eBay misspellings lead to bargains

So when I was about 12 years old my brother and I listed a signed Vladimir Guerrero rookie card on eBay. It would have sold for at least $50 but, in my haste, I spelled his name "Valdimir." We got less than $20 for it and my brother was peeved.

So I was amused to learn that there are now a few free websites designed to help eBay shoppers capitalize on misspellings. Today's Wall Street Journalreports (subscription required) that Auction Bloopers, Missing-Auctions and Typo Buddy all provide free services that will search for various common misspellings.

These sites probably help sellers as much as buyers by increasing the audience so that that "Van Go" original doesn't sell for 93 cents.

Of course if your "Typo Buddy" search turns up a "Lewie Vitong" bag, it's probably not such a bargain.