Will's Web Watch: Auctions - bidding farewell to common sense

It used to be the case that people threw away their rubbish. Now they just auction it on eBay.

And why not, after all one man's rubbish is another man's signed photo of Rory McGrath (current bid £3.50... starting price, you guessed it, £3.50).

Boxes full of assorted tat and dusty paraphernalia which once were destined for the dump, or some unlucky charity shop, now end up online.

Over the years we have covered a number of interesting sales and tales - from Kay Hammond, the eBay bride, to German gardener Thomas Vogel, who was saddled with a £1m eBay related debt.

My personal favourite was the 'teenage Rambo' who bought a jet fighter on the auction site.

We've even covered more distasteful stories - including the sale of debris from the Columbia shuttle.

But beyond these headline grabbing tales, the truth is more mundane - and an alarming insight in a culture of opportunism.

Digging around on eBay it is possible to find the very worst attic-filler-turned-auction-lots. Autographs provide a particularly rich seam. If you're not convinced that hirsute panel-show nobody Rory McGrath is anonymous enough to pillory, then what about the actor who played 'Sid' in Only Fools and Horses? Not only do I have no idea who 'Sid' was but I can't think of any reason why somebody would want his autograph (though should you, the starting price, which funnily enough hasn't been met, is an optimistic £4.99).

Often with some of the photos and signed publicity shots it's a classic case of the frame being worth more than the picture.

In fact the plethora of items on sale for under a fiver - from a single 'blemished' table spoon to a photo of Keith Harris and Cuddles (not even '...and Orvil') - proves that there is an online market for just about anything.

It seems somehow appropriate that you can even buy bin liners from eBay. Presumably this is so you can bag up all the other stuff you've bought.

Of course there are a great many bargains to be found on eBay - and I've heard testimonials from people who have bought and sold to great effect using the site - but there is no excusing this...

By far the most disturbing thing found on my trawl through the site was a pair of "worn Adidas sports socks" which have attracted a slightly disturbing seven bids (highest £6.01). Who are these people? They're probably not much more than that in the shops - so presumably the "worn" is the USP here.

I urge you to go home, empty your loft and cupboards of everything you no longer want, need or knew you owned and put it online. Those presents from the in-laws, the clothes you've not worn since the mid-eighties, the socks you just can't be bothered washing - whatever it is, you can guarantee there is somebody out there who will buy it.

I am throwing down the gauntlet. I want to hear what the most ridiculous thing is that you have ever shifted via eBay. Email editorial@silicon.com and let us know what items you've foisted upon others.