"We're also running a competition to guess when people reckon the billionth listing will land. We're currently around listing 987 million, so we're anticipating the odometer will tick over in the next couple of weeks."
Trade Me was founded in 1999 by Sam Morgan, who currently serves on Trade Me's board of directors.
Fun Trade Me facts:
Most-viewed listings:
* Tana Umaga handbag and cellphone (2006, 1m+ views)
*HP Possessed Printer (2013, 800k views)
*Scary Washing Machine (2009, 800k views)
Most-asked questions (popular listings)
*Buy a tractor and get a 20 acre farm for free (2009, 2224 questions)
*Scary washing machine (2009, 2101 questions)
*Two captured ghosts (2010, 1707 questions)
Firsts
*First official live listing: Sam Morgan's 21" AKAI-brand TV. Bidding started at $200.
*First on Trade Me Motors: Subaru Impreza Sedan 1992 (2003)
*First residential property on Trade Me Property: A house worth $250k in Mission Bay (2005)
*First job on Trade Me Jobs: Earthmoving mechanic in East Tamaki (2006)
Millionth milestones
*Millionth bid placed according to our records: 5 Feb 2005 on a replica Air Force jump smock
*Millionth member: Sue from Napier (who hasn't logged in since joining) on 19 April 2005
*Millionth question placed according to our records: 25 April 2005 on a bed frame and trundler
Our members
Top overall names
*Male: John, David, and James
*Female: Sarah, Lisa, and Michelle
*The top three surnames are Smith, Williams, Brown
*Most common birth year is 1980, there is a higher number of males than females
An average Trade Me user: a 35-year-old named John or Sarah Smith from Auckland that talks more about others than themselves ("You" used twice as much as "me" or "my" on the message boards).
