BlogHer - Why I Love eBay - Comments

Thanks

SarahLynn82 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:30:09 -0500

I found this backtracking through my site counter. Thanks for the link to my blog. :) I definitely check ebay first for a good deal.

*~Sarah Lynn~* http://tunaynamahal.blogspot.com/

Only certain things

Maria Niles — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:23:56 -0600

Thanks for your comment, Tracy and happy hunting :)

I don't buy clothing online because I need to see it and try it on. And I'd be happy to get a thrill of finding some of the cool vintage purchases I've made in real life. But eBay provides the ability to shop garages and antiques shops across the country, in the middle of the night while wearing pajamas and find exactly what I'm looking for. Online shopping is in the mix but not the only way I shop.

eBay doesn't do it for me.

Tracy Evans — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:55:12 -0600

eBay doesn't do it for me. I need to feel, touch and look at things up close. Internet shopping just doesn't compare to the thrill of walking into a store. But if you gals find what your looking for on eBay more power to you.

The Moxie Report. Giggles. Gaffes. Girl Talk. From television producer, writer and mom Tracy Evans. http://themoxiereport.blogspot.com

Freecycle karma

Maria Niles — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:07:23 -0600

Yours is powerfully good (no surprise), my friend. Amazing scores :)

And what a great source eBay has been for you over the years. I forgot to mention that one of the other things I love about eBay is that I signed up early enough on that I have my most favorite screen name there.

Thanks for sharing your finds!

BlogHer Contributing Editor
PopConsumer
Beyond Help

I love love eBay

Mata H — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:00:05 -0600

I started buying on eBay when they still were totaling the number of items sold! And that number was less than 500,000. "Check ebay first" is my mantra. I have gotten so much there -- from a hand tied oriental rug from a dealer in Pakistan (10 yrs ago), to a Hopalog Cassidy plate to give to an old friend who had fond memories of his childhood one, vintage linens, drapes, fabric, Native American jewelry, expensive brand name purses slightly used, and so on.

As for freecycle, I am crazy about them.

Two big freecycle.org scores (for FREE, obviously) :
1. My darling bichon doggie.
2. A genuine Eames chair and ottoman. Needs slight reupholstering.

I love the idea of alternate economies!

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Why I Love eBay

Maria Niles — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 21:21:40 -0600

I am an infrequent eBay buyer. Though my shopping is rare, when I do visit eBay, whether it is just researching some item or style that caught my eye or specifically seeking something I need to purchase, I always find lots of fascinating stuff to check out.

My first experience with eBay was looking for pottery and kitchenware similar to items that stocked my grandmother's kitchen and gave me fond memories of spending time there. Many of the things she once owned had passed on to other family members or were lost or broken. I found a number of items that looked familiar and purchased a few to fill in the collection which decorates my kitchen and conjures fond memories of baking, cooking, sipping tea, eating and talking with my grandmother in her kitchen.

Although eBay started as a place for founder Pierre Omidyar to trade Pez dispensers, as it grew it became an online mall for many full blown businesses. When my last cell phone needed a new battery I decided to check out eBay. Sure enough, I was able to find an inexpensive replacement battery from a large seller of electronics. By doing so I was able to keep my perfectly working phone and inexpensive cell plan for four years. Although that might me as a Luddite, my by-today's-standards bulky cell phone without a camera or data plan perfectly suited my needs and by spending less than $10.00 on eBay I was able to save hundreds by not purchasing a new phone or upping my plan.

Sometimes I'll come across a cute bag or vintage dishware pattern and I want to learn more about it. Whether I start at Google or head straight to eBay, invariably I find myself there scoping out pictures of something someone is selling. Even if I'm not in the market that day I often gain valuable information to store away for when I am ready to shop.

Today I picked up a nightstand that I purchased on eBay.

I needed a nightstand and had been checking Craigslist but I was having trouble coming across anything that struck my fancy. I tried eBay and struck gold. Much of the furniture that I love (I'm a mid-century modern fan) seems to reside in Pennsylvania and Florida and shipping is costly and time consuming. So I limited my searches to sellers within 200 miles of me and a seller about 90 minutes away had one for sale and she wasn't offering shipping, only pickup. This worked in my favor as it limited the potential buyers. Still, bidding was vigorous. I watched the bidding, set my alarm so I could see where things were at when the auction closed early in the morning and I put in a last minute educated guess of a bid that won me the table. As an added bonus, I was able to arrange the day so that I stopped near the seller and enjoyed some crafty time with CE's Deb Roby and Leslie Madsen-Brooks. I got a lovely vintage table and a wonderful social day out of the deal. No wonder I love eBay!

Are you an eBay shopper or seller? Or perhaps a fan of Craigslist, Freecycle or other auction or sale sites? Share your stories in the comments!

Other bloggers who love eBay:

Megan at A Look Into My World: i LOVE ebay!

Not Nigella: I LOVE Ebay (naughty lamps possibly NSFW)

Sarah Lynn at Tunay Na Mahal: "God, I LOVE ebay! If I'm ever looking for something, I always check ebay first to see if I can get a good deal."

Silge's Fashion: Why I Love Ebay (In Norwegian and English)

stef at we heart this: We heart Ebay

VerWaynia: My new obsession

Bloggers less than thrilled with eBay:

Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend: Pro-Prop 8 Meg Whitman of eBay mulls CA gubernatorial run

Hillary DePiano of The Whine Seller: Editorial: But eBay! I don't want to sign up ...

BlogHer CE Maria Niles is considering becoming a seller as part of her "Operation Prepare to Move" which is chronicled on her personal blog PopConsumer.