The Weird World of Ebay

Forgot this blog was here, until I got a spam comment which needed to be removed. Then I was reminded to check ebay for anything new and interesting.

Well, proving that ebay can still throw up the weird is this puzzling item.

It looks like a folded and creased bit of paper. With another bit of paper stuck to it. And the description is even more puzzling;

Wrapper and Label appox 4.25'' x 3.5'' .P Edwards Pharmacist. c.1914. See scan.

Was P Edwards Pharmacist a world famous dispenser of pills and potions that made one better? Google says he's in Islington, and it appears to be just a local chemist. Why, then, does the seller think anyone - in a time of economy crisis - would want to pay 99p for what is just basically something that carried medicine home in, once?

I could, if I wanted to*, keep the little paper bag from my next visit to the pharmacy and list it on ebay - starting price 50p. Will have more value and use than this scrap of paper.

*You be relieved to know that I will not be even contemplating doing this.

It's been a bit quite on the weird ebay front recently, mainly because I've not been actively looking and my Weird Ebay mole (morelearning/ParsleySage) hasn't blogged for some time. Also not much on ebay is weird anymore, those irritating personalised number plates seem almost normal (whilst still making the owner look like a twat). Maybe Weird Ebay needs a reinvention!

Anyway, finding this Woolies story on the BBC prompted me to search ebay for the last bag of Woolies Pic N Mix. For charity, no less. The charity being Woolworths poor ex-staff who are now most likely frequenting that horrible place known as Hell on Earth Jobcentre Plus.

It's been certified as the last ever Pic N Mix from the now defunct tacky High Street chain, allegedly. Whether or not it is, one question comes up - the last Woolies closed on the 6th January, won't the sweets be going stale by now?

That will be the Weird Ebay postings, and the Ebay Number Plate auction.

Whilst trawling through ebay to see if any disgruntled Geordie had stuck Mike Ashley on ebay, I found this tenuous link to the Toon Army.

N7 is a North London postcode - the other end of the country from Newcastle.
NFC - I'm struggling to think of a football team with the initials NFC. Newcastle United's initials are NUFC.

Yes! "N7 NFC" is ideal for a Newcastle supporter, how exactly?! And then you see the Newcastle crest in the middle of the number plate.

Right. That seems like a desperate link to NUFC! Other than that, it would just be an unremarkable number plate.

But most number plates are unremarkable, and you can make the letters at the end stand for anything. For example, "No Football Connection".

And now for a short You Tube piece about personalised number plates!

Hi,
Will you consider selling this item to me for the sum of £260? which also covers the cost of postage abroad. Payment would be effected upon your response as I would want you to send me your valid paypal email address and your name OR send me a PayPal money request to xxxxxxxxxx so as for me to make the paypal payment a.s.a.p. If you're Ok with my offer please respond directly to my email address (xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.com) cos am not use to checking my ebay mail box often and often. I'm serious with this as I promise not let you down with this transaction (please email me with the item number).Your prompt response would be highly appreciated.Looking forward to hearing from you. Best Regards.

I did have to edit it a bit. Basically this guy has clearly hacked someone else's account, and attempted to settle an auction I've got running outside of ebay.

Did I respond? Absolutely not! I reported the message to ebay, telling them what I've just told you.

Stuffed by a taxidermist, and about as edible as a pillow!

And, in a kayak, as well! You definitely can't eat a kayak!

THIS AUCTION IS FOR A TAXIDERMY SQUIRREL. HE/SHE HAS BEEN MOUNTED SITTING WITHIN A CANOE HOLDING PADDLES.

Why the SHOUTING?! It looks like a very small mount, are you sure it's not a hill? Ahem. No more bad jokes, Ros!

MAKES QUITE A TALKING POINT.

Well, it does that. Imagine the main line of questions involves the words - "What the f***?!"

ALL FUR IS INTACT WITH NO MOTH OR INSECTS PRESENT AND CONDITION IS VERY GOOD

Assuming then, that our bushy-tailed rat friend didn't have any skin diseases in his life.

Just neglected this blog of late!

Thought I should do a Weird Ebay scouring, even though nothing on ebay is truly weird and anything that is has it's own category now. That's were I've been looking (because I have no tips directing me anywhere else).

Whatever you do, don't alert MI5 to the presence of this ebay item. Or even US Military "Intelligence".

POWERFUL LISTENING DEVICE

So let's eavesdrop on our friends, relatives and neighbours! Oh, hang on, I need one of those - how else will I find out the important information that no one thinks to tell me?!

THE EAR PIECE FITS LIKE A BLUE TOOTH KIT TO YOUR EAR

JUST POINT THE MICROPHONE TO THE SOUND YOU WANT TO HERE....

1. Like a pre-upgrade cyberman.
2. Spellcheck, please!
3. Is anyone worried about the potential breach of someone's privacy, in the use of this thing? Or is it such a small item that it doesn't really matter? Answers in the comments section below.

Oh, look! A mention of feedback in the description, and not the sellers! Apparently you receive feedback as soon as you buy. Yes, I've had that sort of feedback (I think it was) - basically spam. Seemingly that is okay on ebay!

What is the point of buying items that are Christmas specific (excluding decorations), when you're only going to use them once a year?

I really don't understand the Christmas Tree Tissue dispenser.

It's brand new, apparently. Suppose it was in December!

This is Brand new and is becoming very hard to find.

Would the fact that it is now FEBRUARY have anything at all to do with the item's scarcity?

The seller begs us to check out his other items, which include another tissue holder (hard to find, huh?) and two Christmas Tree decorations. Someone should tell him that Christmas is 324 days away!

Although, Ebay probably deserves it's own planet considering some of it's auctions.

You have to click the link to view the cloud, I can't seem to work it any other way.

It is sort of inevitable that the festival of all things consumerism would leave a few people dissatisfied. I could go into a philosophical discussion, but I may fall out of my depth pretty quickly.

I quick search for "unwanted present" - after a tip off from the radio this morning - revealed interesting conclusions that show society in a very bad light. Among the Playstation's and Spice Girls tickets, was an interesting rant against unwanted presents trying to sell a bizarre item.

CRAP UNWANTED CHRISTMAS PRESENT. That is, a bike-shaped wine bottle holder. The reason for the sale, the item is apparently evil!

This is the gift from hell, I am sure that if I throw it out it will appear in some strange place in my home, hanging from the chandelier (as if I would have one) or I would wake up in the darkest hours of the night hearing it creaking along the hallway.

Yes, dear. I'm sure the tiny little model is out to get you! Especially after you have stolen it's wine.

As well as offering advice on what to do with the Evil Bike - includes a plan for next October, "scaring trick or treaters" - Mr Seller is also offering to throw in a lot of uneaten Christmas sweet stuff presents. Sounds like someone who is hard to please, and single-handedly summing up what the Christmas season means to most people (and Tesco).

Can some find the ebay listing please, searches are only showing items that are similar!