my love hate relationship with e-bay

[Jenn Barrette]

I have e-bay issues. I love them for clothes for the kids. I get NWT or gently used Gymboree clothes at a steal. I live in a cruddy small town, so if I want something besides Walmart clothes, online is my only option (besides driving 2.5 hrs each way)

But, I have been trying to bid on some Littlest Pet Shop lots for Christmas, and I have been outbid in the last few seconds 3 times this week! It is driving me crazy!

Any one here shop on e-bay a lot?

[ZaCola3]

I go through phases where I shop a ton, then don't for months-It's a rather $$ habit- I have a weakness for Gap, Gymboree, and all those cutie patootie clothes for Landen!
I just have to step away and forget about it!

[*Celeste*]

my guess is the winners are using sniper.
i hope you win soon!

[MissKim]

esnipe... I've used it successfully and recommend it for something you really don't want to lose.

I bought Hanna dresses for my girls. Now they're too big. Poo.

[MamaBee]

seriously? There is software that bids last min for your??? Oohh... totally have to check that out...

My hubby has band me from using Ebay... I get too excited about it and keep upping my bid because I hate to loose... LOL! My downfall are Coach bags... I can't imagine what would happen if I'm looking for J's clothes out there! ;)

[lovely1m]

I have been trying to get a Thomas train that is retired on there for my son, but I keep getting outbid, too. Mostly I use it only for stuff I can't get anywhere else, cause its frustrating.

[newfiemountiewife]

I almost got outbid on a Harry Potter Hogwart's castle I was bidding on, on Saturday night, but I upped my bid at the last second. Glad I did too! I use eBay throughout the year for hard to find stuff, or stuff that I can't find here in Canada. I also use it a lot at Christmas time to find unique or sold out things.

[AmberK]

Ive used hammersnipe before on some auctions that were ending in the middle of the night that I didnt want to wake up for. Worked like a charm!

[tjscraps]

Jenn - have you tried facebook groups? There's one near me that sells NWT and gently used kids clothes that are adorable (brand names), she goes to the city once a week or so for people to meet her. There might be something like that near you? As an alternative to having to do the whole bidding thing that is.

[DeepGirl]

I have been on eBay since 2005... that time I was University student and didn't have a bank account with credit card, so other friends with PayPal were paying for me and I gave them cash I earned in my part-time jobs afterwards :)

I buy especially CDs (the prices have been getting lower recently, but CDs are still more expensive here than in the US and even though with the postage, I save a lot... not talking about items that are not released in Europe) and craft items (punches, knives, flowers, gems...).

[nonnie]

I am an ebay addict who was also banned by my husband! I didn't even think of looking for hogwarts legos on ebay!!

[sprauncey1]

I have been trying to get a Thomas train that is retired on there for my son, but I keep getting outbid, too. Mostly I use it only for stuff I can't get anywhere else, cause its frustrating.

Which one is it? We may have it.

[sprauncey1]

I've used ebay several times to buy stuff that I cannot get in stores. Clothing and toys mostly. I did buy my camera lens on there too. THAT was a scary one, but it all worked out and I love that lens! I never knew about the snipe thing, gotta check that out before I bid next time!

[g8rbeckie]

I bought my Canon 7D on e-bay! It was gently used, was a photog's backup and he was upgrading to a second full-frame camera so I got mine for a steal. Also got the 3 year warranty he purchased (I made sure it would transfer first).

You have to be using some sort of snipe tool, because so many other people are. (my dad is an e-bay junkie; he squeals in delight when he "snipes" the WIN away at the last minute!). or you can do "buy it now", which I did with my camera because i didn't want to risk losing it and the price was rockin'.

:thumbup:

[Jenn Barrette]

I do mostly do the "buy now" ones, mostly because I am impatient. LOL I just won 4 pairs of 3T Children's Place jeans for $25! Still working on a good lot of Littest Pet Shop...

[ariesfl326]

I was addicted to Ebay a couple years ago. I even had my own store and would sell alot of items to make extra money. It's hard to make any money now thanks to all the fees with Ebay and Paypal. The last thing I sold just a few months ago was a Buzz Lightyear and Woody doll set that I broke even on because I estimated the shipping wrong. It irritated me so bad I haven't been back to purchase anything lately.

[Kat Stokes]

My DH lives on e-bay. He uses Auction Sentry and it works great! I don't think he's ever lost an auction because it wasn't working. I should start checking out the kids clothes on there more often....