Letters to Ebay: Hilarious Auctions, Crazy Emails, and Bongos for Grandma [Paperback]

Art Farkas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2007

By day, Paul Meadors is a fifth grade teacher in a small California town. By night, he trolls the millions of items for sale on eBay, posing as his alter ego Art Farkas, and catching sellers off guard with his ludicrous and bizarre questions about their auctions. As he amusingly demonstrates time and time again, even in today's hyper-vigilant and impersonal digital world, the spirit of human salesmanship lives on, no matter how outrageous the question or request. For example, Art asks the seller of a set of bongo drums if there would be a way to attach them to his grandmother's back so that she could take them to the corner and play on the street to earn her rent money--which elicits a sincere, yet bitingly humorous response. From the entertaining auctions themselves, to Paul's loony letters and the serious responses they provoke, LETTERS TO eBAY provides a fascinating and humourous glimpse into the strange world of eBay and those who dwell within.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

PAUL MEADORS, aka ART FARKAS, lives in Fresno,
California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (August 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446699586
• ISBN-13: 978-0446699587
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,106,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paul Meadors is a fifth grade teacher who lives in Fresno, CA. He enjoys playing video games, reading comic books, and playing fantasy sports. An accomplished pianist, trumpeter, athlete and coach he stumbled upon writing his first book, LETTERS TO EBAY, by accident. In the summer of 2005 he started to write prank questions to eBay sellers which then turned into obsession. One highlight from his book experience was having dinner with Mr. Kotter himself, Gabe Kaplan, who also wrote a digital prank letter book. He is married to Lori and has three young daughters Georgie, Alex, and Ruthie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letters to Ebay Twisted and Hilarious, December 20, 2007

By 

Parkway Runner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to Ebay: Hilarious Auctions, Crazy Emails, and Bongos for Grandma (Paperback)

If you're looking for something weird, twisted, and hilarious to pass some down time, then pick up a copy of Art Farkas' (pen name of Central Valley eBay enthusiast and author Paul Meadors) Letters to Ebay.

Amazon lists the book's key phrases as "happy bidding," "lint rollers," "deer jerky," and "depression glass" - fitting for this farcical, oftentimes obsessive, exploration of the virtual world of online consumerism.

Letters to Ebay is one of those books that's just plain good to have around when there's a possibility of a few moments down time. The letters/answers are quick reads and can be taken in small doses. Farkas knows how to shape an incredibly ridiculous question with just enough detail and earnest tone to make it believable. And the unsuspecting vendors bite, responding here with good natured sincerity, there with exasperation. The questions - funny; the real-life responses - even funnier!

Keep this book around - it's worth a big laugh a day.

Letters to Ebay: Hilarious Auctions, Crazy Emails, and Bongos for Grandma

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letters to Ebay, December 2, 2007

By 

Catherine M. Mciver (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters to Ebay: Hilarious Auctions, Crazy Emails, and Bongos for Grandma (Paperback)

This is a very funny book, that is sure to entertain the people who receive it for Christmas.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious Anytime, October 16, 2007

By 

G. Ehlert - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters to Ebay: Hilarious Auctions, Crazy Emails, and Bongos for Grandma (Paperback)

I have loved this book from the first time I picked it up. Whether I've got two minutes between meetings or a half an hour relaxing on the couch, Letters from Ebay doesn't disappoint. My wife and I can't control our ourbursts of laughter as we read these ridiculous and unbelievable interactions. A "Must Have" for anyone who wants to laugh.