Internet’s “the egg” has competition now, from a coconut shell. After Kylie Jenner’s Instagram post on a stock image of an egg garnered 26 million likes, a product on Amazon - a coconut shell - has become the netizen’s Internet talk. It was not the fact that a normal semi-circular coconut shell is for sale an e-commerce platform, but the price at which it was being sold. The coconut shell, which is usually sold at (Rs 5) or usually lies abandoned in the backyard of several houses, is priced at Rs 1,365, that too, for half a coconut shell. This left many shell-shocked.
The product, titled Natural Coconut Shell Cup, comes with certain specifications: Holds approximately 4 1/2 ounces, approximately 1.5 tall and 4.5 wide. “This is an actual, real, coconut. Therefore, it may have cracks, dents and imperfections”, comes the warning from the seller Century Novelty. But thanks to the offers, the price fell from Rs 3,000 to Rs 1,365 and now to Rs 999, of course. The product even had an EMI option when it was priced at Rs 1,365.
This natural coconut is branded as a “tropical tableware” for a Luau party. According to the seller, no luau party is complete until everything is Hawaiian, and so the coconut cups. “You can use the Hawaiian coconut cup for serving tropical drinks or as a luau table decoration, be creative! Coconut cups are a must have Hawaiian accessory for tropical theme events like Hawaiian Luaus, corporate parties, weddings, and more. Serve up beach drinks in authentic coconut cups for an instant tropical beach atmosphere,” it reads.
The product on the Amazon international website received good reviews. A user bought a pair of the shells to go with his Halloween costume as King Arthur (from Monty Python and the Holy Grail), to clop together to make horse sounds. Some of the other uses the buyers found include to decorate a painted palm tree and to make a bicycle helmet for a stuffed lion.
The debate on the coconut shell and its price surfaced when Mahbubnagar District police chief Rema Rajeshwari IPS tweeted the screenshot of the page. Not surprisingly, the cup hilarious reactions from the Twitter users in India.
Seriously? pic.twitter.com/btViUdhFbJ
— Rema Rajeshwari IPS (@rama_rajeswari) January 15, 2019
One user wrote in Malayalam, “Coconut: I have a good hold not only here, but also in Amazon also.”
തേങ്ങ: എനിക്ക് ഇവിടെ മാത്രമല്ല അങ്ങ് ആമസോണിലും പിടിയുണ്ട്
— ManUtd (@sanoboden) January 15, 2019
Many users regretted throwing away the coconut shells at their households.
Oh no.. means my mother burns around 8 to 10 k every morning..
— whysoserious (@Ramkrushna96) January 15, 2019
Me thinking about the 1365 coconut shells we threw in the trash can last yearhttps://t.co/FwbzAoiZWN
— idlemind (@simplyfilmy) January 15, 2019
If at all I knew this earlier, I would have been a millionaire by now :(
— Aneel Kanuri (@myflyingthought) January 15, 2019
“I don't know how much of money I burned to cook!,” wrote a user, referring to the practice at many south Indian households that use coconut to fuel earthen stoves.
I don't know How much of money I burned to cook.!#funtime#shell #Coconutshell #burn. pic.twitter.com/MHUDapFlYk
— Nikhil Krishnan (@NILLKRISH) January 15, 2019
It was also a moment of nostalgia for some, especially those from Kerala, the land of coconut. “We normally use it to start a fire. Kids use it to make mannappam (idli like things made of sand),” wrote a user.
wow. didnt know that the coconut shells cost this much. we normally use it to start a fire. kids use it to make mannappam. (idli like things made of sand) #mallu #coconut #shell #chiratta #amazon #Kerala #thenga #crazypricing https://t.co/LDbrBgKzG6 @amazonIN pic.twitter.com/iuzYB6CXis
— Harikrishnan Menon (@harikrishnanc) January 14, 2019
While one user suggested giving coconut shells free of cost to anybody every day, it gave others business ideas.
Hahahha….I can give them to whoever wants it for free...everyday!
— Me (@lotusprings) January 15, 2019
I will be a crorepati soon. Found the trick .
— Anand Abhirup ଆନନ୍ଦ ଅଭିରୂପ୍ (@TheCrazy_Freak) January 15, 2019
I’ll sell a bigger one to you for 900 bucks.
— Harshal Shetty (@harshalshetty_) January 15, 2019
In fact, inspired by the high price for the coconut shell, a man in Thiripayar, Vadakkummuri, Kerala even put up post to sell coconut shells on OLX at Rs 999. “Brown And Black Ceramic Bowl - Buy this and get four free,” reads the description.
Interestingly, natural coconut shells are sold at a lesser price on other websites.
According to an advert on Indiamart, one kilogram pack of coconut shells from Thirunelveli is available for Rs 10. A coconut shell that looks as natural as the one sold on Amazon, is available for Rs 25 per kilogram.
