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Man To Put 'Entire Life' Up For Online Auction
Tuesday March 18, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
Ever thought about starting over? Ian Usher has. But unlike you, the Perth, Australia man has decided to take his desire to heart - and the Internet. On June 22nd, the 44-year-old will take the unprecedented step of putting everything he owns up for auction on eBay and use the money he makes to put his life back together.
And when Usher says everything, he means it. Not only will the successful bidder get his home, his car, all his equipment - including his jet ski, his motorcycle and his parachuting gear - but you'll also be 'buying' his friends and his job as an assistant at a local rug shop.
Why is he doing this? The vendor explains that after having a bitter break-up with his wife last year, everything he owned reminded him of their five years together. So the only way he could figure out how to get rid of those memories was to completely start over. To do that, he'd need money. And to get that, he'd sell the only thing he believes has any value - his own life.
"Everything that I have - the furniture in the house - all has memories attached to it," he explains. "It's time to shed the old, and in with the new." And he insists he's serious.
"When I say everything is included in the sale I mean EVERYTHING is included!" he writes on his website. "Upon completion and settlement I will walk out of my home for the last time in just the clothes I am wearing, and carrying only my wallet and passport.
"My current thoughts are to then head to the airport, and ask at the flight desk where the next flight with an available seat goes to, and to get on that and see where life takes me from there!"
Incredibly, both his boss and his pals have agreed to along with the scheme. The winning bidder will get an introduction to his friends and a two-week trial run at his job, an offer that can be extended if things work out.
"The job is as a rug store assistant, and responsibilities include dealing with customer enquiries, delivery and collection of rugs from customer homes, store presentation, coffee making, anything and everything really! It's a great job, nice place, and good people," he assures.
Maybe you can understand why his friends would agree to put up with such a bizarre request. But his employer? "When Ian came with this idea - because we had seen him go through a breakup of marriage and pain and bits and pieces - I thought it was really exciting," Joy Jones told the country's national broadcaster. "We thought, why not give it a go?"
And so, on June 22nd, the life of Ian Usher goes up for grabs. How much is that worth? According to the man making the offer, at least $390,000, which is what he figures his house and all his possessions are worth. But this is a limited time deal. He'll only accept bids for exactly a week, before declaring a winner.
And that, in turn, is expected to lead to the fall of the house of Usher, who doesn't intend to look back on whatever he's leaving behind.
His first trip after completing the deal will be to visit his mother in England. Fortunately, she seems to be the one commodity that's not for sale, although if he runs short on funds, perhaps he may be willing to rent her out.
Take a look at Usher's 'stuff' and read more about his odd idea here.
Tuesday March 18, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
Ever thought about starting over? Ian Usher has. But unlike you, the Perth, Australia man has decided to take his desire to heart - and the Internet. On June 22nd, the 44-year-old will take the unprecedented step of putting everything he owns up for auction on eBay and use the money he makes to put his life back together.
And when Usher says everything, he means it. Not only will the successful bidder get his home, his car, all his equipment - including his jet ski, his motorcycle and his parachuting gear - but you'll also be 'buying' his friends and his job as an assistant at a local rug shop.
Why is he doing this? The vendor explains that after having a bitter break-up with his wife last year, everything he owned reminded him of their five years together. So the only way he could figure out how to get rid of those memories was to completely start over. To do that, he'd need money. And to get that, he'd sell the only thing he believes has any value - his own life.
"Everything that I have - the furniture in the house - all has memories attached to it," he explains. "It's time to shed the old, and in with the new." And he insists he's serious.
"When I say everything is included in the sale I mean EVERYTHING is included!" he writes on his website. "Upon completion and settlement I will walk out of my home for the last time in just the clothes I am wearing, and carrying only my wallet and passport.
"My current thoughts are to then head to the airport, and ask at the flight desk where the next flight with an available seat goes to, and to get on that and see where life takes me from there!"
Incredibly, both his boss and his pals have agreed to along with the scheme. The winning bidder will get an introduction to his friends and a two-week trial run at his job, an offer that can be extended if things work out.
"The job is as a rug store assistant, and responsibilities include dealing with customer enquiries, delivery and collection of rugs from customer homes, store presentation, coffee making, anything and everything really! It's a great job, nice place, and good people," he assures.
Maybe you can understand why his friends would agree to put up with such a bizarre request. But his employer? "When Ian came with this idea - because we had seen him go through a breakup of marriage and pain and bits and pieces - I thought it was really exciting," Joy Jones told the country's national broadcaster. "We thought, why not give it a go?"
And so, on June 22nd, the life of Ian Usher goes up for grabs. How much is that worth? According to the man making the offer, at least $390,000, which is what he figures his house and all his possessions are worth. But this is a limited time deal. He'll only accept bids for exactly a week, before declaring a winner.
And that, in turn, is expected to lead to the fall of the house of Usher, who doesn't intend to look back on whatever he's leaving behind.
His first trip after completing the deal will be to visit his mother in England. Fortunately, she seems to be the one commodity that's not for sale, although if he runs short on funds, perhaps he may be willing to rent her out.
Take a look at Usher's 'stuff' and read more about his odd idea here.
I have to admit, it's a great (read: hilarious) idea. That's one way to move on I suppose?
