The Spotlight's On: eBay Member tbonegrl
by Robin
eBay Staff Member

It's true that people use eBay to purchase items for many reasons. Some buy items for personal wants or needs, and others purchase items for friends and family members. eBay member tbonegrl, however, also buys items on eBay for her elementary school music classroom.

tbonegrl teaches Kindergarten and 1st grade music, as well as 4th and 5th grade strings, and 5th grade band. As a music teacher, she says she hasn't met a kind of music she didn't like yet! She loves pop music, big band jazz, classical, all kinds, really!

An eBay member since April 2001, she has both bought and sold items on eBay. She started out strictly buying, but when she moved to a new apartment, she used eBay to sell items she no longer had use for. In tbonegrl's words: "It was better than having a garage sale! I am constantly on eBay! I keep it up all day long both at home and in my classroom.

"I have been able to find wonderful things to use with my students in my classroom. Out of print books are no problem! (I also use Half.com a lot!) I even have purchased books for myself to use in my Master's program. I spend a lot of money on things for my classroom, and eBay allows me to get things a lot more reasonably."

tbonegrl has made wonderful music contacts through eBay. One eBay seller she met is coming to her area to give a presentation to the other music teachers in her school district!

tbonegrl is also giving a demonstration at her school for other teachers on how to buy and sell classroom supplies on eBay. tbonegrl says the other teachers joke with her and call her an eBay addict. In fact, at the end of one school year, the school's staff made a video of all the teachers at the elementary school. In the video was a picture of her with a bubble coming out of her mouth saying, 'I love eBay!'

That is not surprising since she is constantly on eBay, even keeping it on her computer all day long both at home and in her classroom. She also visits the eBay chat boards for advice and tips. In fact, when she was new to eBay, she visited the boards frequently to 'learn the ropes'.

When selling on eBay, tbonegrl says the key is to list things honestly and answer all questions that come down the pike. She strives to go the extra mile for her customers, and she ships items the next day. She also states her expectations clearly and communicates positively with potential buyers. She advises sellers to describe everything as best they can and provide extra pictures of the item if necessary. She also told us that most of all a seller must be nice. Someone who buys from you once will remember your friendliness and will buy again.

"eBay is entertaining, exciting, and sometimes frustrating (when I forget to bid on something I wanted). Nothing makes me happier than when I bid on and win a book, and I sing it to my students and they say when I am finished, 'Can we sing it again....please?' When I get a teaching book that brings a new idea, game, or fresh perspective to my lesson plans, my students are the ones who reap the rewards.

"eBay not only means a lot to me as a person, it shapes me as a teacher."

We want to thank tbonegrl for sharing her thoughts and comments with us! If you would like to be considered for Community Spotlight Program, check out our Community Profile page and follow the instructions near the bottom of that page. Or, if you would like to be included in the Community Chatter, please let us know by writing to chatter@ebay.com.