Caveat Emptor: Effigy Won By Mistaken Palin Fan

Rick Francis/AP

Two days ago, the infamous Sarah Palin effigy, rechristened as merely a "mannequin" to appease people, was sold to the highest bidder on eBay. After twice being yanked down, the listing finally was able to make it through the auction phase, and was won by a first-time bidder for $2,247.22 plus shipping.

However, it looks like the buyer needed to be a bit more aware; "The auction winner, who lives in Los Angeles County, thought he was bidding on a pro-Palin and pro-John McCain item and didn't realize its true nature until he heard about the auction on talk radio," the seller is reported as saying in the LA Times. The article says the mannequin is "not leaving its West Hollywood home," but doesn't say if the sale will go through; eBay's rules for bidders are quite firm, and unless the seller is amenable, the sale must go through.

The mannequin gained attention last October when West Hollywood resident ChadMichael Morrisette and his partner hung the Palin figure by a noose on his home, and claimed it was a Halloween decoration.