"Online auction site eBid.net has been secretly hiding a number of "Treasure Hunt" listings throughout their 9,000 product categories over the past couple of days. Each "Treasure Hunt" item listed is a popular product that, when found, can be won for free simply by clicking the "BuyNow" button on the auction page.

Each "Treasure Hunt" listing will be identified by a picture declaring "Treasure Hunt Winner." To make things harder, the picture will not be shown in any search results or category listings, and no keywords can be searched to giveaway the listings.

Successful treasure hunters will have their prizes delivered before the New Year completely free of charge. The number of "Treasure Hunt" listings will remain a guarded secret but 24 hours after the last one is found a notice will be placed in the News forum of eBid.

eBid founder Mark Wilkinson said, "Every year at this time the eBid community runs a "Secret Santa" Christmas gift list. This has been going on for many years and the gifts previously swapped have brought lots of smiles. This year we decided to add more fun and games with our own treasure hunt. It's another way for us to say thank you to the whole eBid community for making 2009 an amazing record breaking year."

Founded in 1999, eBid is a global company with a presence in 18 territories across the US and Canada, UK, Europe, Asia and Australasia.