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Previous Columns:
A Wooden Block Worth its Weight in Gold
It's Not What's on the Surface That Really Matters
Seven Mantras to Survive The Sleepover
What a Surprise (After the party nonsense)
The Greatest Gift of All (Birthday related nonsense)
Heatwole: Hero, Criminal, or Scapegoat?
Cell phone conversations: the new reality show
Life doesn't necessarily fit into pre-made forms
If only [what hangs on] these walls could talk
What I did for summer vacation
The red and the gray: a not too civil war
A fair weather friend she's not
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The eBay Bug
"One man's trash is another man's treasure." ~ Anon.
"But if you don't want it, I'll take it, with pleasure." ~ Me
I know I'm several years late to the game, but I've just discovered the wonderful world of selling on eBay.
Last fall, I purchased an electronics item on clearance for my system at the local Office Depot. It was the wrong version so I filed it away thinking "someday...eBay."
Every week or so, I'd think about checking into selling the item, but let it slide. I might go to the site and read a bit about how to sell, and then let it be and move onto something else.
I'm here to tell you, I could kick myself seven different ways around the block for not having done this sooner. That item I mentioned? Turns out, it's a discontinued product that some people are clamoring to get their hands on. These same people are also ready and willing to part with a wad of cash that makes me dizzy.
At the end of the auction, the net profit was equal to a nice night out on the town, announced by an email with "You've got cash!" It was that easy. It cost a few bucks to list and use PayPal to collect the payment, but it was worth every profitable penny.
I eyed the shelves in my house and noticed some old Apple software that I no longer had a need for. Did a quick search on eBay and found yet another thing other people seemed to want. It sold too, equal to another night on the town.
Last weekend arrived and much to my chagrin, only two rummage sales were advertised in the area. I bought some items that I thought maybe someone might want and be willing to pay more than I did for them. I was right. Amazingly so.
I hit consignment shops, estate sales and the antiques district with a vengeance last week. Note: antique dealers, professional estate sellers, and consignment shop owners typically already understand what an item will sell for on eBay.
The flea markets proved to be a little better and one moving sale yielded an item that should double the investment, according to similar past sales, at least.
I must say I have the fever. "I wonder what that would fetch on eBay?" spills from my mouth twenty-seven times a day.
In my quest for collecting inventory to sell, I've turned the house upside down. In the basement I found some old tools I'm sure my husband no longer needs. While there isn't really anything in my office I want to part with, my husband's office is chock full of things I'm sure he doesn't want to keep anymore.
My daughter has an extensive Breyer horse collection and when was the last time she played with those, anyway? The oldest daughter's formal prom dresses are in storage here. Let's see, she graduated from high school over two years ago. She'll never wear those again.
My family came home to find me sitting at the computer surrounded by all their stuff I'd collected to research sales prices on eBay. When I tried to tell them how much we could make by ridding ourselves of this useless junk, they protested for some reason.
One by one, they removed their personal belongings amongst the kind of grumbling and criticism I haven't heard since the last time I tried to serve healthy food for dinner.
I was alone then, left to ponder the error of my ways and with nothing to sell.
Let's see, 13-year-old daughter, well-mannered, good student, keeps room clean. Forty-something husband, good sense of humor, handsome, does dishes.
I wonder how much that would fetch on eBay?
Copyright © 2004 Bex Hall
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