Ebay is pretty cool. It basically proves that if you can reach a big enough audience, you can sell anything. In fact, I was having just such a conversation with my father one day, when I boldly stated, "You can sell ANYTHING on Ebay. I could sell the contents of my trash can on Ebay!"

And so, Ebay's greatest sale was born. It wasn't long before I was thinking, "I wonder if I really COULD sell the contents of my trash can on Ebay. There was only one way to find out. I quickly searched the Ebay auctions, but was disappointed to find that no one was selling trash. Well, actually many people were, they just weren't willing to refer to it as such.

And so the contents of my trash can went up for sale on Ebay with a starting price of one cent. I would wager that you just can't buy trash for a cheaper price! Check out what this historic auction looked like.

As explained in my auction, the bidding was on the contents of my trash can after one normal month of use. The trash can measures 10 1/2 inches square and is 14 inches deep, providing the interested buyers with an amazing 1543.5 cubic inches of trash!

Little did I know that my disgusting auction would cause such a stir. The auction was featured on many different websites across the internet and received television air time from coast to coast. Here is one of many clips that mention my garbage. This one is only a brief mention but it does show some screen shots of the aution. Clip made possible by WPIX-TV in New York.

The bidding was long and competitive. Bid number one was placed within the first hour the trash was offered. Over the course of the auction 11 bidders made an attempt to own my trash, but in the end, there could be only one loser. I mean, winner. The auction ended the morning of September 20, 2004 at 8:00 am Pacific. Lucky Ebay bidder sumamaj won my trash with a winning bid of $1.78.

Of course, you're dying to know what the winner received for such a bargain price. What follows is an inventory I took of the trash can at the end of the auction:

Del Taco bag with cup
(2) Disneyland ticket vouchers
Sheet of music manuscript paper
A Wire Hanger
(3) Cardboard junk mail credit cards
(3) martenillis apple juice bottles
REI catalog
Carl's jr cup
Can of Fresca
This Old House Magazine
(3) String cheese wrappers
French vanilla scented candle
(8) Paper plates
AOL CD
Sandals
Pint of Ben and Jerrys
Granola bar wrapper
Dubble Bubble wrapper
(2) Advil liquid caps wrappers
Simpsons DVD packaging
Dean and Deluca candy bar wrapper
Smint wrapper
Resses peanut butter cup wrapper
Paper scrap
Applesauce container w/ lid
Arrowhead water bottle
AAA battery
Reply card for BBC video
Reflections (A community magazine)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Can, waiting for trash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trash, waiting for its owner

Who could pass up such a wealth of totally useless junk? In fact, it was so tempting that the auction winner even offered to drive to my house to pick it up, and it wasn't long before the lucky winner had picked up the garbage and began enjoying the peaceful bliss that comes with trash ownership.

See the handoff...