Creative classifieds create interest

A Capetonian recently drew some attention when he tried to place Table Mountain up for sale on Gumtree.co.za, but according to Marketing Head, Claire Cobbledick it is not the strangest thing they have encountered.

Crazy ads

"You can find anything on Gumtree - and I mean anything," she says. "Ads have ranged from a 'slightly dented bread roll' for R1, to million rand Ferraris. Some are quite obviously pranks, but other sellers are very serious."

Another poster reached over 12,000 views by selling the bike he bought in order to support his girlfriend's hobby, but when the relationship fizzled out he decided to sell both the bike and the girlfriend's number. "Bought this bike because my girlfriend was into cycling. She dumped me and I hate cycling. I have used in twice since I bought it. Apparently, it is quite a good bike. I'll throw in some size 9 specialized shoes for good measure along with the ex's phone number if you ever feel like being taken for a ride," reads the ad description.

Other ads that may have raised an eyebrow was a request for a professional emu catcher to round up wayward birds that needed transporting, plenty of lovelorn users quite openly asking for a sugar daddy (or momma) and a mystical plant was put up for sale that could supposedly cure your money woes. In another case, a very honest producer requested an actress for a shoot stating "if you aren't as hot as Boity, don't bother." The site has also seen a desperate rugby fan beg for last minute tickets because he had promised his friends seats but was unable to deliver leaving him in danger of "being promptly murdered by Saturday."

Another enterprising gent built a business selling coffin-closets: furniture that conveniently doubles up as a coffin as a means of keeping costs low.

Prank advertisement

There are also, perhaps not surprisingly, instances where disgruntled family members attempt to put their partners and in-laws up for sale, although these usually do not make it past the site's security filters. Even Nkandla made its way onto the site, presumably advertised by an unhappy taxpayer.

"There is a wide range of things that can be advertised but it has to adhere to our policies. We do not allow users to violate any laws or posting policies. Occasionally pranksters will post advertisements using their friends' details - usually advertising a high-demand item - so that they receive some strange calls, but we will remove them as soon as we become aware that the ad is not legitimate or details placed without consent."

So, some of the best ads of the year are the ones that are not up for Loeries. They cost nothing, drew a lot of attention and reached their targets. More importantly, they made us laugh.

"Although we don't know if the bread roll found a buyer, most other items are snapped up quickly - so it is always worth a shot," concludes Cobbledick.