Trade Me's top auction: A 'marriage-destroying' answering machine

The offending answering machine. Photo / TradeMe

An answering machine dubbed the "Marriage Destroyer" was the most-viewed item on Trade Me this year, ahead of Lorde lyrics, luxury cars and a "horrible" Michael Laws painting.

The Marriage Destroyer listing started on August 14. It carried an extravagant back story with claims of an affair, unplanned pregnancies, and an Italian lover.

The seller, Trade Me member "kowhaicleaning", said they had to sell the Uniden 7000A digital answering machine to support three newly-born love children.

The machine, the story went, was the seller's only possession after he was left in a coma and divorced when his wife learned of the affair.

The Hibiscus Coast-based seller eventually landed $68 for the machine and notched up 136,995 views.

Rugby star Dan Carter's iPhone was the second most-viewed item, attracting nearly 131,000 views. It eventually sold for $2,210.

Also in the top ten was a painting of Michael Laws that artist Joshua Drummond described as "horrible."

The sinister rendition of the former shock jock attracted 70,226 views before selling for $705.

Mr Drummond drew the image in 2012 for a charity auction but it wasn't sold then.

The listing, in March, said the painting was nearly sold to a "drunk Irishman" for $50 one night, but the boozed-up buyer had no cash and didn't return calls the next day. It also said Mr Drummond feared the image could be haunted, but urged buyers not to let that worry them.

A two-man submarine, eventually sold for $95,000, was also in the top ten this year,

Jeff Hunkin, Trade Me spokesman, said the most-viewed listing in Trade Me history was the Tana Umaga handbag and cellphone listing from May 2006, with just over one million views.

The $30 Roxy bag earned infamy after former All Black captain Umaga smacked his Hurricanes team mate Chris Masoe with it at Christchurch's Jolly Poacher bar.

TRADEME'S MOST-VIEWED
Views: 136955 - Marriage Destroyer (answering machine)

Views: 130755 - Dan Carter's iPhone (as he traded up to a new Samsung phone)

Views: 95156 - Toyota Hilux Surf 1995 (aka the "Turck")

Views: 85188 - Aston Martin Rapide 2010 (crashed car Turners Auctions sold)

Views: 70226 - Horrible Painting Of Michael Laws

Views: 66854 - Haunted Porcelain Doll

Views: 66312 - Two-man submarine

Views: 47124 - Student Loan for Sale

Views: 46741 - Castle Playhouse

Views: 44742 - Lorde 'Royals' lyrics

(Source: Trade Me)