Ad for ‘used coffin’ goes up on Facebook Marketplace

A Brisbane man says he’s been inundated with inquiries for a ‘used’ coffin he’s selling on Facebook.

“For sale: coffin, used once.”

It’s the most unusual second-hand item getting around online, and it’s being sold dirt cheap.

Banyo local Ben Skinner is the man behind the unusual sale and says the history of the white coffin with gold features was as mysterious as his ad.

The catchy five-word ad headline is designed to lure in intrigued potential buyers, but Mr Skinner said he isn’t sure where the coffin came from, or whether it had been used.

“A little dented on top from having dirt piled on it, and a little rough around the edges, but it’s still good and could definitely be used again,” the ad reads.

The ad for the ‘used’ coffin.

But that’s all just a bit of bone-rattling black humour, Mr Skinner says. He reckons he’s got no skeletons in his closet, and people should have no grave concerns that the white metal casket may have once contained a loved one’s body.

He says it hasn’t fallen off the back of a truck – or hearse – either.

“I’m in the car industry and I was at a scrap metal yard and I saw it sitting up against the shed,” he said. “The Maori guys who work there were a bit superstitious about crushing it, so I offered them $50 for it.

“I thought with Halloween coming up, someone would take it off my hands for sure.”

Ben Skinner from Banyo with the coffin he’s selling on Facebook. Picture: Annette Dew

Mr Skinner said the expensive-looking coffin, stamped as being made by American manufacturer Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions, was only slightly damaged after having been dropped somehow.

“I actually saw it on the roof of a car leaving Banyo dump,” he said.

“I was told third-hand that the dump didn’t want to take it and the Maori boys didn’t want to touch it.

“I thought it’d make a great Halloween prop for someone.

“You can sell just about anything on Facebook.”

Mr Skinner said he had been inundated with inquiries since advertising the coffin for sale at $500.

“I’m basically selling it for s--ts and giggles,” he said. “I tell people I’m ‘dead’ serious and that it’s going ‘dirt’ cheap. It tickles a few funny bones.”

The Courier-Mail sought comment from the Australian Funeral Directors Association.