anything. A great way to make tons of money for really no effort.

3. 

   Damon Ward February 3rd, 2010 at 11:06

   It is amazing how someone could take something as common and useless as a rock and turn it into a very profitable business. I dont think I would pay $15 for a pet rock, but hats off to Gary for marketing his product well enough to make a good chunk of change.

4. 

   Haley Jenkins February 3rd, 2010 at 11:59

   I think that it is really cool that someone can sell something as little as a rock. I think it is a good gift for kids to use their imagination on, but I know I wouldn’t pay $15 to own one. I also think that this is a great example of showing that anything can be sold as long as there is good advertising and that they are triggering the right market for their product. So good job on setting a great example for future entreperneurs!

5. 

   Alexandra Graves February 3rd, 2010 at 12:26

   This is one of those items that you just wonder why this even become a fad in the first place. I mean, come on, its a rock. It does nothing and to call it a pet is a bit extreme. Pets usually have some degree of responsibility but this has none. I think I would get so bored and feel really dumb for owning one.

6. 

   Matt Kompara February 3rd, 2010 at 12:39

   In my house there is a pet rock that is supposed to bring luck at a drinking game called caps. When the guy that owned him graduated, he auctioned it off to other guys in the house for well over $100.

7. 

   Jeff Olen February 3rd, 2010 at 13:29

   I can not believe that this idea actually made money. This is just proof that no matter your idea and no matter how stupid you think it is you can still have a chance to make money. Reading this should give inspiration to everyone who has a dream of becoming an entrepreneur. I take my hat off to this man. He took a childhood dream and made it into his life long business. This is absolutely amazing!!

8. 

   Dan Wyss February 3rd, 2010 at 13:34

   This is so weird/funny. How could this have ever worked? It tells me that if people can sell rocks, then I might be alright when I get out there in the real world. Pretty cool story.

9. 

   Lauren Cassidy February 3rd, 2010 at 13:36

   This reminds me of being in elementary school when all the girls used to draw on their big pink erasers and pretend they were babies. It was cute back then, but the eraser was still functional, baby or not. I would never pay good money for a rock that’s the same as one in my backyard. I think it’s amusing that business people caught on to the trend and paid money for these rocks!

10. 

    Soroosh Karamyar February 3rd, 2010 at 14:12

    I remember when I was little and sold rocks myself. I painted them and tried to sell them to anyone that would listen to me. A true entrepreneur can make something out of something that is perceived to be nothing.

    Go pet rocks!!!!

11. 

    John Gorbandt February 3rd, 2010 at 14:27

    wow some of the crap that we buy is amazing. That is a very creative idea though.

12. 

    Kelly Plantz February 3rd, 2010 at 14:32

    I remember my parents talking about this. Its surprising how Americans will buy something that is catchy and the “in” thing to do. Whats even funnier is that people are now selling them on ebay for even more money.

13. 

    Beck Warwick February 3rd, 2010 at 14:38

    just goes to show the power of marketing molds your product into its true form

14. 

    Rob Lampert February 3rd, 2010 at 14:50

    I read things like this and can not believe it. It’s so simple and yet it made this guys millions of dollars. It also reminds me of the movie “Office Space” and the jumping to conclusions mat haha.

15. 

    Keegan Klauke February 3rd, 2010 at 15:37

    I used to use rocks I found on the ground outside of school as show and tell objects in preschool when I didn’t have anything and found out it was my day to go. My teacher probably thought I was mentally challenged when I showed my ‘pet rock’. But now who’s laughing with a gold star in preschool and soon to be a Bachelors in science in EE. oh how funny this article is and makes me remember hilarious past times.

16. 

    Anthony Sikorski February 3rd, 2010 at 15:49

    It is amazing how someone was able to make over a million dollars just by sellings rocks. It would be nice to make a million dollars today selling rocks but back then a million was worth a lot more so it would be even more worthwhile. It is obviously a great business model I think you need to have the right timing and properly advertise for it to work.

17. 

    Michael Tym February 3rd, 2010 at 16:02

    Gary Dahl took something as simple as a rock and made well over a million dollars with it. This comes to show you that a real entrepreneur can pretty much take nothing and make something great out of it. Although his fad faded he still made the best of it while it lasted and it most definitely paid off.

18. 

    Andrew Barr February 3rd, 2010 at 16:15

    This reminds me of when I sold individual football and basketball cards door to door when I was a kid. If I would have known that I could have sold rocks for the same price I’d probably have a few valuable cards still. It seems like a simple concept and obviously it works. I wonder how much he spent on beer before he came up with that one? I only have $100 so I guess I’ll start with a few cases this weekend. I’ll justify it by saying it’s an investment.

19. 

    Loïc Mazet February 3rd, 2010 at 16:17

    I’m pretty sure that a lot of people thought Gary’s idea was stupid when he started his business. And now, these same persons must think he’s a genius.

20. 

    Molly Longest February 3rd, 2010 at 16:38

    Two cute kids in my neighborhood were selling rocks this summer and I probably would’ve stopped and bought one if I had money with me. This just goes to show that a brilliant marketing strategy can go a long way. You may have the most brilliant idea but you won’t make any money off of it if you can’t get people to buy it. In this situation the opposite is true. You may have a mediocre or even useless product, but if you market it correctly, everyone will be dying to have one. Hence the popularity of the Pet Rock!

21. 

    Angeline Tran February 3rd, 2010 at 16:43

    I kind of want one now. The stone seems so smooth! This was a great idea! I wonder what an equivalent would be today.

22. 

    Ryan Poxon February 3rd, 2010 at 16:51

    Pet rocks…seriously?? You’re out of you mind to purchase something with absolutly no value. The fact that this sold and became a million dollar revenue business boggles my mind.

23. 

    Shawn Gearhart February 3rd, 2010 at 17:08

    This just goes to show that people do not always buy the product but they buy the idea that comes with the product. Some might say a pet rock is funny and a great conversation starter. With that said, I have some invisible fish in a water bowl for sale. They are really cool. Any takers?

24. 

    Tony Coiro February 3rd, 2010 at 17:37

    I think I would purchase one of this purely for the story of saying I had one years from now. It’s kinda weird to think that such a silly idea can work so well if it can get some momentum in the market.

25. 

    Ben Albers February 3rd, 2010 at 18:04

    This guy is giving me the idea of selling something useless. I might just have to start selling bouquets of dandelions. Since it seems that the demand for rocks is going through the roof, the demand for more weeds should not be too far behind, right? haha

26. 

    Amanda Salomon February 3rd, 2010 at 19:31

    I have no clue why anybody would by a pet rock. I’m sorry but I can go in my backyard and get one for free. And him saying its a conversation peice, I just don’t see it. If I saw a pet rock on someones desk I would think they are crazy, but then again there are some pretty crazy people out there.

27. 

    keith carlos February 3rd, 2010 at 20:00

    People will purchase anything thats entertaing now days. Theres so many ways to make money! sheeesh!

28. 

    Anna Govert February 3rd, 2010 at 20:07

    It is funny to me how such a simple concept became such a hit. It goes to show we should not limit our creative thinking or restrict any far fetched ideas. An entrepreneur should follow their imagination when creating a new concept. If a rock in a box can sell, so can anything.

29. 

    justin de la Chi(cago) February 3rd, 2010 at 20:11

    It is quite ridiculous what some people will buy just to buy. As long as something is re-imagined, and packaged in a pretty box with a pretty bow on top, people will see it as a pretty new thing. That “I must have” consumerist mentality that is rampant in this country, spreading elsewhere. This is the mentality we need to take advantage of, for better or worse, as entrepreneurs.

    J

30. 

    Michael Evans February 3rd, 2010 at 20:33

    My parents still joke about owning pet rocks.

    Just goes to show that even simplest idea will sell given the right marketing in the right environment.

31. 

    Justin Riley February 3rd, 2010 at 20:37

    I never thought anyone would actually buy a pet rock. I could never see why any one would do that when they could just go outside and get one off the ground. It seems like a dumb idea and like you would be an idiot to think of this idea but who is laughing and feeling dumb?! Sure is not Gary Dahl! I mean he made over a million dollars by selling people rocks! He got the last laugh on this one.

32. 

    David Hyman February 3rd, 2010 at 20:52

    He made a terrible product into something that every kid wanted. Any old kid could just pick up a rock off the street and say its his or her pet, but no, parents would BUY them and pretend it is something of importance. Now that is an entrepreneur!

33. 

    Taylor Gelsosomo February 3rd, 2010 at 21:05

    This is a very simple product, but if it sells then it really doesn’t matter. I hate to admit it, but as a child I probably would have loved to have a pet rock. If anyone is stupid it’s the people who bought this product, not the inventor!

34. 

    Stephanie Mellady February 3rd, 2010 at 21:41

    I find it amazing that good marketing and timing can create a fad as simple as a pet rock. He was a genius to market it to the middle class verses to children. I can’t wait to see what the next fad for kids games will be.

35. 

    Harsh Sanghvi February 3rd, 2010 at 21:49

    This really proves that to launch a new venture there are a lot of things needed except a good product. This is just an example of how good marketing can make you money.

36. 

    Ravi Mody February 3rd, 2010 at 22:37

    Tamogotchies were so much cooler. At least your tamogotchie pet got sick and hungry, so you had to take care of it. I don’t understand how so many of these rocks were sold. Seems kind of dangerous, kids with rocks?

37. 

    Krystal Anaya February 3rd, 2010 at 23:22

    I think it is funny what people will buy, but i cant say that I myself haven’t fallen into the trap of buying stupid gimmicks. Hats off to the owner of this for making money and marketing it well.

38. 

    Joseph Mecca February 3rd, 2010 at 23:26

    Pet rocks, haha. I think that this is brilliant and i wish i was the one who thought of it. Makes me want to be an entrepreneur even more when i hear stories like this.

39. 

    Spencer Childers February 3rd, 2010 at 23:48

    haha, i never had a pet rock, but there have been some stupid things like pet rocks that have made a ton of money in our generation.

40. 

    Kamran Malhance February 4th, 2010 at 01:17

    It’s very true people will buy anything. What makes me laugh is that you can buy a star and name it for a small fee. Again, outrageous yet brilliant idea. I think this guy should expand his business and market his rocks as weather rocks. A multifunctional rock. What more could you want??

41. 

    Jaideep SIngh February 4th, 2010 at 01:40

    Selling rocks? genius! And the originals ones he sold must be worth a small fortune now. I say its more of an art form kinda thing (like a painting or a sculpture) than being ‘just a rock’. Imagine if someone starts making paintings that are similar to Picasso. They wouldn’t sell! Similar if someone were to start ’selling’ rocks again….

42. 

    Richard Park February 4th, 2010 at 01:48

    It’s fascinating how a simple idea, some market knowledge, and timing can produce so much success.

    What’s even more fascinating is that after halt in production of pet rocks, value appreciated.

43. 

    Christian Barrett February 4th, 2010 at 10:41

    This is possibly the best example I’ve ever seen for the idea that one can sell anything if they present it in the right way.

    What really impressed me was Dahl’s excellent timing – he capitalized on trends he saw to make a lot of money and was smart enough to get out before the fad faded too much.

44. 

    Daniel Johnson February 4th, 2010 at 14:50

    This is a strange idea. It odd to think that a child would have such an entrepreneurial mind. I think that the parents should have let the idea run further for the little kid!

45. 

    Mahmood Alrawi February 4th, 2010 at 23:44

    the timing for this couldn’t have come at a better time. It just became a hip thing to have a pet rock, its amazing how that works, just like pokemon cards. I think the creative design and just the silliness to the whole “pet rock” made everyone want one just that much more!

46. 

    Byron Young February 6th, 2010 at 13:58

    This idea is rather ridiculous. It is amazing how people would actually pay for a “pet” rock, which is just a rock. With this age in technology, I am shocked that people actually pay for this product. Although, I have to commend him for a brilliant marketing strategy to sell this product.

47. 

    Josh Graves February 7th, 2010 at 14:53

    the guy made a million dollars! i think its a great idea. you dont have to care or feed it. dont have to worry about it. and it could keep you company at night!

48. 

    Meiqi Zhao February 7th, 2010 at 18:54

    The story is amazing. Selling rocks are zero cost but 100% profit. I also think of the educational way in US. It is quite different from my country China. I think the parents behavior should encourage in China.

49. 

    Blake Bronowicki February 9th, 2010 at 10:08

    I was also very surprised to hear that people would be paying mass amounts of money to buy rocks? Something about it doesn’t make too much sense for me, but however this man is a very talented entrepreneur even from day one. He has had it in him and one of the biggest talents and abilities any entrepreneur would want is being able to get their product out to a particular market of people. This gy is clearly doing well and it does not really cost much at all at the same time.

50. 

    Casey Piquette February 10th, 2010 at 16:00

    This is pretty funny! Absolutely worthless, and what should be free was turned into a business because people thought it was funny. It is a great idea for a joke gift or a conversation piece. That is quite the entrepreneurial spirit to turn that idea around into a business. It was definitely disruptive, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a pet rock before!

51. 

    Courtney M. Cronk February 10th, 2010 at 19:02

    Yikes! $47.99!?! Amazing. I need to start taking the “dumb” ideas of mine, and thinking hard on whether or not they could be profitable! I mean making a million dollars in 6 months off of rocks???? Straw and cheap cardboard arent that expensive. I wont lie, some cute little kid came to me wanting me to buy his pet rock for only a dollar, I would do it. Whats a dollar to me? the sale would make the kid happy, and also apparently rich.