Man unknowingly buys item off eBay from his Dad who he has never met
(Picture: Twitter/@@rosscolquhoun)Who would’ve thought eBay would bring families together?
According to one man, the auction platform resulted in him reuniting with his long-lost sister who he had never met before.
It all started when Ross Colquhoun bought a football match programme from a user on eBay prior to the pandemic, which would turn out to be his dad he has never met.
Colquhoun shared that it was a programme for a Hearts v Liverpool game and team sheets.
“I've always had an affinity with Liverpool because one of the few facts I knew about my dad's mum was that she was from Liverpool,” he wrote on Twitter in response to a comment.
It's alright. I actually saved the photo of what I bought from the listing. It was Hearts v Liverpool programmes and team sheets. I've always had an affinity with Liverpool because one of the few facts I knew about my Dad's Mum was that she was from Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/WRIG0m8b93
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) January 10, 2022
After he purchased the item, the 37-year-old received a refund and a message from the seller, who revealed he was his father.
Since that moment, Colquhoun has been dedicating his time to getting to know the other side of his family he never had before.
That led to him meeting his sister Erin for the first time in a sweet reunion.
“Just before the pandemic started, without knowing, I bought something on eBay from my Dad, who I’ve never met. He refunded it,” he began his Twitter thread explaining his story.
“Two years later it’s started me on a journey to get to know my family that I didn’t grow up with. And tonight I met my sister Erin for the first time,” he added alongside a picture of the two.
Just before the pandemic started, without knowing, I bought something on eBay from my Dad, who I’ve never met. He refunded it.
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) January 10, 2022
Two years later it’s started me on a journey to get to know my family that I didn’t grow up with. And tonight I met my sister Erin for the first time. pic.twitter.com/uGIFVCLBpX
“We laughed, we cried, and we shared stories. It felt like we’d known each other our entire lives. I was extremely nervous, but it was an absolutely beautiful and life affirming experience,” he shared.
We laughed, we cried, and we shared stories. It felt like we’d known each other our entire lives.
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) January 10, 2022
I was extremely nervous, but it was an absolutely beautiful and life affirming experience.
He also described specifics about their first encounter and revealed that they “talked about our lives and experiences, which seem remarkably similar.”
The two both resided in Scotland.
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“Erin studied at Glasgow School of Art, whereas I attended Edinburgh College of Art,” he wrote.
“The trepidation is still there, but I'm really looking forward to meeting the family members I've yet to meet,” he added.
We talked about our lives and experiences, which seem remarkably similar. Erin studied at Glasgow School of Art, whereas I attended Edinburgh College of Art.
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) January 11, 2022
The trepidation is still there, but I'm really looking forward to meeting the family members I've yet to meet.
As for what the experience taught him, he’s has a valuable lesson he’d like to share with everyone.
“If you have family members that you have never met it can be very difficult to process. I hope that these tweets comfort and inspire others to take the next step,” he said.
Thank you for all the lovely messages. It's been a bit overwhelming. I've read every single one of them.
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) January 11, 2022
If you have family members that you have never met it can be very difficult to process. I hope that these tweets comfort and inspire others to take the next step.
In the comments, people shared their appreciation for the man’s vulnerability in sharing his story with the world.
Some people even shared their own similar experiences of reuniting with long-lost families.
Love these stories. How mental is that though. Ebay of all places. Literally millions of sales each day and you bought off him. What’s the chances? Chuffed for you mate. I have 3 stepbrothers i didn’t know about til I met my old man, I was 25.
— Mr Blue Sky 🇬🇧🏴🇬🇧 (@LoneRanger1872) January 11, 2022
What a brilliant story, Ross, and what a great way to start 2022.
— mandy rhodes (@holyroodmandy) January 10, 2022
Amazing!! I found my half sister through genes connected about 18 years ago. Turns out that her mum sat behind me in the church choir and I was at my nephews christening, unknowingly!! Neither of us want to know our father, but we have each other.
— Thismummyruns 🏴🇪🇺 (@Thismummyruns1) January 10, 2022
Ross, this is an amazing story. I hope it all goes well.
— Stewart Hosie MP (@StewartHosieSNP) January 10, 2022
