Collectors, Rejoice: eBay’s Live Treasure Hunts Have Landed In Australia

Is there a bigger dopamine hit than blending nostalgia and shopping? Heartbreak High actor and disability advocate Chloe Hayden is all for that warm feeling you get when you snag a collectible or rare find online.

Propelled by her new fascination with Pokémon trading cards, Chloe recently hosted her first eBay Live event—part of the official launch of the live shopping platform that’s finally hit Aussie shores after rolling out in the US, UK and Germany.

Image Credit: Donna Demaio | Supplied

A Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat x Van Gogh card in mint condition, worth around $1200, even sold for one cent during a “penny drop” auction in the stream.

“I love Pokémon. I love trading cards. When I was a little girl, my mum would take me to op shops and markets and look on eBay for vintage trading cards. And I loved it,” she tells UL.

“It was such an intrinsic part of my childhood. And then only a couple of months ago, I started to get really into collecting Pokémon cards.”

Chloe admits that when she was around seven years old, she’d use her half-hour of allocated computer time trawling eBay after watching her mum sell a heap of things online.

The hunt is part of the fun, says Chloe, who’s one of nearly eight million Aussies who actively collect.

“As someone that’s ADHD and very dopamine driven, it’s such an easy thing to use—which can be very dangerous,” she giggles.

Image Credit: Donna Demaio | Supplied

Stats from eBay research show Aussies love the thrill of unexpected finds, with nearly half admitting that FOMO drives their purchases. Finding something from your childhood, completing a set or discovering hidden treasures all help spark connection and buzz.

More eBay research reveals 40% of Aussies are keen to shop live so they can browse, buy and interact in real time.

Chloe says the platform also makes collecting more accessible. “I live in the middle of nowhere. It’s not accessible for me to meet up with people and do these things that are live and in person. So being able to do it from my phone and still have that interactive experience is part of the fun—if not most of the fun.”

“It just makes it accessible for people that can’t access events, or where events just aren’t happening, or for those who are maybe disabled or unable to leave their homes for other reasons.”

“It means we can be part of that community just as much as people attending in-person events.

Stats also show that one in two Aussies have missed out on a rare item they wanted to buy.

“Australians love a great deal and the thrill of the chase, but they also crave authentic experiences,” says Alaister Low, Country Manager of eBay Live Australia. When she’s not trading Pokémon cards—and since Heartbreak High wrapped—Chloe’s back on the farm with her beloved horses, scuba diving after getting her licence, and doing things that make her happy.

Her interactive shopping stream is among the first for the platform, which plans to roll out more one-off celebrity auctions and plenty more live streams soon.

Main Image Credit: Donna Demaio | Supplied