What's inside The Onion's $4,250.99 black box?

It may not be April Fools', but don't tell that to The Onion. On Monday, the satire magazine posted news of its fake sale to a fictional Chinese company called Yu Wan Mei that specializes in "amalgamated salvage fisheries and polymer injection."

Along with changes to all of The Onion's front page content, the site's online store underwent a revamp with some humorous entries. The best? A $4,250.99 mystery device with no purpose or explanation besides three glowing LEDs and what looks like a cell phone antenna. Its description simply reads "the device has been completed and is now available for sale. Code 41-Virtue-00B."

Amusingly enough, you can get as far as adding the item to your cart and going through checkout, although you can't actually make the purchase. However the T-shirts on the site are real. More products can be found on Yu Wan Mei's site, which is--of course, fictional.

The lights are there for your protection, and obedience.

(Credit: The Onion)

[sherbisness]

I hate to say this, but it looks like a remote controlled bomb, and that isn't funny these days.

[costfra]

Grow a pair and quit b*tching about fake terrorists and bombs that don't exist. Let me guess, you live in Boston, MA and were one of the panicked and outraged Bostonians when the Aqua Teen Hunger Force animators put up all of those harmless light brite advertisements for their animated ATHF movie?

[subtextual]

Yes, gone are the days of crude fertilizer and semtex based devices in litter bins, cars and planes. Terrorists are so vain nowadays that they manufacture their bombs with precision design, high quality man-made materials, careful manufacture, and an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Seriously, were you dropped on your head at birth or something?

[MadHalaster]

In response to: Amusingly enough, you can get as far as adding the item to your cart and going through checkout, although you can't actually make the purchase.

I placed the order for this item, and it went through. My bank actually just called me to let me to make sure it was me who placed a $4300 order with my credit card.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

Whoa really? I called the customer service line, and they said the transaction would cancel out before hitting the confirmation page.

[MadHalaster]

Thank you for your purchase from The Onion Store. The details of your order are below. After your order has shipped, you will receive a shipping confirmation email.

Onion Store
------------------------------------------------------
Order number : 382###
Order date : 2009-07-20 17:29:55
Email : ###########@gmail.com
Phone : ###-###-7957


Products
------------------------------------------------------
1 x Yu Wan Mei Device 4250.99USD
------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal 4250.99USD
UPS - Ground 55.00USD
Total 4305.99USD

From my email confirmation of my order.

[Kev_Orng]

For $4250.99, shipping should be included. Robbers!

[MadHalaster]

So I got another email today regarding the order I placed:
The Yu Wan Mei Device is now ready for sale. Thank you for your order #382###. We are happy to let you know that many of our most efficient Chinese women and children are assembling your order. This product takes 4 weeks to ship direct from China. Batteries not included. No returns.

We thank you again for your order! We will contact you with tracking number once it ships. Thank you, no returns.


Your Device features include:

Digital counter starting at 999,999,999
Patented random ticking mechanism
High quality audio Chinese Anthem on infinite loop
Video projector of our great and illustrious Chinese leaders
Antenna
Heat generator
Sharp edges honed from Chinese sword master
Red blinking lights, randomly accompanied by loud siren noise
Requires 12 AA batteries, 4 D batteries, 7 AAA batteries.

[bobclaster]

Omigod, that sounds so awesome! I hope they actually do whip together something like that and send it to you. And I also sort of hope that they keep your money!

[bathmateus]

Very nice posting. Thanks.
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