Trade Me Is the Haunt of a Cash-strapped Auckland Student

An Auckland student strapped for cash has started a Trade Me auction where the winning bidder will be legally allowed to give him a new middle name.

Alex James Brown, a full-time first-year Media Design School student, hopes to raise funds to start his own business.

“The business idea is based around website hosting and design,” he said. “Not too many direct hosting companies in New Zealand use their own servers.”

“I’d base it around students more officially and hope to partner with universities so we could provide the service for under $4 a month.”

The 18-year-old, known as AJ, has set the Trade Me auction reserve at $1000 but hopes bidding will reach $5000 so he can buy his own server.

With a student loan of $9000, which will grow over his next three years of study, the Coatesville resident stated he didn’t want to land himself with more debt by trying to start his company at the same time.

“I didn’t want to get into debt with a loan and wanted to do something different,” he said. “A guy overseas did something similar a couple of years ago, and a company bought the rights to change his name.”

Brown will legally change his name for 10 years, and the only restriction he has is that it can’t be offensive. He will also donate 20 percent of the proceeds to a charity chosen by the winning bidder.

While the entrepreneur’s parents were initially unhappy with the auction, they’re now backing their son.

“There was initially some talk about disrespect because your parents give you your name, so why would you want to change it? But they’ve now said they’re happy to support me.

They’re also happy I’m showing initiative to raise money.”

Brown said he would use his new full name on Twitter, Facebook, and business cards to give it some exposure.

To change his name, Brown will have to pay $180, sign his paperwork stating his new name in front of a witness, and have the form signed by a Justice of the Peace.

Content contributed and edited by staff member, reported from Auckland, New Zealand, sourced by ap.org