Coronavirus: the questionable 'essential' items for sale on Trade Me
Saturday, 18 April 2020
Thousands of essential items can now be bought on Trade Me to help people through the Covid-19 lockdown.
But some of the goods deemed 'essential' leave questions as to why.
Trade Me said its members were able to buy and sell essentials, such as baby gear, clothing, electronics, homeware, mobile phones, and car parts.
Here are some of the more questionable items for sale during Alert Level 4:
**READ MORE:
* Coronavirus: The slightly curious but essential items you can buy in lockdown
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* Coronavirus: A breakdown of which shops are open during lockdown
* Mitre 10, Briscoes join Smiths City and The Warehouse in selling essentials during lockdown
* Coronavirus: Kiwi man offers Dettol sanitiser for $60 per bottle**
CERAMIC CAT TEA POTS
On Wednesday, four colourful ceramic cat tea pots sold for $61.
They were listed as being in 'perfect condition' for sale and had been in the same family for 30 years.
A member of the public, who contacted Stuff about the listing, asked the website why it was being sold as an essential item.
It claimed the tea pot was considered essential as it fell under the home and living category.
CAMOUFLAGE THONG
A 'prey camo thong' is also available.
It says in its description that it is considered essential and can be shipped during lockdown for $25.99.comment.
CREATIVE WHACK PACK
A 64-card pack in 'great condition' was listed as a great tool for teachers, project managers and anyone working with a group.
The cards were said to be considered a 'valuable tool for brainstorming ideas'.
ASSORTED EMOJI ERASERS
A pack of 24 funny faced emoji erasers can be bought during the lockdown.
That's despite the fact the product will be shipped from the United States and take up to 30 days to be delivered.
The buy now price for the erasers is $55.81 - but shipping is free.
WATER SAVING TAP
Another item that is available for purchase during lockdown that will be sent from either the United States or the United Kingdom is this tap.
The water-saving tap connects to a faucet and has an adjustable jet for softer or stronger spray.
MAKE-UP
Also on the list is a Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy blush.
It 'gives you the freshest flush' and is a 'fresh colour that lasts'. Perfect for video conferences while working from home.
HIGH HEELS
Despite people not being able to leave the house except for essential purposes, a 'mysterious pump' is up for sale on Trade Me.
The item's description says it is classified as essential and can ship as normal under the lockdown - although there may be some minor delays.
The shoes are available at a discounted buy now price of $84.
Trade Me head of trust and safety George Hiotakis said the company had taken guidance from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on what could be sold.
'Our trust and safety team monitors the site constantly for anyone breaching these rules and will remove anything that fails to meet these restrictions. However, with millions of listings on [the] site, we don't vet every listing before it goes on [the] site,' he said.
Hiotakis said anyone with concerns about listings could report them through the site's community watch section.