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How_To_Cash_In_on_Weird_Auctions_on_eBay
| How To Cash In on Weird Auctions on eBay
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.
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