postage stamp barter: craigslist

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My craigslist posting:
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i need an envelope and a postage stamp. can i interest you in...

*3 tablets of delicious vitamin c (you know, the chewable kind)
*a flattering picture of you that i take and tag on facebook so that you look popular.
* a twitter shout out
*a personal venn diagram comparing you to postage stamps
*2 tea light candles
*a cold, fresh cucumber
* a letter of rec for stamp/envelope giving

or something else i have that you need at or under stamp value.

i don't want to buy either of these items - pretty much because a craigslist barter sounds way more fun than albertsons.
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response:
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> >>>>I'll give you an envelope and a stamp in trade for the letter of recommendation for stamp/envelope giving.
Is it alright if I mail it to you?

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my response:
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> >>> where are you located? can we arrange a pick up?
> >>> i find SPENDING a stamp to give a stamp distasteful use of resources. unless it must come to that...
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his response:
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> >> Oh my, I'm not on my way to a good letter of recommendation if you
> >> already think my method of delivery is distasteful. I do think it's funnier if I mail it though.
> >>
> >> Actually, I was kind of hoping that I could just send an
> >> empty envelope through the mail (with a stamp on it of
> course) and that would fulfill my envelope and stamp requirement.
> But since you seem to want an "unused" envelope and stamp,
> I guess I can do that. Maybe I'll send you two unused ones. One for you to
> do whatever you like with, and one to send my letter recommendation
> with.
> >>
> >> But if you are really against doing this through
> the mail, I can be found in Hermosa Beach. It's kind of a long
> way to go for a stamp, but I suppose I can throw in an unopened 2-liter
> bottle of Coke too, if you ad that part to my letter.
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my response:
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> > hermosa is far too far.
> > also, i don't drink coke.
> > also, you spelled "ad" wrong - otherwise - top email form, chris davidson!
> >
> > when do you think this will get to me?
> > if you put it in tomorrow morning.. you think i'll get it by friday?
> > i was asked to mail a check on saturday morning... it
> is not urgent but probably bad form to mail it too much later than
> asked.
> >
> > thoughts, chris davidson?
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his response:
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> First of all, Hermosa is not too far, Venice is.
>
> Second, I don't drink Coke either. I really want to get
> rid of it tough.
>
> Also, I didn't realize that we were supposed to be
> proofreading each other's emails. If that's the case I should point
> out that you've neglected to capitalize the first word of your sentences.
> "i" is also supposed to be capitalized, as is Chris Davidson, Hermosa
> Beach, Coke, Friday and all other proper nouns. Also, you left out
> a dot on the ellipsis following "tomorrow morning." Your
> paragraph breaks are all wrong too. Otherwise, you email was also top-notch!
>
> Now let's get to business. If I mail a stamp and an envelope, they
> will most certainly get to you by Friday. I think I've changed my
> mind about what I want in return though. After reviewing
> your email for mistakes, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with
> exchanging an very nice envelope and lovely "forever" stamp for a
> letter of recommendation that in all likelihood won't have any
> capital letters.
> So instead of a letter, what I think I want in exchange is
> for you to take my 2-liters of Coke. I'll send your stamp and an
> envelope, but you also have to accept my bottle of Coke (which I'll
> also mail).
>
> Here's the rub. I want YOU to have the Coke. You
> don't have to drink it (in fact I'd prefer if you don't), but you
> can't give it away. You can't offer it to a friend or roommate. You can't
> post it in the barter section of Cragslist. You just have to keep it for
> at least a year. After a year, I don't care what you do. Give it
> away then or drop Mentos in it at a party. But you have to keep the Coke
> for one year, unless you change your ways (which I wouldn't
> recommend) and drink it yourself.
>
> Do we have a deal? I'll have to wait until tomorrow to
> find out because I'm about to step away from my computer for the
> night. If you're game though, send me a mailing address and
> I'll see to it that you get your stamp and envelope by the end of the week.
>
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my response:
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i'm in.
and to prove it:
i was going to say i'd take a picture of myself with the coke bottle every day, but that might become tedious.
so i'll offer you this -
anytime you are concerned that i have thrown the coke bottle away, i will take a picture with/of it.
you can also make sure to mark it if you don't trust me.

here is the problem - i am going out of town friday.

if you can get them to me by thursday, i'm in.

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his response
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Sweet! I feel really good about this transaction. You'll have your
envelope and stamp later this afternoon.

And thank you for the offer to spot check to see if you still have
the Coke. That's really going above and beyond. I mean, if you can't
trust people you meet randomly on the internet who agree to house a
bottle of Coke for a year in exchange for an envelope and stamp, who
can you trust? None the less, I may request a picture of the Coke
from time to time. Not because I don't trust you, but because I
actually have two 2-liter bottles of Coke and the one that I'm
keeping might get lonely sometimes. If I find someone else to take
the other Coke bottle, is it okay if I just have you send pictures of
your Coke bottle to them?