Velvet Underground Record To Be Re-auctioned

Remember that huge payday that was coming to Montreal record store clerk Warren Hill for his ultra-rare Velvet Underground album? Well, it turns out the final bid was, in fact, a complete fake.

The non-buyer, "mechadaddy," is a young man from California who apparently thought it was hilarious to bid U.S.$155,000 for the record on eBay, and probably thought it was kind of funny when he won. But things got less humourous when the man had to email Hill to tell him he wouldn't be purchasing the item.

"Seriously, I can barely afford gas for my car to get to work," was part of the message Hill got through eBay.

Hill was selling the item through Saturn Records in Oakland, California. They had the option to report a false bidder to eBay, which may have led to legal repercussions, but Hill isn't interested in that.

"I'm not going to sue him," he told the Associated Press on Wednesday from Montreal. "I just want to sell it."

The record is back on eBay. Bidding ends on Dec. 21.

Hill bought the acetate, which contained demos that ended up on The Velvet Underground & Nico, in New York four years ago at a flea market for a scant 75 cents.