One of my favourite stories that makes me look super normal *cough* is about Twilight memorabilia.
It was a typical Friday afternoon. I was faffing around on the Internet working hard when I came across a website where you can buy old props and costumes from the movies.
I was checking out signed scripts from Ghostbusters when I noticed it. A sidebar ad, advertising a special auction of props and costumes from the Twilight movie. An auction of actual Twilight movie memorabilia?
I clicked. You know, just to have a look.
I’ll confess to loving a bit of Twilight. I read the books. And watched all the movies. Even the ones that were SUPER bad. I was intrigued to see what they’re selling. The answer is – they were selling everything that wasn’t nailed down.
It was hilarious.
Weird and Wonderful Twilight Memorabilia
You would not BELIEVE some of the Twilight HISTORY that you could buy at this auction. Sure there were costumes from key characters, and major props like engagement rings, wall art and the like. But some of the stuff? Was completely random.
I’m still concerned about the person who paid $1600 for Bella’s bedding. And I’m frankly scared at the idea that someone paid $700 for Edwards’s shirt that he wore while delivering his own baby (complete with blood stains). Other highlights included Mike Newton’s high school diploma? ($250). How about three movie tickets for Face Punch, the fake movie that Bella saw on her date with Mike ($1000. EACH).
You could even buy the furniture from most of the film’s houses. I mean, there have to be easier ways to buy a wardrobe.
How it Started
Flea and I had an hour to kill between a hockey match and a coaching session on Friday afternoon. We sat in a coffee shop, and I was showing her the Twilight memorabilia auction. We wondered what the cheapest item was to buy.
“Let’s find the cheapest thing there is, and buy it,” said Flea.
“We could but there’s three hours left to go,” I said. “Loads of people bid at the very last-minute for these sort of things.”
I thought about it for about, ooh, two seconds.
We decided to bid on something. Just for a laugh.
The cheapest item in the auction at that point was a set of three candlestick holders from Edward and Bella’s wedding table. They were currently at $150. The minimum bid was $200.
“Let’s do it.”
Bid placed, we headed back to hockey.
And then it all went wrong
A few hours later, I was about to go to bed when I realised the Twilight auction was probably closed. I loaded up the website and realised there was 40 minutes left. And at $200 I was still the high bidder.
At this point, it occurred to us both that we might actually end up buying the candlesticks. Just in case, I clicked on the “get a shipping estimate” button. “I bet it’s going to cost like a hundred dollars,” I joked to Flea.
The shipping cost wasn’t $100.
Nope. Actually, in the event I actually ended up buying these three candlesticks it would cost me FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS to ship my new Twilight memorabilia to the UK.
Oh shit.
How could it possibly be so expensive? I buy stuff from the US all the time and I’ve never paid anything like that for shipping. I looked a bit more closely at the photo of the candlesticks.
Oh.
I thought they were 20 centimetres tall. Nope. 20 inches. 20. Sodding. Inches.
They’re gigantic bloody table centrepieces.
The way these auction sites work is that when you view the catalogue, a) you provide your credit card number upfront. If you win an auction, you’re charged immediately. Also, once you bid, you can’t withdraw the bid.
It’s fine. Somebody else will bid. Somebody else is bound to bid. They have to bid. Right?
Half an hour later I’m in bed, watching the clock count down on the Twilight memorabilia auction. Two minutes to go, and I’m still the high bidder. 90 seconds. 65 seconds.
64 seconds before the auction ended, a message flashed up: “You have been outbid.”
The part where I go insane
Honestly, I can’t rationally explain what happened next. You know that scene in Twilight where Edward explains what happens when a vampire tastes blood? It was a bit like that: “A sort of frenzy begins and it’s almost impossible to stop”
Suffice to say, I’ve learned two things about myself this weekend:
- I have a problem with competitiveness.
- I can never, ever be allowed near an Internet auction again.
As I watched the clock counting down the last 30 seconds of the auction, a little voice in my head shouted, “I DON’T THINK SO, MOFO.”
I added another bid.
“Congratulations, you have won this lot!”
Oh Dear God, what have I done?
The downside of this situation is that I now have to pay a quite frankly ludicrous amount of money to ship three enormous candlestick holders across the Atlantic.
The upside is that Flea’s wedding (and she HAS to have one now, I don’t care who it’s to) is going to have a SUPER unique table centrepiece. Then at least I’ll know I got my money’s worth.
The Twilight Memorabilia Update:
Many, many people have asked to see my Twilight Memorabilia. Truth be told, I actually sold one of the candlestick holders to someone who read this post, so I did eventually recoup my shipping costs. But these two have pride of place now at family dinners. I kind of love them.
That amount of money is insane, what did you bid in the end? You left that out haha. How cool though when Flea does get married to have an awesome retro centrepiece from a romantic moment in cinematic history.
Oh goodness, I can’t think about the total, I might start to feel faint.
This is the best thing I’ve read on the internet all month and it’s totally something I would do!
So glad it’s not just me!
And this is why I love you!
Snort.
Best Whittle Story EVER. Even beats the street cleaning one.
Proud face.
Oh my goodness this is like something I would do. My most insane late night purchase was £177 worth of crap from Wish. I still keep getting random things turn up that I’m questioning my sanity for buying
How can you even spend that much at Wish??? hilarious.
You do realise that I have been waiting over on Twitter for TWO DAYS? Biting my nails. Refusing to eat. Not sleeping. Congratulations, now – stay away from the auctions, whatever will you end up with next?!
I am never ever going to an online auction ever again.
Only you would do this! Fricking hilarious, Sally. Where will you store it in the mean time? Or do plan to have it on display?
Depends how big it is 🙂
This has made my morning! Have you decided where they are going to live until Flea’s big day….? May the candlesticks bring you much love and joy x
Honestly, I’m going to have to wait until they arrive and see how huge they actually are. Gulp.
I love this! My friend recently “won” Rob Morgan’s headstone from the TV show “Stella”. At least it makes a great Halloween prop! As well as using them for Flea’s wedding you could also hire them out for weddings and events? You might even make your money back eventually.
I’m thinking there are a lot of Twilight themed social events in our future.
This is hilarious! I can’t believe you did that, I bet Flea is in stitches! x
She laughed so hard she almost strained something.
OMG you crazy lady! Only you could do this. Lol. Made me giggle though. Perhaps it would be better to fly over and pick them up yourself? At least you’d then get a holiday out of it? x
Totes should have thought of that earlier.
Or you could get married- it doesn’t have to be flea!!
Bit extreme. But worth considering.
Oh my word, I’m sat here crying with laughter. My husband asked what was up and now I’m trying to read it to him and I can’t. It’s just too funny. I’m not sure what it says about me that I totally get it. What is the name of the site? Asking for a friend….
Prop Shop or Prop Store or something. I don’t know, but I can never go back.
I actually don’t know what to say! I think you should just not wait for the wedding, and have them on your table for Christmas lunch. That’s an instagram post I’d love to see!
You’re struck silent with wonder and awe, I can tell.
OMG! $500 for shipping! I hope you’ve bought the flight and going to pick them up personally for that amount. I know I would!
After reading this, I was literally laughing to myself…only you can carry off this remarkable post in an interesting way! kudos!
This is awesome and made me laugh so much. I love these and would totally have done the same. You need to bring these out for every occasion. What a story, they have x
Oooh I need to catch my breath, this was such a funny read! ♥️