If it can't maintain its clout as a tech-forward auction platform, eBay — which remains one of the most trusted online labels for privacy advocates — could perhaps reposition itself as a crowdsourced bailout site: At least one flailing magazine publisher successfully used the site to find a buyer for his business.

Tim Lindquist, publisher of Hardcore Gamer, felt he was not enough of a businessman to continue publishing in a time of significantly reduced advertising, but he failed on his own to find investors or buyers for the publication. Instead, he put it up for auction on eBay — and an hour before the bid expired, an entrepreneur who recently sold his videogame business asked Lindquist to stop the auction, offering slightly more than the $42,000 auction price, reports The New York Times (via MediaBuyerPlanner).

Lindquist's eBay listing offered intellectual property rights, back issues, subscription lists, customer lists, vendor lists, employee contracts, advertising contacts, Web sites and domain names associated with Hardcore Gamer, and more.

The buyer was not named in the article, as negotiations are still pending. Lindquist expects he will work for the new owner; the sale should be completed this week.