The hard drive in the computer contained, completely in the open, mobile phone numbers, bank accounts, mother's maiden names (used for security), and signatures, which gives access to billions of dollars. It belonged to British company called Graphic Data, which apparently safeguards information for financial organizations.

Fortunately for NatWest, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and American Express, the computer was bought by a good guy, an IT manager from Oxford, England, called Andrew Chapman. [The Independent]

A quick search of recently completed auctions shows 8GB Peter Phones still fetching anything from $250 to a crazy-high $575. 16GB models are grabbing even more, seeing a range of the same $250 to $700+ (for new in-box, unlocked phones). Over at NextWorth (which will also take iPods), a 16GB with all the accessories and with "light wear" (as opposed to the "normal wear" which is the next highest option) will net you an even $300, just enough for a 16GB 3G. My 8GB, which is soundly in the "normal wear" category after a few drops and a broken headset, will only fetch me $180, which has me thinking eBay is the answer. NextWorth does not pay a premium for unlocked phones as many will on eBay, and if you read Giz, you should be able to unlock your phone and load it with whichever firmware seems most valuable before putting it up for auction, no sweat.

Anybody sold their iPhone EDGE on eBay recently? How's the market out there? Let me know. [NextWorth via Gadget Lab]

Aside from a completely refurbished chipset, this Mini ColecoVision features newly-added composite and S-Video out that promises that Donkey Kong will be more beautiful than ever. A dedicated analog audio output should ensure clearer sound as well.

PLUS—oh, we aren't done yet—an "intro skip" BIOS chip has been added to allow users to skip past the ColecoVision's obnoxiously long title screen.

There's a bright-ass blue LED switch that's been added as well.

The Mini ColecoVision is currently bid to $374.99 on eBay. The auction ends this evening. [eBay via technabob]

They [the underpants] are so huge I thought they may make someone a nice shawl or, even better, something for Halloween perhaps.

Apparently, the woman arrived home after she received a torrid SMS from her husband—obviously not directed to her—only to discover him in bed with the condom wrapper under the pillow and the lady's big underpants at the foot of the bed, like some kind of big pirate flag.

The wife wanted to sell the actual piece of massive lingerie, but eBay asked her to take it down because they have a policy against selling secondhand underwear. An eBay spokeswoman said:

We let her know about the policy and instead she's now selling a photograph of the offending knickers. This is obviously very therapeutic for this woman and it must be a great channel for her views on cheating and the sanctity of marriage.

The punishment doesn't end there: She plans to continue it by auctioning her husband's Harley for 99 cents. Great. eBay therapy. Yes. It's a slow day, but what worries me here is this stupid secondhand underwear sales ban. Does this apply to eBay Japan too? How can pervs all around the world bid for their favorite porn stars used lingerie? These are all questions that shall be answered before the day ends. Anyone wants to buy my CK—too tight—boxers? [Reuters]

This particular auction contains every single grey cartridge released for the NES as well as a couple that were sent to critics but never released (California Raisins & Final Fantasy 2). You don't get the insanely rare gold cartridges that go for ludicrous amounts on eBay every so often, but who cares? You get every NES game! You also get a mint NES to play all these games on.

Sure, at some point you'll realize that this is a huge waste of money and space with all of these games available via emulation, but then you'll just have to toss it back on eBay to make your money back. It's the circle of life. The buy it now price is $3,800 and shipping is free. What're you waiting for? [eBay via Geekologie]

There aren't a lot of bargains, as you might expect. Top-shelf merchandise like this is expected to fetch big collector prices. But the catalog is almost too good to be true—check out 34 highlights in the gallery below, and a few extra special favorites here:

Forget any exercise you could possible think of—it won't come close to the strength of using Bruce Lee's own actual forearm strengthener. Possibly some Dragon sweat still on it.

No, It doesn't hover but I couldn't give less of a damn. If I can't have the shoes, I want this. Too bad it's expected to fetch $30-$50k.

I love scotch. But I'm pretty certain I would love it even more if I was drinking it out of this ultra-dystopian Blade Runner tumbler. Plus this one's one of the few sub-$1,000 items.

Just one of the countless things the originals have on Lucas's new films, the costumes in the original Star Wars were incredible. Especially the Imperial dudes—stylish in only the way a space fascist can be.

More highlights from this incredible trove, including C3PO's feet, Ahnold's sawed-off from T2, the rabbit mask from Donnie Darko and more:

[Profiles in History Auction House via Tech Digest]

In theory, the toilets' self-cleaning mechanism is capable of spraying down the whole interior with water jets and detergent every day, but the drainage systems quickly became clogged with trash, rendering them completely useless. Drug fiends and prostitutes were also fond of the 20-minute auto-locking doors, but the depravity quickly became too much for everyone, says the NYTimes:

“I’m not going to lie: I used to smoke crack in there,” said one homeless woman, Veronyka Cordner, nodding toward the toilet behind Pike Place Market. “But I won’t even go inside that thing now. It’s disgusting.”

[eBay via NYTimes]

A week ago, Benny and I both made the decision to sell our 8GB iPhones. Even though the iPhone is now a year old, there is still huge demand for it. On a weekly basis, lines form inside and even outside Apple stores, specifically for the iPhone. This dwindling stock of iPhones on the web and in stores makes it a perfect item to sell on eBay, new or used.

Having sold items before on eBay, I knew to check how many iPhones were currently for sale. My search brought back 1,800 auctions. At first I thought, no way would I fetch decent money for my six-month-old phone. But after studying the eBay iPhone market, I noticed something strange. Of the 1,800 iPhones on eBay, a whopping 1,200 are unlocked. And of those 1,200 unlocked, 800 are basically brand new. These new unlocked iPhones will easily reach over $500 for 8GB models and $600 for 16GB models.

But current iPhone owners have, by definition, used iPhones. Turns out, that's OK. In my research, used 8GB iPhone auctions usually ended around $350, which is good money. But by following a few strategies, a used iPhone can easily sell for more than that.

What to Include

Since most of the auctions are for new iPhones, it's best to have the original box and accessories, This will allow the auction to compete with the new ones, and buyers pay much more for a complete set.

Unlocked = $$$

Even if it might be unauthorized, having an unlocked iPhone will bring much more attention. Used unlocked iPhone auctions usually end above $400 for 8GB models and above $500 for 16GB models. And these figures are on the low end of the results, and it's not uncommon for 8GB iphones to sell above $500, like these two, here and here, that sold for $560. So by simply selling a Pwned and unlocked iPhone, a much higher selling price can be expected.

Listing Duration

A week ago when I sold my iPhone, I had originally listed it with a 7-day auction. This was a mistake. 24-hours after my listing was posted, not a single person had looked at it. With over 33 pages of iPhones on eBay, it made sense that no one was going to search all the way to page 33 to see new listings.

So the shorter the listing time the better, and the 1-day listing option was the best. Not only did it put the auction on the 9th page of the search, as opposed to the 33rd, it also provided instant gratification, since it only took 24 hours for the iPhone to sell.

Starting Price/No Reserve

Even if the listing has only 1 day, starting it off at a low amount is smart. By having an auction that starts at $1 with a no-reserve price, it attracts more watchers, and usually brings a higher selling price. Yes, having no reserve could mean that your precious auction item sells for 3 bucks, but it hasn't happened to any of the 8,000 completed iPhone sales on eBay, so why would it happen to yours?

Shipping

It's also smart to say you'll ship worldwide, especially for unlocked iPhones. Most of the unlocked iPhones that advertise worldwide shipping not only attracted more watchers and brought more money but, surprisingly or not, they also usually ended up selling within the US.

Title & Keywords
The most important part of selling an iPhone on eBay is the title, since it basically attracts the buyer. A good title it will bring more watchers, and using popular keywords is the way to go. Stuff like "No Reserve," "NR," "Unlocked," "Jailbroken," "Any GSM SIM," "Original Box" and "Accessories" are just a few. If the auction ships worldwide, then make sure the title advertises this. In this auction, simply stating "Ship Worldwide" brought in $610 for a used 8GB. The more keywords the better, so it's best to add a subtitle for an extra 50 cents. This allows for a whole extra line which will fit much more of the important keywords. Here's a solid, winning title and subtite:

UNLOCKED Apple iPhone 8GB Jailbroken Any GSM SIM

Original Box and Accessories SHIPS WORLDWIDE

By using these techniques I was able to sell my used iPhone for $425 ($410 after fees), and it has made me even more excited for Steve Jobs' keynote on June 9th. Bathtub-lovin' Benny did a little worse, or a little better depending on how you look at it: He didn't advertise worldwide shipping, he had an aftermarket charger instead of the original one and his iPhone had a big scratch on it, and he still cleared $380. After expenses!

For current iPhone owners who have been contemplating selling in anticipation for the new iPhone, you might want to act quickly while it's still a seller's market. Then again, the market may already be flooded.

The woman behind the sale claims that she needed the proceeds to help her survive in a new town after moving there with the asshole man in question. However, the sale concluded with no bids—most likely because stories like this on eBay always seem phony. However, if she does decide to put it back up you can take your chances and put in a bid. The porn is included free—if you can find a way to extract it from the damaged drive, that is. [eBay via Crunchgear]

Granted, it comes with Windows XP and all the Adobe software—Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc.—you could ever want, but this thing still makes Blam's sorry, battered MBP look like a supermodel. If you think real beauty's on the inside and are still interested, get clicking, 'cause there's only a couple hours left on the auction.
[eBay, Thanks Caleb!]

There are 59 total LEDs, 5 custom circuit boards, 30 feet of wire, two Mario figures, a controller holder, and everything else you see is either hand-made or laser cut. There's also a custom plate dedicating this to Miyamoto for all his hard work creating a plumber that travels through pipes to a better world, giving plumbers everywhere something to strive for.

The custom console stand has an integrated Wii remote holder and a compartment for recharging the included lithium-ion batteries. Each side of the stand features a small limited edition Mario figurine. These are out of production and were only available in certain parts of Asia. In addition to the highly detailed paint job they already featured they were further touched up and clear coated for a clean professional look.

If you still haven't been able to find a Wii, this is your chance to pick one up that's both special and benefit charity. You could probably write this off as a tax deduction next year too.

[ebay]

!We offer you a business idea at its finest!

If you even before you come in a cocktail bar, you can then in a real airplane ambience in the first-class seats and swing are just out of the daily routine.

You will be doers of style stewardesses served and get in front of it flies in the holiday.

For Hawaiian (or just what you like) Music you start you to relax.

The clouds are flying only way to the windows of passing (obviously, this requires the intake of extra substances, J.) ... to realize with a Endlosposter, which has two roles held.

If you read the whole thing to make huge hits you, you have installed a hydraulic plate below and let the whole story with a little froze every half hour off and land.

The entire course will be displayed on the Angurtdisplays.

Sun offers an opportunity to all cases not so quickly, so without prejudice to!

Enjoy offer!

Needless to say, we've already placed our bid. [eBay —thanks Johannes]

If you're a mad breakout fan, however, one of the two could be yours, as it's up for auction right now. The bids are up to $385 as of this writing with about a day left, which ain't half bad for such a rare nugget of Atari history. Of course, it being a non-working prototype might have something to do with that, but just look at it! It's awesome! [eBay via Kotaku]

The eBay blurb describes it as Bluetooth Enabled, Calendar, email, GPS Navigation, Internet Browser, MP3 Player, PDA-PC Sync, SMS-Text Messaging, Speakerphone, Unlocked, Video, Smartphone. And then he goes and tells us it doesn't even turn on. Tsk. Who knows, maybe the buyer just needs to replace the letter "E" for "End of Life" or "T" for "Trash." [eBay via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]

Considering people are falling over one another to get their hands on a Wii console for their kids, friends and lovers, it's distasteful practice by the boys at Slackers. Not only is it outright greed, but they are also violating Nintendo's terms of retail sale. We think Mario should jump on Slackers until they are a completely squashed retailer, which will hopefully make them realize the errors of their cash grabbing ways. [Ars Technica]

UPDATE: Slackers have issued a statement strongly denying the accusations; the full statement can be read below:

Dec. 21 - Official Statement

An Open Letter to Slackers Customers and the Game Buying Community

December 21, 2007

In a December 20, 2007 article posted on the on-line site Ars Technica, author Ben Kuchera wrote a sensationalist article about Slackers, in which he makes a number of sweeping and factually incorrect statements about Slackers' practice of selling Nintendo Wii Game systems on eBay. In his article, Mr. Kuchera claims that Slackers "stockpiles" its entire allotment of Wii systems from Nintendo and sells them exclusively on eBay at substantial mark-up. This article is factually inaccurate, and unfortunately, other sites are picking up this story and spreading the misleading piece. In his article, Mr. Kuchera claims that he attempted to contact me, Slackers' owner, multiple times to comment on his article. That is simply not true. Had Mr. Kuchera contacted me, I would have told him exactly what I am telling you in this letter.

Slackers is a small, 11 store chain in Missouri and Illinois selling music, movies and games. Slackers prides itself on its commitment to its customers, and offers great products with great service at a fair price. We are not big box, and our customers like that. They like that they get friendly, knowledgeable service when they come into our stores.

However, being small has its disadvantages. Unlike the big box retailers, we do not get an "allotment" from Nintendo. Rather, like all small independent retailers, we must buy our product from distributors. Since November of this year, the total number of Wii systems Slackers has been able to acquire from distributors this holiday season is 44 units - that's it. With respect to nearly all of these systems, the units are held for a specific individual, e.g. loyal customers, family members, business associates, employees and friends - 35 of the 44 units Slackers was able to acquire this holiday season went to such individuals at the suggested price of $249.99 (our cost). If one of these customers paid for the system with a credit card, Slackers actually lost money on the system as the credit card company takes up to 3% of the sale.

What about the other systems? One was donated to a silent auction with the proceeds ($450) going to St. Louis Children's Hospital. Slackers will be giving away another Wii system on the radio tonight on the Hipp Nights show on the Big 550 AM, KTRS (please tune in)!

Does Slackers' sell Wii systems on eBay? Yes. This holiday season, Slackers has sold a total of 5 Wii systems on eBay at a price of $399.99, while a couple units remain in stock. Why do we sell the Wii systems on eBay? Like all small retailers we are trying to improve our profile on the web. We have a website and an eBay store site. By offering even a small quantity of a hot system like the Wii on-line drives many hits to our sites. As for the price, Mr. Kuchera claims we are "scalping." At the price Slackers offers on-line, when you factor our cost for the unit and shipping, and after eBay and PayPal take their cut, Slackers makes less than $75 per unit we sell on-line. For this holiday season, we made a whopping $375 from the eBay sales - that's it. We gave away 2 systems at a cost of $500, and on every other system, we either broke even or lost money. Slackers does not make money on the sale of Wii systems.

Because of Mr. Kuchera's article, others on the web are using words like "gouging" and "repugnant" when referring to Slackers. I cannot begin to tell you how much this hurts. In this year alone, Slackers gave away more than $7,000 in product, gift certificates and donations to schools and churches in our community. Slackers is a good business citizen in its communities.

Had Mr. Kuchera taken the time to fully research his article, he would have a much different picture about Slackers' practices and what we are all about.

To our loyal customers, thank you for your continued patronage.

Happy holidays!

Kurt Jellinek
President, Slackers CDs and Games

Nintendo Wii
Retail Price: $250
eBay Prices: $300-$450
Yes, yet again the Wii is the hottest gift this year. If you have one and don't mind parting with it for a month or so, you could always pack it up in the original box, off it on eBay for a $150 profit, then buy one in January when it'll be easier to come by.

Rock Band
Retail Price: $170
eBay Prices: $170-$250
The profits aren't as high for Rock Band as they are for the Wii, but if you creatively make your listing look like it's more than it is ("Rock Band Special Edition PLUS Guitar PLUS Drums PLUS Microphone PLUS USB Hub!!!!") you could eek out a nice profit.

Guitar Hero 3
Retail Price: $100
eBay Prices: $100-$150
Like Rock Band, you'll need to make a pretty nice auction page to get a whole lot higher than retail here, but it could be worth making a go of it if you want to take a lot of pictures.

Amazon Kindle
Retail Price: $399
eBay prices: $450-$700
The Amazon Kindle sold out almost immediately, and if you were smart you purchased one and didn't open it. If so, you've got a little pile of gold, with confused eBay purchasers willing to spend and arm and a leg on the eBook reader. Even opened Kindles are selling for above retail, so if you're unimpressed with yours now is the time to get rid of it.

Unlocked iPhone
Retail price: $399
eBay prices: $450-$750
If you have the technical know-how to unlock an iPhone for use on carriers other than AT&T (and really, it isn't rocket science), you can make a tidy profit selling an unlocked phone on eBay. There are few things that would be easier to do than going to your local Apple store, snagging a couple of iPhones, unlocking them, and tossing them up for auction. Just tell yourself you're providing a valuable service.

If you're not afraid of getting coal in your stocking for being a bastard, bump up the prices by jacking up the shipping rates, and hope the buyers don't notice that you're charging $150 to ship a Wii. Mention in small print that you're including a Guitar Hero 2 controller in place of the Guitar Hero 3 controller, or that it's just the game and not the bundle. Sell a Wii box and hope no one notices.

There are plenty of ways to be as horribly sleazy as humanly possible on eBay, so get creative! A guy just sold a copy of Rock Band for a whopping $9,000 by telling a sob story about finding his son smoking weed. Try making an auction selling the same game saying you need money to buy weed for your kid and want to see if you can get more money than that guy. Even if you don't, it'll get more publicity than a standard auction.

Really, at the end of the day, it's about the spirit of the holidays: ruining other people's Christmas so yours is better. Don't ever let that escape you. It's the real spirit of the season.

You can also get a Nintendo Wii delivered to your house in the continental US by a guy in a Santa suit on Christmas Day for $28,000. But you might wanna read the fine print over a couple times to make sure it's the small, white console stuffed in the box, not another Wii that's also small, white and not for children (or anyone really). [TechCrunch, eBay]

Longtime buyer, first-time seller "Compianos" says that the piano he used for the mod is an "upright grand"—I have always considered those two styles to be mutually exclusive. Besides that, we have some doubt as to the 6.8 GHz processor which he says runs Windows XP Media Center Edition with 1GB RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. And there is an air of desperation in his alternative payment suggestion: "I will consider a trade of an automobile + cash." He does, however, make a very reasoned appeal to "wives":

"Afraid you cannot afford it? Think again. Look at all the toys (cars/boats/RVs) your husband owns, pick one (with a clear title) and make me an offer. He'll understand, especially when he sees it. Don't you deserve it?"

Yes, he's (it's gotta be a he, come on) getting rid of his "life time collection of collectibles" in one fell swoop, including 1,160 Star Wars figures. He's also got a bunch of Spawn figures, Austin Powers figures for some reason, and a bunch of other miscellaneous nerd detritions. It's supposed to be for pick-up at his place in San Diego, but if you want to have it shipped it'll just cost you $475 per pallet. Oh, and this thing will take up three pallets. Really, beyond the cost of this thing, could you really handle the stigma that owning nearly $35,000 worth of action figures would bring to you? That alone should give anyone pause when considering this auction. [eBay via BornRich]

Unless you have serious cash burning a hole in your pocket, forget it. The auction currently stands at $55,000 and we are guessing it will fetch a pretty penny in the two days remaining. It may have a Caterpillar diesel engine, but in spirit it's all Autobot commander. Checkout eBay for the full spanking gorgeous gallery. [eBay via Techeblog]