The Hindu : International : Friendship for auction on eBay

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

International

International

Friendship for auction on eBay

By David Ward

LONDON, SEPT. 19. He describes himself as a short tubby man and he wants to be your friend.

But his friendship does not come free and Shane Braisdell, 29, from Wigan in the north west of England, has drawn up a sliding price scale for the degree of love and affection he is prepared to lavish on those who want to call him mate.

Mr. Braisdell, a retail manager, is selling year-long friendship packages on the auction website eBay with the slogan ``the more you spend, the better the friend.''

He said: ``I don't think you can guarantee a good friendship by paying for it, but if somebody wants to pay for mine, I will fulfil their demands. My friendship is priceless; I'm trustworthy, honest and reliable. Everybody needs more friends.''

Mr. Braisdell, married with two children, is selling a range of friendship packages that will last for only 12 months, but he promises the winning bidder that he will be the best friend that money can buy.

Silver package

For GBpence 99 cheapskates can have the basic silver package, which can include a birthday card, monthly emails and a framed certificate of friendship.

For £30 Mr. Braisdell will help solve problems and send cookery tips, weekly emails and film reviews.

If bids reach £70 he will give out his mobile number so that the flush friend can text him. He guarantees a reply to every message.

For £400 the friend can expect the delight of a 30-minute web cam chat every month.

Mr. Braisdell also promises to proclaim his friendship in an advertisement in a local paper of the winning bidder's choice.

For £500 he will send his new friend a DVD of his choice each month. Which seems an expensive way of building up a movie collection.

Mr. Braisdell says he will not enter into extra-marital relationships, or anything involving his family.

``I'm not a young attractive girl, so I doubt I will get any stalkers,'' he said.

``There is a price on friendship. You go out with friends, buy them presents and take them to dinner. It all costs money.'' — © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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