Scary Times aka A Fresh Start

Originally posted: 10/15/2008
Well, my time on ebay is nearly over. I have to say I'm more scared than sad at this point. I really can't remember a time when I didn't have ebay to fall back on if I overspent for the week on groceries or gas. Also, I depend on it for Christmas money......and money to support my habits of hoarding dolls and toys. I used to know I could just go home and dig something out to sell and I could make up for it. I'm hoping my new ventures will be successful, but there is a lot of unknown right now so I'm definitely scared, as well I should be in this economy. I will admit I truly won't miss ebay. Some of the stuff I deal with is outrageous. Take for instance this guy I'm dealing with right now. First he sends me an email and says to go ahead and send him an invoice, but to send it for $2 less. I'm confused and I'm assuming that he is too so I just ignore it and send him his invoice. Then I get another email from him telling me that he really wants this doll, but in order for him to be happy, I'm going to have to send him some extras in the box, specifically he wants me to send him some shoes and a stand, then he'll be pleased. I get another email from him to let me know that he's decided to send payment. Later in the day, he sends me one more that instructs me to just go ahead and send the doll to him and then after she arrives, he'll send me the money he thinks I deserve for the items that I sent him. What?? This isn't a barter system here. I sent him an email that just told him that he has to pay the amount the auction ended at, then I send him the doll exactly as pictured, end of story. Sadly, he's not a new ebayer, he's been around, but this is the type of mentality that sellers are having to deal with now because of ebay's new feedback systems. I'm sure he'll leave me a negative because I didn't do as he instructed, forget that I followed all the ebay rules. It's now the buyer's rules because we can't do anything about it. Yes, I certainly won't miss ebay in that sense. I would say since this feedback system started, I've seen my non-paying bidders double. Maybe a little less than double, but what's the diff, it's way more than it was and I can't do anything about it. I'm happy to give ola.com a try and leave ebay behind for awhile. Hell, I'm nothing if not adventurous, I grew up in the time of pinched leg pants, legwarmers, and parachute pants. If tacky '80s clothes don't get you ready for living life on the edge than nothing will.