The Anvillain

Endless Thread

WBUR

Reddit, Technology

4.1 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Fast-and-cheap shipping is now foundational to the American way of life, thanks in large part to Amazon Prime. Still, when producer Grace Tatter sees a video of a man claiming that he's continuously ordering and returning an 110-pound anvil from Amazon with no repercussions from the tech giant, she has questions. Is this legit, or is it a Wile E. Coyote-level scheme? Unlike an anvil, the answer can't be found online.

Show notes:

"this guy has been buying and returning 110lb anvils on Amazon for 8 months now" (Reddit)
This man keeps buying and returning 110- anvils on Amazon (Fast Company)
Johnbo's TikTok

This episode was produced by Grace Tatter, and co-hosted by Grace Tatter, Ben Brock Johnson, and Amory Sivertson. It was edited by Meg Cramer. Mix and sound design by Emily Jankowski.

Transcript

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0:00.0	hear that it's your big macdonald's hunger calling because the big arch is back and this time
0:05.3	is here to stay with juicy beef cheddar cheese and that big arch sauce hungry you are now order delivery on
0:12.4	the macdonald's app serve from 11 am upcharges and fees apply to delivery orders subjects
0:18.2	availability price and participation may vary support for w WBUR comes from Is Business Broken?
0:23.8	A podcast from the Marotra Institute at Boston University
0:27.3	that explores questions like,
0:29.3	why is innovation in healthcare so hard?
0:32.1	Is ESG just greenwashing?
0:34.4	And, of course, is business broken?
0:37.0	Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.
0:39.8	Hey, it's Dean Russell, senior producer of podcasts at WVUR.
0:44.2	You hear from me and the team all the time.
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	...

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