Friendship on E-bay?

Spending so many hours in a car driving up and down California means there is plenty of time to talk. Between German lessons and remeniscances of Valley Girls we somehow managed to discuss whether friendship can be purchased on E-bay. The answer is yes, it can.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1467&item=5553603119&rd=1

Since the auction is about to end, here is the text:


Description (revised)
DUE TO MEDICAL EXPENSES AND OTHER FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES I AM DOING SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE, NOR DO I BELIEVE IT HAS EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE! I AM SELLING MY FRIENDSHIP ON EBAY! I AM A CHRISTIAN MAN OF 42 YEARS OF AGE WITH A GREAT FAMILY WHO SUPPORTS ME IN THIS VENTURE . I PRAYED THIS MORNING AND ASKED THE LORD TO GIVE ME AN IDEA THAT WOULD HELP THE FAMILY FINANCIALLY AND ALSO BRING HAPPINESS TO ANOTHER AS WELL. IT CAME TO ME QUICKLY AS I WAS SHOWED A VISION IN MY MIND OF LONELY PEOPLE WITHOUT FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO KEEP IN TOUCH OR TO REMEMBER THEM AT THE HOLIDAYS OR EVEN ON THEIR BIRTHDAY! I AM ASKING FOR YOUR BID ON EBAY AS THIS WILL HONESTLY BE A TRUE BLESSING FOR THIS FAMILY AND THEREFORE I CAN BE A BLESSING TO YOU AS WELL. HERE'S HOW THIS CAN WORK, PLEASE MAKE MINIMUM BID TO START THIS OFF OR IF AT ALL POSSIBLE PLEASE USE BUY IT NOW TO ASSURE YOU DEFINITELY WIN IT . WINNER OF AUCTION WILL RECIEVE A WEEKLY EMAIL FOR CORRESPONDENCE AS A TRUE FRIEND WOULD AND SHOULD. I WILL ALSO SEND YOU AN ACTUAL BIRTHDAY CARD AND GIFT ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, YES YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED THIS YEAR! YOU WILL ALSO RECIEVE A CHRISTMAS CARD AND CHRISTMAS GIFT AS WELL. WHETHER YOU ARE ELDERLY,YOUNG,MALE OR FEMALE, IT DOESN'T MATTER, I WILL BE HONORED AND BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND FOR THE COMPLETE 12 MONTH PERIOD FROM THE TIME YOU WIN THE AUCTION IT WILL BEGIN! MY FEEDBACK RATING OF 415 100% POSITIVE FEEDBACKS PROVES I'M AN HONEST,SINCERE PERSON AND I WOULD HOPE YOU GIVE ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE YOUR FRIEND. I AM CONVINCED WITHOUT A DOUBT THE LORD WILL REACH SOMEONE TO RESPOND TO THIS AUCTION AS IT IS NOT A MERE COINCIDENCE THAT YOU ARE LOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, ONE FULL YEAR OF WEEKLY EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE, PLUS ALL INFO MENTIONED ABOVE. YOU WILL BE THOUGHT OF AS PART OF MY FAMILY WITH RESPECT AND CONCERN. *(disclaimer: if for any reason the winner of this auction fails to conduct themselves in a proper manner and in any way is offensive in communication, the correspondence will end at that moment, ending agreement permanently!) I'M SURE THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS AGREEMENT IT HAD TO BE MENTIONED. AFTER THE YEAR EXPIRES, THE AGREEMENT CAN BE RENEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AS THE CORRESPONDENCE COULD LAST AS LONG AS YOU WANT!! THIS WILL BE WONDERFUL FOR BOTH OF US, PLEASE CONSIDER IT,GOD BLESS YOU. **HOW MUCH IS FRIENDSHIP WORTH? THERE'S NO AMOUNT HIGH ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THE PRIVELEDGE, THE BID I'M ASKING FOR IS JUST ENOUGH TO HELP MY FAMILY IN FINANCIAL TROUBLES, THE FRIENDSHIP I'M OFFERING IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN ANY DOLLAR AMOUNT** EBAYERS FROM USA AND WORLDWIDE ARE ENCOURAGED TO BID!!!!!!!!! **AN EBAYER EMAILED ME AND ASKED ME IF HE COULD BID FOR HIS ELDERLY GRANDMOTHER WHO WOULD ENJOY THE COMPANIONSHIP AND ATTENTION WEEKLY AND ON HER BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS AS THE EBAYER IS THE ONLY FAMILY MEMBER TO KEEP IN TOUCH AS HE IS ON THE ROAD AS A TRUCKDRIVER AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE TIME TO MAKE HER FEEL CARED FOR AS SHE IS A LONELY PERSON . OF COURSE, THIS WOULD BE IDEAL AS A SPECIAL THOUGHT FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO MAY BE ALONE CONSTANTLY AND EVEN THE SLIGHTEST WEEKLY EMAILS OR LETTER THROUGH THE MAIL IF REQUESTED WOULD MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO BRIGHTEN THEIR LIFE.**THIS IS NOT A SCAM OR FLY BY NIGHT OFFER, I AM ASKING FOR THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN HONEST ,SINCERE CORRESPONDENCE BY EMAIL OR BY U.S. MAIL IF NEED BE IF COMPUTER IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. PLEASE GIVE ME THE CHANCE AS FUNDS ARE URGENTLY NEEDED, IF BY CHANCE YOU WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THE CORRESPONDENCE AND WOULD JUST LIKE TO DO A FINANCIAL MIRACLE FOR A FAMILY OF 5, THAT WOULD BE WELCOME AS WELL. ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE,14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER,9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, WE THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL YOU CAN DO, GOD BLESS-----------


Is anyone here surprised that after nearly 7 days there are no bids? My favorite part is that he added a $10 shipping cost. Hey for only $1500, you can get one more birthday and Christmas card and gift. Yeah, the hubby had to hold me back from bidding on this one. :roll:

Verileah 21 years ago
That's very sad :(
Guest 21 years ago
The thing that pisses me off about it is that he claims to be Christain and says God Bless and crap when as a christain I believe that you dont sell anything, you do it because you WANT to, thats just a bogus bunch of crap and makes the people that believe the same as me look like a bunch of money grubbing assholes. Id like to find him and tell him so too.
Gilae 21 years ago
I dunno...it seemed kind of a creative way to help his family. If they really are in need then it's not like he isn't offering a service that would help a number of people. I wouldn't pay for it myself...but then again I have plenty of friends. I think my issue would be someone who can check Ebay can find sources of other 'friends' online that would send them at the very least egreetings and the like.

Oh, by the way...my birthday is February 27th in case anyone wanted to know. :o
Aziyade 21 years ago
I would have more respect for him if he'd have put an ad in the local paper offering assistance to shut-ins or the elderly for a modest fee.

Selling friendship, which I strongly feel is something that should be freely given, just seems so very wrong to me.

I checked on the auction this morning and, quelle surprise, there were no last minute bids.
Just Erin 21 years ago
And only 12 months of this guaranteed "friendship" too. I guess that means that if he thinks you're a lousy shmuck when it's all said and done, he only has to treat you "OF AS PART OF MY FAMILY WITH RESPECT AND CONCERN" for a year!

I agree with Az. There are better ways to come up with money for your family. Yeah, legal ones too. You can't buy friendship and you can't sell it either.

Edit:
HEY, he's in Texas. There's some Texans in here, right? GET ON IT, maybe your $1500 will buy you a charming and wholesome Christian Easter Dinner.
immy 21 years ago
A for creativity.
A for creating a creepy feeling for me.
Gilae 21 years ago
immy
A for creativity.
A for creating a creepy feeling for me.


Hehe
Guest 21 years ago
Jennafae
HEY, he's in Texas. There's some Texans in here, right? GET ON IT, maybe your $1500 will buy you a charming and wholesome Christian Easter Dinner.


I'm not a Texan, but I live in Texas. And that dude should pay me $1500 to let him be my friend for a day.
Aziyade 21 years ago
Ryala
Jennafae
HEY, he's in Texas. There's some Texans in here, right? GET ON IT, maybe your $1500 will buy you a charming and wholesome Christian Easter Dinner.


I'm not a Texan, but I live in Texas. And that dude should pay me $1500 to let him be my friend for a day.


Yeah, but you're hot. ;)
Guest 21 years ago
:o


/sneaks in a fuggle
Starry 21 years ago
I tried to read this. But uh, the caps made me cry.

Even I dont need friends this bad ^^

My little online friends of elves, nakid or semi naked avatars, and other random fanasty critters is better than a CARD and a FAKE LOVING 1500 FAMILY.