Member Spotlight

Every few weeks we will be featuring members of the eBay Community. View the profiles here, Profile #1, Profile #2. Please read below if you are interested in participating.

halftimesports@aol.com (857)  

Favorite Category(s): Sports

• How long have you been using eBay and what do you use it for?

We have been a Ebay member for a Little over 2 years. We are a small Sports Collectibles store in a town of around 12,000. Without Ebay we would have had to close the store, Ebay has opened the world up to us.
• If you mainly use eBay to sell items, have you ever bought anything on eBay? Or if you mainly use eBay to purchase items, have you ever sold anything on eBay?

We mainly sell on Ebay, but I do like to Collect American coins and I buy some from time to time. I have also bought a Tube for boating, and a Purse.
• How often do you visit or surf the site?
Daily.
• What is the most unique thing that you have sold?

A Kobe Bryant Auto Jersey card # 1 of only 4.
• Since you mainly use eBay to sell items, do you have a certain strategy that helps you to sell the items that you really want to sell?
The only "Strategy" I have is to Price my Item right, provide reasonable S&H and Great Service-to keep Customers coming back.
• What tips would you give to people out there who are selling their items?

If it does not sell the First time, try again!!
• Tell us how your Feedback rating has improved your reputation?

Our feedback is a reflection of our work. It helps to show bidders we try hard, and do provide customer services even if though we are not face-to-face.
• Do you participate in the chat rooms, or the discussion boards?

Actually I have not, we stay quite busy with Ebay and running the store.
• How has eBay changed your life?

My Initial response would have been no, but if we did not have ebay we probably would not have the store, and I am not sure what we would be doing. So yes Ebay has changed our lifes.
• What are your feelings of all of the "Reality TV" programs that are sweeping the nation and what is your favorite one?

I Do not like the so called "Reality TV" - I do not have a favorite.
• What kind of music do you listen to?

Everything-Rock, Rap, Alternative, Jazz, Classical, Top 40.
• What kind of movies do you watch, and what is your favorite movie, the one that you could watch over and over?

Once again Everything, but I really enjoy Comedy.
• Who has had the most impact on your life, and why?

My Parents, They have always encouraged me. From all their support I am starting Law school this fall.
• Can you give us a brief description of what eBay means to you?

It is something more than going to a mega chain, where you can buy anything under one roof. Ebay provides everything in the comfort of your home, or wherever you may be. Ebay brings everything to you. And I have found better customer service and friendship here unlike at many Mega Marts. ( Plus No long lines w/ price checks!!)

• How long have you been using eBay and what do you use it for?

We have been part of the eBay community since August 2000. Initially, it started as a hobby. Something that my wife and I enjoyed as well as something that supplied us with a little extra money, but it soon grew into much more! Now it has become our family business!
• If you mainly use eBay to sell items, have you ever bought anything on eBay? Or if you mainly use eBay to purchase items, have you ever sold anything on eBay?

We serve as sellers more so than anything, however we do occasionally purchase items.
• How often do you visit or surf the site?

Multiple times a day! eBay has become our full-time occupation! There are myriad items to choose from when surfing to buy and there's always a market for those things which you thought would just collect dust in your garage. Someone, somewhere is interested in purchasing that collection of 8-track tapes that your Grandmother gave you!
• What is the most unique thing that you have sold?

The most unique thing that we have personally sold on eBay would be some old army field stands for M.A.S.H. units. A few of them stumbled into our possession and since we initially didn't even know what they were, we decided that someone in the eBay community might know something about them so we placed them up for auction. Sure enough, a few days after the initial listing a retired veteran e-mailed us and told us what they were used for. We eventually sold them all!
• Do you have a certain strategy that helps you to sell the items that you really want to sell?

Our only strategy is to try and give the most accurate representations of our products as well as offering an excellent deal to our customers. Our specialty is used and out-of-print books and we pride ourselves on being able to offer titles at an extreme discount. Many times our customers have been searching for a particular title for years with no luck in finding it, and then they stumble upon our listings and lo and behold it's there!
• What tips would you give to people out there who are selling their items?

Always conduct your business with integrity and honesty, and with a virtual smile (in other words, be friendly! ) Also, it's very important when selling to tell as much as you can about the item since the potential customer doesn't have the option of holding their future purchase in their hands. As a seller you must be the customers eyes and hands.
• Tell us how your Feedback rating has improved your reputation?

Our ever-increasing positive feedback has allowed our customers to rest assured with confidence that their transaction will be completed quickly and efficiently and that they will receive an item that meets or exceeds their expectations. Also, it's important that minor irritations do not end in undeserved negatives. Many times a problem can be solved with just a phone call or friendly e-mail.
• Do you participate in the chat rooms, or the discussion boards? If you do, how often and which ones do you visit?

Occasionally, we will visit the bookseller's discussion boards and read the latest threads, but since our eBay auctions are a full-time occupation we really don't have a lot of time to spend on them!
• How has eBay changed your life?

It has given us the confidence to realize our dreams of having our own successful business. Our customer base is expanding and thanks to eBay we have a worldwide outlet for our books.
• What are your feelings of all of the "Reality TV" programs that are sweeping the nation And what is your favorite one?

Personally, we don't watch very much television. Most of the Reality TV programs that we have tuned into are quite boring, to be honest.
• What kind of music do you listen to?

Any and all kinds of music! I played music for a living for a large portion of my life and it will always remain a part of my soul.
• What kind of movies do you watch, and what is your favorite movie, the one that you could watch over and over?

Anything light-hearted and funny. It would be too difficult to pick just one, but anything with Robin Williams would qualify!
• Who has had the most impact on your life, and why?

My wife and 7-month old child would be the biggest influence on me personally. I never knew how much love the human heart could hold until she came into my life. The birth of my son was one of the primary factors in my decision to let go of the "safety net" of my full-time day job and start doing eBay full-time. Now I get to be with my family all day, everyday and watch my son grow and mature into a beautiful little boy. The time with my family is what I am most grateful to eBay for.
• Can you give us a brief description of what eBay means to you?

eBay has allowed us the freedom to live life to it's fullest, on our own terms, without the ties of working a drab 9-to-5 job that feeds the body but starves the soul. It's exciting to know that you are making money even while you sleep and accomplishing it by doing something you love! It has given us so much more than we could have ever expected and the benefits just keep growing! We practice a philosophy in our eBay business which we adopted from author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar which says that, "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want". eBay has given us what we wanted as a family and has in turn allowed us to give back to our customers.