How To Turn eBay Into A Writing Tool

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You Can Get Almost Anything on eBay a post recently on Writer Unboxed, got me thinking….. As soon as I saw the title I was inspired lol.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on eBay? Come on, there must be something? I once saw an old piece of rope. Well used, a bit manky to be honest, but, it actually sold.

I don’t know about you, but I’m conscious of the fact that every single item on eBay has a story behind it. Like the Wedding Dress – New/Never Worn or, more sadly, a selection of newborn baby clothes, with their tags still attached (ok, let’s not be too morbid there, and pressume the baby grew too quickly….but you get my point).

As I was mulling this idea over, and having a look on eBay (for research of course) I came across an article on List Verse about Bizarre eBay Auctions. Ha ha ha, wow! 😉

The following is an example from the List Verse list, written by Cedric Mandanas.

In 2005, during a live interview with Jodie Marsh, Kerrang’s Tim Shaw told the glamor model he was prepared to leave his wife and their two children for her. His wife Hayley was listening and said her husband’s flirtation was the “last straw” in their relationship. After having a few drinks and while her husband was still live on the radio, she listed his Lotus Espirit Turbo for sale on eBay with a “Buy It Now” option of 77 cents. The description read: “I need to get rid of this car in the next two to three hours before my husband gets home to find it gone and all his belongings in the street.”

The car sold in five minutes. Mrs. Shaw said: ‘When he said he would leave me and the kids for Jodie Marsh, that was it for me. I am sick of him disrespecting this family for the sake of his act. The car is his pride and joy but the idiot put my name on the log book so I just sold it. I didn’t care about the money; I just wanted to get him back. There is no hope for reconciliation.’ A Kerrang spokesperson said the DJ was ‘absolutely gutted.’

I’m asking myself was he gutted about his wife, or the car? Lol

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Courtesy of M-Pics/freedigitalphotos.net

Wow! What a story *sniggers* 🙂

Have you ever been inspired by an item for sale on eBay?

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25 thoughts on “How To Turn eBay Into A Writing Tool”

  1. You REALLY want to know the weirdest thing I’ve seen being sold on eBay? Admittedly, this was over 10 years ago when the rules were a bit looser, but a redhead was selling *ahem* pubic hair… yup, yup. Appeared to be selling well, too… O.O

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    • Ewwwwwwww! Ok, now I’m regretting asking!!!!!!

      I’ve heard (but never seen I might add!!!!!) that people sell worn knickers *gags* and well worn smelly shoes *gags again* No, perhaps I REALLY shouldn’t have asked that question 😉

      I’d like to hear how you turn THAT into a story Katya lol

      Xx

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      • Hmmmm…

        Heidi had always gloried in her red hair, a lustrous, shining mane, and many men found her unbearably attractive, of course. Yet inside her soul an empty spot remained – something was missing from her life. What could make her feel complete?

        One night she saw it – the ultimate thing that she felt would make her life complete, shining in the window of the store on her way home: a glorious pair of shoes. They glistened under the display light, their leather faintly shimmering, the buckles shining, and Heidi knew – she knew she must have these shoes!

        Alas, when she entered the store, she discovered a prohibitive price tag. She had no idea Jimmy Choos were such an expensive habit! So, now she had to find a way to get those shoes – at all costs, she must have them.

        She considered cutting off and selling her hair, like Jo in “Little Women,” but in this day and age this wasn’t something that one could really make much money at. But then it came to her! There were so many lonely and pathetic men out there, who would spend any money for something that would make them feel special… make them feel more connected to a woman and, like her, they were willing to put their money out to get what they wanted! She went onto the auction sites and discovered that yes, she could sell pretty much anything she wanted!

        What should she sell, then? Pictures of herself? No, no, that wouldn’t do – what if one of the people who bought them saw her on the street? That would just be embarrassing. How about … no, she couldn’t afford any new underwear, not if she wanted those shoes, so selling the ones she had were right out. What did she have a steady supply of, and could sell?

        Than it came to her! No more Brazilian waxes for her! She would simply snip off the hair and sell it! Brilliant!

        Heh. Okay, I just wrote all that off the top of my head. enjoy!

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  6. That’s a great story!

    I used to go to auctions and ended up buying some odd things just because they asked for a really low opening bid and then no one bid against me.

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  7. I have to wonder if his wife did not over react a bit given what could easily have been a throwaway comment during an interview, kind of like an “in character” moment.

    In a similar spirit to the comment above, I once saw “my girlfriends pubes” advertised for sale on ebay 4 or 5 years ago – nice.

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  8. Ha! This story reminds me of a friend from long, long ago who had had it with her boyfriend. She had his social security number so she called the college he was enrolled in and dropped him out of all his classes. He didn’t know until he showed up for class on the first day – too late to get his money back. Yikes! Hell hath no fury!! 🙂 Great post, Vikki!

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  9. Vicki, I don’t think I could match that and certainly don’t want to match the hair from unmentionable places 🙂 Do it for collectibles or for research … it’s fun … you can get vintage magazines and even old love letters and old photographs. Ebay is a glut of stuff but often fun to surf !!

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  10. Vikki, I loved this post!! Good for the wife! No joke she gutted him but good. Best place to hit a man is right below the belt or right behind the steering wheel. It’s a nice concept you’ve brought out. I mean, what a neat place for a writer to knock around for stories….Excellent concept! Keep up the great posts!

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  12. Hello There. I discovered your blog using msn. This is a very well written
    article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your
    helpful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.

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