Bidless, the City of Seattle took down its five German-made public toilets from Ebay last week. But the seller, the City of Seattle, is not through with online auctioneering, even if e-buyers passed them by.
The toilets will be back on Ebay as early as Friday, says Pat Miller of the Fleets and Facilities department.
The toilets were the first items offered for sale in a city contract with the Ebay helper-company Bidadoo, which markets products for sellers. The three-year contract with Bidadoo began last month, says Miller; its aim is to give valuable items maximum visibility.
"When we run across things like the public toilets, that just screams to be put on Ebay," says Miller, who has put city property like horses, horse trailers, and Steinway pianos -- "unique things" -- up for bid on the site.
Utilities spokesperson Andy Ryan says the toilets have received interest -- but not for the earlier starting bid of $89,000. Miller says the toilets will re-enter bidding after "a change in the pricing structure." Does that mean they'll be cheaper?
"They'll be cheaper," he says.