Spittoon Sold As ‘1960s Traditional Chinese Fruit Basket’ in Amazon at 10 Times the Normal Price

Last Updated on 2021-03-02 , 9:57 am

There are two different meanings to ‘highball’.

It could mean a rather specific and fine glass of whiskey mixed with soda.

The second, and slightly more hated one, is when someone sells an item at exponentially higher prices.

But what’s even worse than highballing someone? Marketing it as another item completely while doing the former.

Spittoon Sold As ‘1960s Traditional Chinese Fruit Basket’ in Amazon at 10 Times the Normal Price

Before we go on, we first need to know what a spittoon, also known as a chamber pot, is.

Long story short, it’s where you would spit your chewing or dipping tobacco in after using them.

This also means lots of saliva and phlegm are in these things.

Some people also use this as a porta-potty.

But you may be thinking what’s the point here.

Well, a spittoon was allegedly being sold on Amazon for roughly S$72.

This was over ten times the price on places like Taobao, which sold them for around S$5.70.

While the price hike might seem egregious, what got heads shaking even more was the next thing.

‘Traditional Fruits Basket’

You can almost feel the numbers of eyebrows being raised at the heading.

Instead of labelling it as a spittoon, however, the item was marketed as something else entirely.

Yup, your eyes do not deceive you, because that reads “1960s Chinese Traditional Fruit Basket”.

Please don’t show this to any Chinese peers or parents, your phone might get flung.

Even worse, it was recommended as a good gift for housewarmings and weddings, with photos showing it being used to store bread.

Another picture also showed it being used to hold a wine bottle, with a champagne glass at the side.

The spittoon was described as an antique fruit basket with “beautiful colours and patterns” that represent “traditional Chinese culture” and “symbolise the happiness of life”.

It also said that it could store any fruit.

The listing has since been removed from Amazon.

Netizens React

You best believe the netizens didn’t let this one slide.

It was reported that the hashtag “the other ways a spittoon is used” received more than 50 million views of comments on the Chinese social platform Sina Weibo.

One said to be wary of sending this to Chinese friends or family, and would probably be upset to see fruits in a spittoon.

However, another commented that it was interesting to see how foreigners used it.

“As long as the buyers like it, it shouldn’t matter it is ‘originally’ used for.”

Others were just in awe at how much Western buyers regarded the item.

Feature Image: Amazon Image: Arcadia News