Town Not Really Sold On eBay To Actually Be Sold On eBay?

from the about-time dept

Mon, Mar 20th 2006 12:38am — Mike Masnick

Okay, following the bouncing publicity attempt here... Back in 2002, we noted how you could buy a small, mostly deserted, town on eBay, and how selling odd things on eBay was becoming a way of getting extra publicity. Except... it didn't work. That town that supposedly sold for $1.8 million didn't really sell on eBay, highlighting the downside to using eBay as a platform for publicity: you get a bunch of bogus bidders. Whoever bid $1.8 million never actually showed up to claim the town (and certainly never provided the money). Instead, a year later, the town had to be sold via conventional methods for about $700,000 -- much less than the original eBay bid. A couple of years have gone by, and the new owner has made some improvements and is betting that this time he can actually sell the town on eBay, and has put it up for bid. Once again, this move is attracting the attention of the press... and we'll find out soon if it also attracts the attention of the bogus bidders.

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A Person, 20 Mar 2006 @ 2:30am

Selling...
I guess it's easier than selling convetionally...
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awwtbone, 20 Mar 2006 @ 2:46am

Wow. Go Ebay....
The Unlimited Possibilities Of Ebay. What Can't you buy on Ebay....
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- wirename.com, 20 Mar 2006 @ 9:37am
  
  Extremely rare hard to find Stork with Name
  Extremely rare hard to find stickpin Stork with Name. You can search all of ebay, the entire internet and chances are you won't get your hands on this incredible pin. This item is even can't find in stores only at wirename.com
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farlane, 20 Mar 2006 @ 3:04am

How much for the pets?
Bridgeville, a picturesque village with about 25 people on the Van Duzen River - wow, people too! It's like the Sims!
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2006 @ 9:22am

Do I get free shipping?
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