Endless Thread The Anvillain: Has this man really been buying and returning an anvil on Amazon for almost a year?
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Jan 16, 2026 John Stockwell, a stand-up comedian and software engineer, shares the story of his viral TikTok prank involving the continuous buying and returning of a 110-pound anvil on Amazon. He reveals how he engineered the tale with fake order pages and even developed a Chrome extension to pull it off. The hosts explore why the story resonated with so many, delving into Amazon's scale and the broader implications of online pranks. John also reflects on audience reactions, environmental concerns, and the narrative possibilities behind his unconventional bit.
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Viral Anvil Story And The Fake Orders Page
- John Stockwell (John Bo) posted TikToks claiming he had been ordering and returning a 110-pound anvil repeatedly on Amazon.
- He showed a fake Amazon orders page and later admitted he built a Chrome extension to alter the page content.
Free Shipping Masks Real Costs
- The episode highlights how Amazon Prime's free shipping masks real costs in logistics and environment.
- Viral stories like this force people to question whether 'free' shipping is actually free.
Viral Stunt Reveals Broader Public Anxieties
- Many commenters reacted angrily, citing worker hardship, environmental impact, and harm to small sellers.
- The rage reveals how viral stunts expose broader anxieties about labor, returns policy, and corporate power.