So it would be fair to say I must be the last person to jump on board of the eBay train, but it finally reached my station and I purchased a ticket and I might just add that I have so much love for eBay. It’s a pretty epic shopping experience.
Now I am not usually someone who would consider wearing someone elses threads and I have never been able to capture the glamour of vintage. I am all about new and the minimalistic, but eBay is a website full of wonder and temptation…tempting the buyer to part with money on items that he or she really does not need. Now I am going to tell you my tale of my recent eBay escapade where the only person who has come off well is my 16-year-old nephew!
Place Bid
So I found my self trawling through endless lists of costume jewellery, River Island items (as I a still seeking the MOST BEAUTIFUL COAT EVER), Topshop items, Cue clothes and shoes. When I spotted a web bar at the top saying ‘Outlet’ I thought ok lets take a peek and then I saw that Schuh had a store and I adore Schuh…I purchased my favourite break-up shoes from them – a pair of red extra pointy heels.
So I entered their online eBay store and chose my size of 5. I saw the options Buy It Now or Auction Only. The inner bargain hunter elected Auction items…and oohhh it was wonderful…beautiful heels…clunky boots and delicate flats all starting at the bargain price of 99p. How could a girl resist…well this girl couldnt!
Place Bid – “Well I don’t mind if I do”
I found myself bidding on 20 pairs of shoes and as it was combined shipping for up to 10 items I thought well I might as well see if I can buy some trainers for my nephew who is 16. He is a size 8. So I started bidding on 3 pairs GStar Raw, KSwiss and Momentum. Yet again all staring from 99p. Favourite Aunty…yes I think so!
Well this was all happening over a period of 5 days and my phone was being bombarded with emails and push notifications saying only one thing…
“YOU HAVE BEEN OUTBID”
Arrgghh….frustrated was not the word! So sometimes I would just leave it, often I would increase my maximum bid and usually be outbid again! But as the days past the amount got further and further away from 99p. But really what did I expect. I believe this to be some sort of eBay naivety on my part. So pretty soon I had been outbid and lost on 75% of my items. Either beaten at the last minute or it just got too high and I was paying for shoes I never really wanted (not like you can ever really not want shoes but you know what I mean). So I would give up otherwise I would have had a hefty bill for 20 pairs of shoes.
However there were four pairs still left at the end of it. A pair of Lacoste black pumps for me and the 3 pairs of trainers for my nephew. So it was the final hour and I sat with my PC watching and waiting as the time ticked down. A little smile on my face I was still indeed the highest bidder on all four pairs. Now my nephews all ended first and I had won all 3 pairs. The KSwiss I paid like £4.00 for…BARGAIN! Now I was on the home straight and just waiting for the Lacoste pumps…30 seconds…20 seconds…13 seconds…7 seconds (now in my mind I was the winner…hip hip hoorar for me!)…0 seconds…YOU HAVE BEEN OUTBID YOU HAVE NOT WON THIS ITEM…what the?! I hadnt won?! Thats right I had been beaten in the last 7 seconds…sad face!
So it was happy times for the nephew…I hadnt told him so I called to tell him the good news that he was now 3 pairs of trainers better off and was happy. But I was so annoyed that I had lost out on what I was hanging on in there for.
Now I feel this whole experience has been a great learning curve about eBay for me and now I have had it I feel I will be a much competent eBayer. I am pretty sure there are ways to be a successful (tips welcome) and over time I will let you all know of my progress…so fingers crossed I can show you some fabulous wins in the near future!
Mwah Daisy x
