Encouraged in part by the recent purchase by online casino GoldenPalace of a grilled cheese sandwich that has the image of Virgin Mary for $15,000 and on the tummy of a pregnant woman, sellers have started grasping a second look at eBays Everything Else category, especially in the subcategories of Advertising Opportunities and Weird Stuff.

And not a few have been successful. Just last August 23, 2005, the casino paid $18,000 to shave a womans head and permanently tattoo the web site of the popular online poker room, on her bare cranium.

The eBay seller, Molly Demers, will be wearing the casinos brand on the top and back of her bald head for one year.

Before her, a woman from Utah now known as "ForeheadGoldie" on eBay, was paid $10,000 to permanently tattoo their website address on a her forehead. Using eBays "Buy It Now" option, GoldenPalace won the privilege of posting a permanent ad tattoo on Karolyne Smiths forehead, generating her the first female to have the casinos brand mark her for life.

And then there are such queer items such dead flies, tushy-shaped apple, haunted items and change-my-name auctions that have been bought for outrageous prices by lesser-known buyers who are also out to build news for themselves.

These weird auction have been made more popular by websites that have sprouted like mushrooms to feature these auctions, hoping to cash in on the revenue potentual fron sellers advertisements and eBay affiliate commissions. Even some humor web sites have opened up auction pages to ride the bandwagon.

HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT

If you have an online business or a website, this would be the right time to look into these weird auctions and see how you may benefit. Here are some ideas:

* If you are an eBay member, listing a weird auction and having it featured by sites such as BuyWeird.com or WeirdBids.com would drive visitors to your other "usual" items. This is now a strategy used by some eBay stores who see the traffic potential of these weird auctions.

I have seen sales of some eBay members skyrocket as a benefit from the number of people viewing their weird auctions, who got curious and looked at their items too.

* You may join eBay and get free of price promotion by bidding on these weird items. Your title shows up on the frontpage if you are the highest bidder, on the Bid History if you get outbidded. Curious viewers will then check out your own About Me page where you can say something about your business.

* Put up an auction-related web page and then contact the sellers of these auctions so they will mention your page in exchange for free of cost branding. Take advantage of eBays affiliate code and possibilities of direct advertising on your website . But before you do this, build sure you offer free of price and assessment of value services on your web site to keep your traffic going.

The possibilities are endless. You do not even have to sell on eBay to benefit from weird auctions.