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

Welcome to this month's Chatter Member Spotlight. We'd like you to meet sunnyonekam.

Isn't it great to have a sunny day in the early months of the year? Well, this month's spotlighted member brings rays of sunshine to the Chatter. That's right, member sunnyonekam shines brightly in our spotlight!

When she first started using the eBay as a buyer, she visited the site a number of times per week. Now that she is a seller, eBay is now on her computer screen all the time, 24-7. Her strategy for selling is very simple: "I first try to find items that are unusual, rare, fun, funky....and that I would buy for my own use. I also try to do creative thinking while I am treasure hunting. I try to look at everything in as many ways as I can." When finding items for resell on eBay, she always asks herself, "Can I do some creative 'craft work' with this piece and make it a one-of-a-kind item?"

She also has a strategy for buying. First, she does a very detailed search. She always compares pricing and checks her potential trading partner's feedback. "I believe I continue to have good luck at eBay because when I find an excellent seller who offers good pricing, provides wonderful customer service, and has products that are interesting, I add them to 'My Favorites' list. This way I can check their listings before searching for the item elsewhere."

sunnyonekam now spends more time as a seller, but she has purchased 100's of items from eBay trading partners. "I buy anything I think is Fun, Classic, Beautiful, or Convenient and most of all is a Great Deal! I try to sell on the same premise."

She also told us when she was very young she lost both her parents, and in the process lost all of her childhood treasures (which were reminders of them). Through eBay, she has been able to replace some of those treasures. "Throughout my life, I have had snapshots memories of these things in my mind, but never dreamed I would ever find those items again. One example of a found treasure (from eBay) is of a Kiddle. For those of that don't know what a Kiddle is, it is a miniature doll manufactured in the 60's. It was sold with its own carrying case, which could be a number of different shapes. The case might be the shape of a fudgesicle, an ice cream cone, a locket, and so on.... One day when my mother came to pick me up from kindergarten she brought me a Kiddle. She said this Kiddle reminded her of me. It was in a locket. I cherished that doll, but it was lost when I was moved to a new home after my mother died. I found a replacement on eBay (I know it isn't quite the same), but now I have an identical Kiddle that I keep to help me remember a time when my mother was here with me."

When asked what tips she would give to buyers and sellers, sunnyonekam replied, "As far as buying, the number one suggestion I can offer is to ALWAYS CHECK FEEDBACK! If you don't you could be setting yourself up for some real disappointment. Also, communicate with the seller and ask for pictures or more info if you are unsure. As a seller you should always think about quality of service….an important thing I have learned is to always give the customer the benefit of the doubt! Don't decide something about a person until you are absolutely sure it is the case."

The most unique item sunnyonekam has bought on eBay is a vintage, one-of-a kind, sterling silver brooch. "It is a 3" long and 2" wide gorgeous frog with a large Opal stone for his body and he has rubies for his eyes." The most unique item she has sold is a giraffe wall hanging: "I found a wood cutout of a painted giraffe (apparently, a former piece from a standing bookshelf). I took the giraffe and added coat hooks to it as well as a hanging apparatus on his back and ta dah! ....a child's coat rack."

When asked how her eBay experience had changed her life, she replied, "I know this will sound hokey, but it is in fact the truth. My life has changed dramatically in a number of ways. As a buyer, I have found wonderful items at terrific prices that I would never have found outside of eBay. It has given me access to all places, peoples, cultures, eras, and all genres of items. It has also afforded me convenience in shopping. I have a very busy lifestyle and do not have the time to spend, nor do I have the energy to search for something by car or on foot."

"As a seller, through eBay, I have been able to work and go to school. eBay has afforded me a way to bring in a paycheck that I would not have otherwise. Being a wife, mother and full-time student doesn't leave a lot of time for a part-time job. With eBay, I can work from home at my leisure. This summer eBay was a tool for teaching my 15-year-old son some of life's lessons. When I began selling, I insisted that he get involved, too. He fought it for awhile but eventually, he began to really enjoy it. He helped by printing packing slips for me, packaging items, driving me to the post office, looking up postage on the Internet, etc. By the end of this summer he had learned a great deal about business. Things like the cost of owning a business, profit margins, organizational skills, and customer service! He didn't even know he was learning.....which by the way, is one of the few ways to get a teen to learn-shhh, don't let them know they are learning."

"One more part to this question....eBay has also brought me some of the most wonderful friends I have ever had! They are people I would not know without eBay! I have friends in Massachusetts, Texas, Oregon, California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and France ...just to name a few!"

We would like to thank sunnyonekam 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.