Northeastern News

Issue date: 8/1/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy/Smith Anderson Middler Josh Minney sold himself on eBay in exchange for a plane ticket home to the U.S.

Amid the antiques, entertainment systems and vintage jerseys cluttering eBay, one unusual item stood out: Northeastern student Josh Minney.

Minney and recent graduate Smith Anderson spent the past two months traveling the world. The pair visited three continents and 17 countries and had what Anderson called "truly an epic adventure."

The trip was characterized by last-minute transit plans, nights in train stations and credit card problems. During his three-day stay in Italy, middler undecided major Minney realized he had not saved enough money for a flight back across the Atlantic.

He then posted himself on eBay offering a weeks worth of labor for a flight home. Psychic, Darlene Anderson, who has no relation to Smith, was the lucky bidder.

"We were sitting on the balcony in Rome," he said in an interview from his cousin's home in England. "And that's when I posted myself on eBay.

Under the title "Help! I'm Stuck In Europe," Minney offered personal labor in exchange for a plane ticket back to America. In the listing, he wrote a brief summary of his journey and a list of possible services, like hedge trimming, story telling and washing cars, that he could supply.

Minney was surprised by the attention his posting received.

"Two hundred people had checked it in the first six hours. Two hours later, 1,500 people had viewed it," he said. "I couldn't believe this thing was taking off."

Darlene, 54, a resident of Quincy works as a psychic at Regina Russell's Tea Room, a family-owned business that provides services like tarot card reading, psychic phone services and tea leaf readings.

Darlene, who spent $935.01 on Minney, said she bought his ticket home because she could relate to his predicament.

"I've been in the same situation before. I was stuck in Ireland. My mom finally bailed me out," she said. "And no, there was no eBay involved in that."

Minney, who arrived back in Boston was greeted Monday by Darlene, who held a sign that read "Josh Minney Welcome Back to the USA."

Minney is currently living with Darlene in Quincy and started work yesterday.

Minney will serve as a host at Darlene's Regina Russell's Tea Room, providing customers with drinks and asking them what reading they would like.

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