Hi, I’m Reny’s husband JB. I’m here to offer my perspective on Ebay, which to me seems like a tool that I’ve been using forever. While I’ve never used Ebay as a source of income, nevertheless it has always been a powerful tool for me.
I began using Ebay some time around 1996. I’m not sure exactly when it was, but I can describe what it was like back then. Ebay had no categories. All the auctions were listed on the front page. At first, this was okay. But it didn’t really take long for Ebay to grow, and I remember it got to the point where it took a couple minutes to load the front page with a broadband connection. So Ebay created categories and started sorting things out.
Another major difference in Ebay was that back then, it was not necessary to be a “registered user.” Of course you had to have an account to bid or list. However, a registered user was someone with a confirmed identity, similar to how Paypal currently confirms bank accounts and home addresses. Around the time Ebay started requiring registration, it also implemented the feedback system.
During the early days of Ebay, most of the transactions I dealt with involved the buyer sending a check or money order to the seller, and the seller would send the item once the money cleared. This was okay because the community was still quite small, and there really wasn’t much perceived risk.
Ebay’s elevation to its current status as the defacto online auction standard really was inevitable. Personally, I’m glad it has become what it is. I know that if I am looking for something unusual and/or difficult to find, I can usually get what I want from Ebay. I’ve had great success in finding unique gifts for friends and family, and equal success in selling items that perhaps I wouldn’t have as much luck selling locally.
That said, I would advise anyone who is new to Ebay to be careful. There are many things that experienced Ebay users take for granted. Still, even I occasionally make serious mistakes. For example, when buying an item, read the fine print. There are so many scams to sell fake items or to list items in a confusing manner essentially to attract suckers. Bear in mind that “new” and “like new” are two completely different qualities.
And if you’re a seller, by all means use Paypal and be sure to follow their rules to the letter. You will get bids from scammers, and you will not always catch them before the auction ends or even before you ship the item. If you mess up any step, the buyer is likely to win any dispute.
Despite the definite risks involved with buying and selling on Ebay, it is worth using. Bottom line is, as a seller you have probably the largest possible customer base right off the bat, and it gets better as you get that feedback rating up. And as a buyer, you have a lot more control over what you get and how much you pay than if you walk into the local department store to purchase an item. What’s more, you don’t even have to leave your home.
