The number of people who attend live auctions may not be increasing by leaps and bounds but the number of people who use eBay definitely is. eBay has an estimated 19 million users and an additional two million guest viewers every day. The numbers continue to grow and for good reason.
This is part of what makes eBay such an interesting site and keeps people coming back and doing business. There have been numerous stories of individuals posting items found in their attic or basement and selling them for large amounts of money.
8. The price of life
We often hear about how much CEOs of major corporations are “worth” but a man living in Australia actually sold his “life” for £192,000. The man was recently divorced and in desperate need of a new beginning so he decided to completely rid himself of his former possessions and surroundings.
The sale of this “life” included his home and everything inside of it, a jet ski, motorcycle, car, and his job.
The man’s name is Ian Usher and Walt Disney Pictures has picked up the option to produce his story. A movie documenting the sale of his “life” may be in the works and he has already written a book about the two year adventure he embarked on after the sale.
7. Ad space available
A few years ago a new form of advertising began when a company paid a boxer to write their brand name across his back. This took advertising to a whole new level. It was definitely attention grabbing and those watching the fight in the arena and on television had no choice but to see the brand printed directly across the back of the boxer. The bold marketing plan had people talking and caused a stir, which was the goal along with increasing business.
Andrew Fischer, from Omaha Nebraska, decided to adopt this form of advertising but added a twist. He auctioned ad space across his forehead for 30 days to the highest bidder. He agreed to get a temporary tattoo of the slogan, domain name, or logo of the winner's choosing. The winning bid was $322.
6. Bubble gum
A woman posted a piece of gum chewed by Britney Spears on eBay and the winning bid was $14,000. The gum was acquired at a concert in Wembley Arena in London.
5. The Virgin Mary…sandwich
A 10-year old grilled cheese sandwich was sold on eBay for $28,000. The advertisement claimed that the unique sandwich featured an “image of the Virgin Mary”. Others saw the image on the bread for themselves and agreed according to reports.
In the past images of the Virgin Mary have been found on various items including trees, air conditioning units, and images made from water stains. Some people have been able to make a profit from these Virgin Mary sightings while others have shared them free of charge.
4. Human Liver
The list of people waiting on organ donors is growing daily with some willing to spend large amounts of money in a desperate bid to move their name higher up the list. A man from Florida auctioned his liver on eBay and received a number of bids. The bidding actually reached $5.7 million before eBay canceled it and removed the posting due to its policy against the sale of human organs on eBay.
3. Brussels sprout
Andrew Henderson in England posted Brussels sprouts that had been cooked on Christmas day. The winning bid was £99.50. The proceeds were for charity, which justifies overpaying.
2. Virginity
An 18-year old British girl was willing to sell her virginity to earn money to fund her education. The post somehow avoided eBay’s policies and was not removed. A businessman won the bid and did the decent thing, he gave the girl the money she needed for college and declined her “service.”
1.Ghost trapped in a jar
This is one of the more outrageous items that have been posted on eBay. The user, Teajay101, was selling a jar that he believed contained a ghost. He was looking to get rid of the bottle because it was “terrorising the owner.”
The user made it very clear that he “would not be held responsible” if the “black thing” escaped the jar and that no refund was available. The bidding lasted a week long and ended at $50,922. Unfortunately, the winner did not pay for the ghost.
Written by: Thomas Stone
