Skip to main content

78 replies

My Favorite eBay Tip

B bjones9942Member
Want to share your favorite eBay tip? Here are a couple of mine ...
  • Search elsewhere
    Often you can get an item for a lot less from another source. I frequently see people bidding the big bucks on items they could purchase locally or through another online retailer quite reasonably. Use google, use pricewatch, look in second hand or discount stores. Make sure your 'bargain' really is!

  • Search Completed Auctions
    That 'rare' item just might not be as rare as the seller wants you to think! You can also see what others have paid for this item so you don't over bid

  • Learn how to search
    Search for misspellings! You can use eBay's 'or' function to easily search on multiple search strings ... i.e.
    doll +(donny,marie,peewee,pee-wee)
    will find all auctions for donny dolls, marie dolls or pee-wee dolls

  • Know your shipping costs
    Is the shipping/handling listed in the auction? Is it appropriate for this item? If it isn't listed, contact the seller and ask!



Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'
Last edited {1}
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

annieannieMember
READ the whole description!! I know this sounds dumb, but a couple times I've gotten so excited by the photo of something that I neglected to read important information.
Also take notice of where it is coming from if the shipping says "actual charges", because it can make a big difference if it's coming from out of your country.
I think when you look at alot of items you get careless of these things.

The best things in life are furry....and flowers!
G grizzlyMember
One of the items I am looking for is an antiquity - a terracotta oil lamp from Israel dating to the time of Christ. I have an ebay search set up, and I see several a week. About half of them state that they are rare. Roll Eyes Yeah, it's so rare that I could buy 2-3 each week. Sheesh.

The only reason I haven't gotten one yet is that I haven't talked myself (or my wife) into spending the money on it yet. So, I keep watching, and if I see a "steal", I'll steal it. Big Grin If not, I'll wait until our tax refund comes, and snipe the next one I see (that fits my criteria).

Last edited {1}
L littlebitMember
I like bjones' ideas - very helpful!

Also, to agree with MG - Reading the info is necessary. My husband has been looking for an additional guitar amp, and sees dozens of the same type thing. He almost put a snipe in on one until he read buried somewhere in a long body of text that this one didn't work and they didn't know why. Not encouraging, since the seller is a store with a repair shop included!

My tip is to keep a ruler by my computer to help me gauge measurements when they are given.(The one I use is 18" with English and metric units.) Photos can be so deceiving! A good photographer with a good camera can make a dollhouse look like some your whole family could move into! I have bought a lot of jewelry where gem size is often given in mm and/or carats (and there are charts on the web to help figure that out.) People bid things way high, then later leave neg feedback because "the earrings were so much smaller than they looked in the picture". They just went off the picture and never checked actual dimensions given. I have also bought quite a few mineral/crystal/rock specimens and seen the same thing. Same with seashells. Same with collectible glassware. Same with teapots, etc. Gotta make sure you know what you're bidding on!
M moryMember
I bought a floor Arvin Heater. It came and I plugged it in - stone dead. I told the seller. He said, I never said it worked - He said what you see in the picture is what you get. ( I got it.)
So now I ask the obvious: Does it work?

When you see the phrase - "What you see"....start running.....

When I see no box I wonder - No Manual. I question? Used once or what you see is what you get you know they picked it up off the curb on clean-up day.
G grizzlyMember
quote:
Originally posted by MG intern:
LOL What's a tax "refund" ??!! Confused Wink


tax "refund" [n]:

1. When the government acknowledges that money it took from you without your permission actually does belong to you and returns it. Eek

2. The repayment on an interest-free loan you made the government throughout the year by not calculating your tax burden correctly. Big Grin

3. Enforced savings for a big-dollar purchase with a negative return on investment due to inflation.

MG: take your pick from the above list. Smile Smile Smile

(Why do I have a refund this year? I have a 1-year old child (aka tax deduction Eek) and my wife no longer works (for a paycheck).)

Last edited {1}
B bjones9942Member
quote:
Originally posted by MG intern:

I wonder if I could deduct my kitties as "children"! Razz


My dog takes as much energy/$$$ as a 5 year old! I think I should be able to claim him! Smile

BTW, was meaning to tell you how nice your garden is! When I hit the lotto I'm gonna dig my yard up and plant natives (well, I'm going to skip the skunk cabbage). Right now it's a combo of grass, moss and these pretty little yellow flowers (Taraxacum officinale). I've got an unheated greenhouse that's currently home to a happy hoard of aphids - they're preventing my sweet peas from blooming Frown I'm going to claim temporary insanity and spray 'em dead, dead, DEAD! Wink

Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'
annieannieMember
Ohhhh, aphids suck. (heh ! yea they do! )

Thanks, my gardens are alot of work but I do enjoy doing it sooo much. Nice thing about the pictures is you can't see the bugs from that far away!! The corn bugs ruin them about aug. and I could just scream. Mad heh, actually I did!!

I wish I had a greenhouse somemtimes. But then it would be one more thing to do.....
Right now I'm getting soooooo frustrated with my self. I'm not healing up from surgery and getting any energy back fast enough. It will be three weeks thursday. Frown Hurry up spring!!

The best things in life are furry....and flowers!
M moryMember
After Surgery I had the same problem. I went to Wal-Mart and got some Vitamin B-12. The All Natural Brand by Spring Valley - Timed release 1,000mcg One every morning . Boy what a difference I noticed the tired was gone in a week. Ask Your Doctor about B-12 & read the FDA Opinion on B-12 and tired Blood. I'm not telling you to buy it that would be medical advice which only your doctor can give. Ask Him.
if its OK for you with other things your taking.
Last edited {1}
B bjones9942Member
quote:
Originally posted by Mrs.M:
One of my boy's in Indiana bought a place in the country with several big greenhouses. They grow herbs and sell to supermarkets. Lot and lots of work, but his wife is really into it.


Mine seems to grow bugs and slugs Wink I have a rosemary 'hedge' along one side of my house. When I looked at the planting instructions, it said rosemary likes sunny, well drained locations (the area I planted in gets morning sun only and in Seattle, is far from 'well drained'). Needless to say, the rosemary is now about 6 feet tall and the same wide! I calculate it's worth several thousands of dollars if I package it into tiny bags and sell it like the grocery stores do Smile And it's even organic!

MGI- unless you heat/cool your greenhouse it really isn't that much trouble. I use mine to start plants for the yard. Seeds are so much cheaper and fun to grow! If you get one, believe the people that say, 'Get the biggest one you can afford'. Mine's 8x15 and feels cramped! Also, refuse to help the delivery people haul it around - that's how I ruptured the disc in my back Frown

Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'
M moryMember
I had one for 10 years - 140 ft long. It was a back breaker but loved it.. When Oil went to $1.40 a gal. I had to let 20M geraniums freeze in December. When I figure out pictures I'll show you a photo of them in Bloom.. The place is now a winery & gift shop. New owners got new business start up money from NY State.
M moryMember
I planted Rosemary for my Dad in Sequim. I baked four big potatoes in slices with a glass of milk, half stick of butter and rosemary. Top with foil. Dad raved about them but couldn't get him to use spices. I wash the taters and leave the skins on - really good dish..of course I grate a little cheese on top.
In summer I bake it in a foil pan so there's no clean up. When I get a buy on Blue onion I slice one of them in sometimes.
M moryMember
E-Mail addresses would be great - no big deal
I'd like Derek's address - I could mail him the Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies like my mom sent me to Korea...
And as for a "Disc" I can't even say the word without hurting all over...
Time for me to have meal #4 a bowl of broth and my B12 and dream of chocolate and pudding and cream filled doughnuts and coffee.
Good night all - mory ....Mrs M your only as old as your mind..
Last edited {1}
B bjones9942Member
quote:
Originally posted by MG intern:
BJones......ewww, don't say ruptured disc. I have never felt such pain in my life. I thought I was going to go crazy. Well, maybe having my kids hurt that bad, but at least I got a prize for that pain!! Eek


I spent months of 3 x per week visits to the chiropractor. The best remedy was getting a new mattress. It changed almost constant searing pain into a much more manageable dull throb. Anything involving bending at the waist will still put me down - one day I'm going for the surgery.

Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'
Last edited {1}
M moryMember
SS; You can only do it once every six weeks - It's not complex -no sugar salt or caffeine -take vitamin supplements plus Calcium then excercise.. We all know what it takes. I got a treadmill and walk 3 times a day -I increase time not speed. For me , water is the key, I drink 3 gal. I fill three jugs and don't go to bed until they are empty. I see a Dr and a Dietician every month. I have two medical plans and push them to the max. If I cheat, I charge myself for it. Yesterday I picked up a chocolate coated Cherry at the Mobil. cash register - when I got home I walked six miles. It wasn't worth it - I am beat today. I always use a credit card at the pump so I am not tempted . usually ..
B bjones9942Member
I went for firm. Strangely, the one I purchased was far from the 'high end' line. I noticed a difference immediately - the first day was like a visit to the chiropractor, and after 3 days I almost felt normal again!

In my case, I needed the new mattress anyway - the old one was about 15 years old. If your mattress is still fairly new I'd suggest you spend a few nights in a nice hotel or at a friends. See if the change helps before spending the $$$.

The really bizzarre thing was what my chiropractor found that helped me .... after a couple of months of realignments and spinal adjustments and shoe inserts, which helped for a few hours, he put a wooden door stop (I swear that's what it was) under my hip. 15 minutes of that would give me days of relief!

These days I still have a tingling in one leg, but as long as I don't bend at the waist (where my injury is) repeatedly or for more than 5 minutes, I am pain free. I can't do any weeding - much to the bane of my neighbors Wink When it's planting time, it's usually the 'plant a flat, stop for an hour, plant a flat ...'.

Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'
Last edited {1}
annieannieMember
BJ...I wish a new mattress would have fixed me up. I had a bulging disc in my neck, and then I went to the chiropractor (like I have for years) and when he adjusted me it ruptured. My shoulder and arm hurt soooooo bad. I had to go into the hospital for morphine drip to wait for surgery. It's been three weeks and I'm just starting to get my energy back. I don't know what it would be like in your back. My neck incision didn't really hurt much after the first week. Just have a raspy throat because they cut on the front of your neck and push things aside. They used bone from my hip and that was quite sore for the first week, but not really now. If I had to do it over again I would in an instant. That pain was unbelievable! I think the anesthesia is hard on you too. Takes away your energy for weeks. But it doesn't take much energy to sit here and type!!! Razz Now I just have to figure out how to get my other arm healed up. I tore the biceps tendon last fall. I went over the hill........
and CRASHED!!!! Eek LOL

The best things in life are furry....and flowers!
M moryMember
Thanks, the guy in the window with the peal looks like me with three pies.

Mrs M. Same as a peach for tomato. I use corn startch and cook a pan of filling then layer the tomatoe. Then the filling is not lumpy. Put lemon in the filling or it's kind of flat - just a dash of cinnemon. Fill it high like a fresh apple as it collapses. Serve with a sharp cheddar slice. yummy...
M moryMember
If I get my hands on two big green tomatoes I slice them 1/4 inch pat dry - flower, dip in whole egg, then in Italian bread crumbs, fry and set aside on paper. Dip some tenderized cutlets the same way and fry. make a display on a white steak platter add a small can of stewed tomatoes over the top and add shredded cheese. One minute under the broiler with the plate and some buttered Garlic french bread. yummy
M moryMember
The last thing out of the Garden was the green tomatoe. Each double wrapped in newspaper. About 20 in each Milk Case. then down in the root cellar - 20 cases. On a Sunday Mom would make pie or fry them. Two or three were in the window to ripen. The secret to tomatoe storage is handle them with cotton gloves from picking to wrapping. If you touch them with your hands they will rot.
All the small Green Tom were pickled or ground up into relish or pickalillie. Now just memories.. At Thanksgiving we got to open the Jars of sweet Gerkins with cinnemon sticks Tomatoe & green pepper. Anything Mom had a red piece of yarn around the neck was saved for a holiday or funeral wake.
M moryMember
Probably sauerbraten with Onion-potatoe pancakes with Sour Cream - Sweet & Sour beats, a Waldorf Salad with Bleu Cheese Dressing; plain sliced red tomatoe , cooked red cabbage, Italian salad veggies W giant stuffed green Olives.
If I only had one food: A giant baked Idaho Potato with sourcrean & Chives.
Favorite Pie Lemon: Cake Fresh strawberry Angel Food
Bread: Toasted 12 Grain with Philly Cheese
Favorite Drink: Root Beer in Frosted Mug
Fish Dungeness Crab Cheese: Pecorinno or Mozza
Candy Peanut Brittle made with Macadamia Nuts.
Cookie: Oatmeal with walnuts raisins & chips.
Red Meat: Baked Barbecue Ribs 2nd choice a 3 lb Buffalo Tenderloin. Holidays Different Food
Now You Know Why I'm on A Diet... mory
Last edited {1}
B bjones9942Member
MG -
My first indication that I was on the road to middle age was when I reached for a glass that was a just a little too far away and pulled a muscle Smile

I can only imagine the pain you must have ... if it's like the lower back problem the pain travels down. My sister has a degenerative bone disorder and recently had to have a couple of vertabrae in her neck fused. She gets the fun drugs now Eek

I'm looking forward to getting to the top of the hill ... I need to coast for a while Smile

Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'
M moryMember
There is some real pain on these pages - MG it just wasn't your time - just keep plugging away..
i'm good when I get going - It's getting up thats the killer for me.. takes a good half hour on the edge of the bed doing range of motion excercise before I dare stand and not fall.
I have plenty of pain killer I just don't want to be zonked out all the time.. better to feel the pain and be able to hear the phone ring.
M moryMember
BJ you have a great attitude for all your suffering. I know I miss getting down in the
garden as well. My tomatoes had set fruit before I got them in last year - It killed me to prune them back but they came back OK. I had one kid I trained he loved plants - then got a girl to help 8 years later they are married and have 2 kids. now I buy a few flats and just hope someone will come along and help get them in. I paid a kid last fall to pull some weeds but he pulled half my perrenials so I have to watch him close.
Can't wait to get starteed only three more months of winter
annieannieMember
BJ, Thanks. I'm doing pretty good now. Only tylenol for the neck!!! Pretty amazing considering how bad it was before surgery.(had to use that word as I see it's on the other posts!) The torn muscle,tendon whatever is going to be a real problem in the garden I can see that now. Even typing will set it off so I'm screwed.
I shouldn't complain tho....just seems like at 45 I shouldn't be falling apart quite this fast!! Eek

The best things in life are furry....and flowers!
B bjones9942Member
quote:
Originally posted by Mrs.M:
There is simply no reason for a person to suffer with a slipped lower disk. The surgery is very minimal today. Recovery is very, very quick. I know first hand. I have had it as have one of my boy's. I would never, never mess with a Chiro. or suffer. Silly silly!


Whoops! I missed this post! Smile Surgery is on my list! It seems that when I have medical insurance I'm working too much to use it, and when I'm not working much I don't have insurance! It's a conspiracy I tell you!

Mother Mary Says, 'HONESTLY! you're just ruint!'

Add Reply

Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×