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eBay Watch: A Spooky Transition
By Devin Comiskey

September 30, 2005


As we enter the mysterious month of October — Is it going to be warm or cold? Is it going to rain or snow? Light and then really dark? What are you dressing up for on Halloween? — we felt it appropriate to focus a bit on the supernatural on eBay this week. Or, just the plain creepy...

We had little problem finding the craziest thing of the week. Power seller "guarente" is auctioning of "Katerina," who is supposedly a psychic who also has the power to cast spells. In this auction, she claims she can bring you financial independence with a wiggle of her nose or clap of her hands. Her claim: "Win a Major Lottery/Sweepstakes Jackpot...100% Guaranteed!" Uh, OK...

Look into my eyes...

"Life can be hard, but it's OK to ask for that 'extra special help' to make things happen. How do you feel about ending your money problems & achieving financial independence? ARE YOU FINALLY READY TO CHANGE YOUR LUCK? Not all psychics and spell-casters are created equal - some are inaccurate or simply imposters," claims the mighty Katerina. "I have natural-born 'gifts' that I inherited from my mother and grandmother. I have the power and ability to 'make very special things' happen for people. I've helped many people, and I can help you too!! Using the information you send me as a baseline, I will perform a powerful spell on your behalf, to help you win a major lottery or sweepstakes jackpot, and have an abundance of money to enjoy life in luxury!"

What's even better about this auction, is that it comes with a 90-day guarantee!

"It typically takes close to 90 days to begin seeing results. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason with the results of this spell after 90 days has passed, send me an email and tell me so (rather than posting an angry feedback.) I will gladly identify whatever the obstacle may be, remove the problem, and recast the spell for you," says the mighty psychic.

Right on, sister! We were ready to send our money to The Donald or some other financial guru for advice. But for only $39.99, how can we resist this??

Feel like scaring the crap out of your roommate? How about buying him or her a "present," like a haunted stuffed gorilla?

Seller cheezycab says, "I am selling a stuffed white gorilla that I bought several years ago for my wife on Valentines Day. Recently we have noticed it will move from one place to another. Just the other day we went to a friend's house, when we left the Gorilla was in my daughter's room when we returned it was sitting at the front door."

You won't need bananas.

"This Gorilla scares my daughter. It has been in her room for 3 years with no problems but now she is scared of it. She says she has seen it get up in the middle of the night and try to "get her". I personally don't think it is evil or Malicious. I think my daughter was confused and got scared. I also don't know if its possessed or if an Entity was externally manipulating it," he adds.

A funky monkey for five bucks? Perfect!

If you really want to tempt fate, place a bid on apiece of fine haunted pottery. We'll let the seller tell the story behind this one.

"We are 60's geeks, artists/pack rats and curious researchers of anything old/strange. I went through a curious phase after happening upon EVP information and came across some items that were told me to be 'haunted.' Of course I didn't take it too seriously (my husband either...in fact when I opened the box containing three old pottery pots he said 'nice jugs'...he watches a lot of Family Guy), anyway, we were curious and these items just sorta fell into our laps. The story that came with these pots were that they were 'haunted' items...according to a story that was stuffed down in the largest pot the former owner had it sitting on her dryer (which she stated that she ALWAYS clean the vent after ever load), and one night, while they were sleeping this dryer caught fire even though it was not on. She found lint in it and put it into a baggie along with a print out of her story," says angels2zen.

"I passed two of these pots onto curious friends...one of these girls had been my friend for years and now we do not speak," the seller adds.

"I had this pot sitting in my kitchen for a couple weeks last winter...after which on Christmas Eve our house caught fire (yes, it's true...I have the front page story and fire Marshall's report I can send if you want to see it). The fire started where? In the kitchen!" she says. "I have told you everything I know, and I expect the bidder to take full responsibility for it and any occurrences that may take place upon obtaining it. Nor will I take it back!"

Do you really want to know??

Top bid, $.01. Whatsa matta?? You people scared or something??

Finally this fine freaky Friday, if you're really in the mood to creep yourself out, there is a wide variety of Ouija boards up for grabs on eBay this week.

Magicman567 sure wants to get rid of the one he has.

"First off, let me say, I'm NOT going to be responsible for ANY Strange Happenings with this Board. With that said, here's the Story. I had stopped at a yard sale up here in Northern Michigan on my way to work. It had all the usual stuff, and this Ouija board caught my eye. I bought it and a couple of other trinkets from these people. As I was walking away after paying, the old woman said her teenage grandchildren had tinkered around with it, and had contacted some Spirit of a Murdered Nun. I'm thinking, "Yeah Right Grandma," what other kind of BOLOGNA are you going to feed me. I think she kind of sensed I didn't Believe Her. Then she said for me to locate a certain book called Butcher's Dozen, 13 Famous Michigan Murders. I found one at the Library, and what I read made the Hair on the back of my Neck stand up. it seems that in this little town of Cedar Michigan, back in 1918 a Nun DID Vanish, and found Murdered and buried in the Basement of The Holy Rosary Church. The Complete story is in this Book. I had bought this Ouija board as a Prop for my Halloween Collection, but as the truth be known, I don't want it in my house. Someone who dabbles in this kind of thing, PLEASE take it off my hands," he pleads.

Why not take a chance and rustle up some demons to play with?

Devin Comiskey is the Managing Editor of ECommerce-Guide.com.

Do you have a comment or question about this article or other e-commerce topics in general? Speak out in the SmallBusinessComputing.com E-Commerce Forum. Join the discussion today!

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