Until recently, online auction sites such as eBay have been the usual marketplace for bargain hunters and thrift shoppers looking for cheap used or surplus products. But a new breed of sellers are now coming up with very unusual auctions on eBay.
Encouraged in part by the recent purchase by online casino GoldenPalace of a grilled cheese sandwich that has the image of Virgin Mary for $15,000 and on the tummy of a pregnant woman, sellers have started taking a second look at eBay's Everything Else category, especially in the subcategories of Advertising Opportunities and Weird Stuff.
And not a few have been successful. Just last August 23, 2005, the casino paid $18,000 to shave a woman's head and permanently tattoo the website of the popular online poker room, on her bare cranium.
The eBay seller, Molly Demers, will be wearing the casino's brand on the top and back of her bald head for one year.
Before her, a woman from Utah now known as "ForeheadGoldie" on eBay, was paid $10,000 to permanently tattoo their website address on a her forehead. Using eBay's "Buy It Now" option, GoldenPalace won the privilege of placing a permanent ad tattoo on Karolyne Smith's forehead, making her the first female to have the casino's brand mark her for life.
And then there are such queer items such dead flies, tushy-shaped apple, haunted items and change-my-name auctions that have been bought for outrageous prices by lesser-known buyers who are also out to make news for themselves.
These weird auction have been made more popular by websites that have sprouted like mushrooms to feature these auctions, hoping to cash in on the revenue potentual fron sellers' advertisements and eBay affiliate commissions. Even some humor websites have opened up auction pages to ride the bandwagon.
HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT
If you have an online business or a website, this would be the right time to look into these weird auctions and see how you can benefit. Here are some ideas:
* If you are an eBay member, listing a weird auction and having it featured by sites such as BuyWeird.com or WeirdBids.com would drive traffic to your other "usual" items. This is now a strategy used by some eBay stores who see the traffic potential of these weird auctions.
I have seen sales of some eBay members skyrocket as a benefit from the number of people viewing their weird auctions, who got curious and looked at their items too.
* You may join eBay and get free promotion by bidding on these weird items. Your name shows up on the frontpage if you are the highest bidder, on the Bid History if you get outbidded. Curious viewers will then check out your own About Me page where you can say something about your business.
* Put up an auction-related website and then contact the sellers of these auctions so they will mention your site in exchange for free advertising. Take advantage of eBay's affiliate program and possibilities of direct advertising on your site. But before you do this, make sure you offer free and value services on your site to keep your traffic going.
The possibilities are endless. You don't even have to sell on eBay to benefit from weird auctions.
About the Author
Gerry Lacuarta is the founder and system administrator of http://www.BidSponsors.com. He has been blogging about eBay since 2004 on http://eBayWatch.blogspot.com. He is now publishing a network of auction promotion sites such as http://www.WeirdBids.com, http://TeknoBids.com and http://www.AuctionSponsors.com where you can advertise auctions for free.