Funky edibles tickle online tastebuds
A “shy carrot”, an excited kiwifruit, and a chip with a heart-shaped hole were just a few of the food-based items that made up the top 10 Trade Me listings for the year.
Glenn from Northland auctioned off his unusual carrot, dubbed “shy” thanks to its coy appearance, to help raise funds for the Cancer Society.
“Looking for a new home for my pet carrot,” the listing read. “Has its original haircut, it’s a little shy at times but otherwise a very easy pet, doesn’t eat anything, doesn’t drink water, can be left at home whilst away on holiday, really likes a cold environment to have a longer life expectancy.
“Relisted pet, so rigidity is slipping! Gotta admit it’s pretty cute (proceeds donated to Cancer Society).”
The final bid for the carrot came in at $160, meeting the ad’s reserve and receiving close to 42,000 page views.
It was the shy carrot’s popular engagement that landed it in seventh place in the top 10 items this year.
But it was the “heart-shaped hole chip” that won hearts around the country, coming out on top as Trade Me’s most viewed auction of the year.
Instead of just eating the chip, young Aucklander Bianca listed the treasure on Trade Me to raise money for Starship children’s hospital.
Tiana Barns of Trade Me said the 10-year-old had been tucking into a bag of chips on a Sunday afternoon in July when she found the item.
“104,000 views later, Bianca raised $5000 for Starship and walked away with the title of our most viewed listing of 2023.”
Barns said that without fail, at least one funky fruit or vegetable made the most viewed list every year.
Third on the list was a radish in the shape of the male reproductive system, with the root vegetable gaining 58,000 views and raising $151 for Auckland flooding victims.
An “excited kiwifruit” was fifth with 52,000 views, followed by the shy carrot and in tenth, a hot wee “prick” or chilli with 25,000 views.
“This just goes to show Kiwis love to have a laugh at what mother nature can produce.”
Barns added many of the top auctions also reflected topical events.
In second place was a natural wonder — a rock found on the South Island’s West Coast that had a lime deposit looking remarkably like NZ.
The rock caught the attention of
82,000 Kiwis, yet failed to entice anyone to hit the eye-watering $20,000 Buy Now button.
A TV interview with a very casually dressed incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins also had the nation talking, with the cap and sunglasses worn by Hipkins during the interview going up on Trade Me the same day.
“It wasn’t long before the auction went viral, clocking up 51,000 views making it our fourth most-viewed listing of the year and selling for $1580,” Barns said.
Rugby league fans also took to the online auction site this year in search of merchandise in the wake of the Warriors’ winning streak.
“Coming in at number six was a personalised number plate UPDWAH.”
That auction also gained lots of attention, selling for $9350 after almost
45,000 page views.