Video: Body Parts for Sale

In this tough economy wouldn’t it be great to earn a little extra cash and help others at the same time? 

You can, simply by selling your most valuable assests.  Did you know, you can earn hundreds of dollars by selling your hair?  And that’s not the only body part that generates big bucks.

The 1984 National Organ Transplantation Act makes it illegal to sell your organs, like a kidney or part of your liver. 

But companies can compensate donors for their time.  These days, compensation pays pretty well.   

With the economy the way it is, wouldn’t it be great to be rolling in dough?  These days extra cash can come from taking advantage of valuable personal assets, like your hair.

Thehairtrader.com is a website where sellers like Robbie Keen say they can earn a pretty penny for their precious locks.  “It’s very easy there are some ladies that sell their hair for thousands of dollars.“

She’s right.  Buyers on that website have sold their hair for as low as $150 to as high as $2,500.  The longer your hair, the more money you can make.

Here are the guidelines:  Hair must be a minimum 10 inches long.  Virgin, unprocessed hair is preferred.  And what ever you do, don’t cut your hair before you sell it. A buyer may want the hair packaged and cut a certain way.

Keen has yet to find a buyer for her 12 inch long hair, but she’s confident she will.  She said, “My hair is special because it’s never been treated colored, permed; it’s just natural, beautiful, red hair.“

When the right buyer does come along, Keen will use the money to purchase a high quality wig for her mother who lost her own hair battling lung cancer.

For others it’s a way to pay the bills.  Since August, 2008, activity on the Hairtrader website has increased by 45%.

Jacalyn Elise, founder of thehairtrader.com said, “Many people have sold their hair basically because they were behind on their mortgage payments, rent and car payments, and we have been able to help many people out.“

Helping others is what one 23-year-old woman hopes to do.  She stands to earn a lot of money by selling her eggs.  In some states up to $20,000.  “I’m helping someone and that they appreciate it that someone’s really happy about this.“

Egg donors provide a vital service to infertile women and the need for donors is great. 

In Alabama the average waiting period for a woman to receive donated eggs is six months.  In other states the wait can be up to two years.

Dr. Michael Steinkampf with Alabama Fertility Specialists said he wishes more women would consider becoming egg donors.  “There are many more patients than there are donors, that’s all I can say.“

At his practice, women are paid $3,000 per egg donation.  Donors must be in their early 20’s, and no older than 32.  They must have a spotless medical history and be willing to take daily injections of fertility drugs.  They must undergo an outpatient procedure under sedation to retrieve the eggs.

One woman, who didn’t want us to use her name, donated 28 of her eggs at a clinic in another state, and plans to make another donation.

Dr. Steinkampf said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for them to help other people.“

Men also have a chance to help other people and earn up to $12,000 dollars a year by donating their sperm.

There are no sperm banks in Alabama.  The nearest one is in Atlanta.

Becoming a sperm donor isn’t easy.  95% of the men who apply don’t make the cut.

So do you have what it takes?  You must be between the ages of 18 and 38 with a very high sperm count, 400 to 500 million, which is twice the norm.  Donors must have a good medical history, and ideally be good looking and college educated.

If sperm donation isn’t for you, try donating your plasma.  That’s the liquid portion of blood which is packed with protiens and antibodies and used to make life saving drugs.

10 million of the 12 million liters of plasma collected annually comes from paid donors.
Seyth Gambron is a frequent donor in Birmingham.  He said, “I came up here to save a life and they paid you for it so we’ve been coming back ever since then.“

Another Birmingham donor, Josh Lewis said, “I still come here and donate blood so I can help somebody out. And the little extra money helps with the gas prices you know.“

Most donors come twice a week and are paid $30 per visit. Each visit takes about an hour.

To donate plasma you must be 18 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds.  You must be in good health and be free of communicable diseases.

Christina Young donates plasma frequently in Birmingham.  She said there are two reasons she does it, “Well, looking for money or what ever, but honestly to save people’s lives because that’s what I’m all about ‘cause I would like for them to do the same thing for me.“

You can also earn some extra cash by volunteering for a clinical trial.  If you’re willing to be a human guinea pig, you could earn $40-800 per study.  Just check your local paper to find clinical trials near you.

Giving to others while earning a few extra dollars, for some in this tough economy, it’s not a bad idea.