$2 mln for my life? They were joking, says seller

By Belinda Goldsmith

CANBERRA (Reuters) - It seemed unbelievable when bids to buy a heartbroken man's life in Australia reached A$2.2 million (US$2.1 million) -- and it was, with the bemused seller aware his life was only worth a quarter of that amount.

Ian Usher, 44, announced in March he was auctioning his life on eBay with the package including his A$420,000 three-bedroom house in Perth, Western Australia, a trial for his job at a rug store, his car, motorbike, clothes and even friends.

His decision to sell his life followed the break-up of his five-year marriage and 12-year relationship with Laura with whom he had built the house.

Usher, originally from County Durham in Britain before moving to Perth in 2001, said he hoped to raise up to A$500,000 to fund a new life but on the first day of the week-long auction, bids skyrocketed to A$2.2 million.

But Usher knew his life was not worth that and was quick to realize there was a glitch in the system with auction Web site eBay allowing offers from non-registered bidders which took a day to sort out.

"Apologies to all, but I guess there are a lot of bored idiots out there," Usher said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters that was to be posted on his website www.alife4sale.com.

"Anyway after a long day on the computer, I have decided to pull all bids back as far as the first registered bidder, and the price is back to A$155,000 as I write this ... we are back in the land of common sense and reality, so it's over to you."

After 21 bids the amount had risen to A$245,100.