Resource for the List Master

Jay427 · March 25, 2021

Good morning from NY.

Some of you may know that I was a List Master at Micro Center in Yonkers NY for several days, seeking a RYZEN 5950X, as well as a 6900XT on release day. I was on the unofficial Discord for a time, but removed my account due to harassment. I created and handed this off for those who would defend against scalpers when I had left for home, and thought I might post it here to help others as well.

Bear in mind: I had a special advantage, and I'll tell you a bit about the story. I'm a quality control and corporate compliance auditor, my job is to keep people honest and hold them accountable for what they do. I arrived at MicroCenter after driving over 4 hours during a harsh winter in the North East, and arrived over 30 hours before the release day opening. Someone was ahead of me, and had waited since the previous day: a young man named Dimitri. He was quiet, but friendly. I could see he was tired from trying to sleep in his car the last night.

I looked at the situation for him, and that tradition was that the first person in line was to be designated as list-master; however, not only have I led large teams of people with diverse backgrounds in the past, I also knew New York State Law as well as, or better than our officers as a designated Treasurer. As second in line, so long as it was okay by him, I would assume the responsibility, and went on to create an Excel List on my phone with everyone's names, numbers, and times of arrival. The fourth person in line was a young officer, and a former list master who helped me better organize.

So that people would feel assured, and safe from the cold during COVID, I had an idea: I would make this excel file publicly available for everyone to see on Discord who is waiting in line so that they could also hold me accountable at any time. This of course was coupled with a recording of when they arrived, as well as footage of where we were, and by showing the time on their phones. One person did not trust me, and tried to walk away frustrated, as he was nearing the 20's when he had arrived. I let him know this was only to make sure that nobody could claim or steal his position in line by providing irrefutable proof should a scalper try to lie to the store, or should a mob attack the building like they had done the previous day. With hesitation, I managed to get him on the list.

We ordered a pizza together and got to know each other, us few who arrived early. It was below freezing out, but everyone got to wait in their car, and even sleep for the night. Every two hours, I would get out and record everyone in their car who was there, and actively let anyone who arrived that I was the List Master, and that they needed to come to me to be added. I even went as far as to record every car that arrived in the parking lot as it drove up through the garage in case someone who arrived tried to lie to the store about their position and when they had arrived. This was easier for me because I work the night shift.

That day, everyone got a video card, even a young mother who arrived right before the store opened on release day looking for a 3070 for her son for Christmas.

The scalpers who showed up left immediately. The store manager there also had a reputation for spotting them, and after some time of mistrust, their store team was relieved to see that they would have a break from enduring a hostile sales environment for a time.

I was privately offered over $1,000.00 multiple times for a position in line, and I barely live above the poverty line. I refused. How could anyone betray the trust of their home when it made so many feel safe and happy for being able to build their computers during Christmas season. One better, it kept people safe from contracting a deadly virus when I was seriously considering going to medical school. That was our story, and I look forward to doing it again someday.

This is the list I handed off. The references will change depending on your state. Stay informed, it is a much more powerful weapon then many of you realize, and you can use that knowledge to protect those who cannot.

List Master's Checklist.docx