What is your eBay User ID?
My eBay id is texaseyes. I chose it for several reasons. I wanted something that identified me as a person. I'm proud to be a 5 th generation native Texan – 3 rd generation native Austinite . Since the University of Texas is located in Austin and their fight song is “The Eyes of Texas” the id “texaseyes” was a natural. I chose to write it in all lower case letters because I just liked the way it looked. (didn't want to come across as too bragidocious.) Several of my customers have commented that they really like my id.
What is the main category on the eBay Site in which your items are bought or sold?
I specialize in selling home entertainment items such as CDs, DVDs, videos, books and lately educational software for the home school environment.
How long have you been using eBay and what do you use it for?
I've been an active buyer and seller on eBay since November 2000. It started off innocently enough with just a few purchases. I collect wall pockets and discovered the mother lode on eBay. Wonderful selection and a wide price range.
How did you first hear about eBay? (i.e., friend, family, search engine, advertisement, etc.):
My daughter told me about eBay. She collects Texas commemorative plates and mentioned that eBay had a wide selection. Of course, being the wonderful mother that I am, I started buying plates like crazy. Problem was, some came in lots with other states so I wound up with a bunch of state plates that I didn't know what to do with. That's when I became a seller on eBay. I got rid of those plates in no time and began my eBay “career.”
How often do you visit or browse the eBay Site?
Several hours everyday.
What is the most unique item you have bought or sold on eBay?
Recently I've been selling vintage ephemera from Puerto Rico . We found all kinds of papers and stuff in an old suitcase of my mother-in-law's that hadn't been opened since 1941. Everything I've listed from that suitcase has sold! The best one was a beer coaster from Puerto Rico that sold for $160.00. The buyer was happy and I was thrilled!
If 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? Or, if you mainly use eBay to purchase items, do you have a certain strategy that helps you purchase the items that you really want to buy?
I use eBay mainly to sell items. Research, research, research. I also try to make my listings as interesting as possible by describing the item thoroughly including any problem it might have and use clear picture(s). I also participate in many discussion boards and groups that are available on eBay.
What tips would you give to people out there who are selling or buying their items on the eBay Site?
- Research, research, research.
- Know your product.
- Provide high quality service.
- Be honest with the customer and in all of your dealings.
- Use spell check!
- Use good quality photos.
Tell us how your Feedback Rating on the eBay Site has improved your reputation as a buyer or a seller?
Many times customers tell me that they check the feedback before they decide on a purchase.
Do you participate in eBay's chat rooms or discussion boards? If you do, how often and which ones do you visit?
I definitely use the chat rooms and discussion boards. I visit my favorites several times a week.
If you participate on any of eBay's Chat, Help, or Discussion boards, what reasons would you give a new eBay member to encourage them to join in?
I find answers to most of my questions in the groups and on the Discussion boards. If I have a question I just post a query with the appropriate group and someone who knows the answer will answer very quickly. I also enjoy being able to help someone with their questions.
Has your life changed since you began visiting the eBay Site? If so, in what way?
My life has definitely changed since I began visiting eBay five years ago. I opened my store in September and everything went crazy!! I had no idea I could sell so much! I'm not a power seller yet, but only because I sell low cost items and it takes a lot of sales to reach Power Seller status. I almost made it in December, but I just couldn't keep up the pace and stopped listing new items around the middle of the month. Still, the stuff in the store kept me so busy I never had time to do any Christmas shopping!
What eBay feature or service would you say has been the most helpful to you and why?
I believe reading back through the Discussion boards, the Groups discussions and the Workshops has been the most helpful to me. I learn something new every time I visit them, even when I'm just browsing around I'll find something that helps me with my selling, marketing, store management, listing design---just a whole lot of different information that I can use now or store away for future reference.
Are you a collector who buys or sells on eBay? If so, tell us about your collection and how you got started?
Yes, I collect wall pockets. Back in 2000, when I first started buying on eBay, I went a little crazy. I wanted every wall pocket that even came near to the specifications of my collection. (Small head-shaped wall pockets.) I knew I had a problem when I realized I had spent over $500.00 in one month!! Needless to say, I became a bid more discriminating and decided to start selling on eBay to pay for my “habit.”
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? Please tell us about it:
Now, I mainly use eBay to sell items. I still make the occasional purchase, and of course, I buy most of my shipping supplies from sellers on eBay, but it seems the processes involved with selling take up most of my time.
Have you ever purchased an item on the eBay Site that dramatically changed your life? If so, what was it and what change did it make?
Can't say that any of my purchases has “dramatically” changed my life, but I can say that all of my wall pockets have added tremendous pleasure to my life. I can say that each one I have purchased has brought me pleasure.
Can you give us a brief description of what eBay means to you?
I've enjoyed being able to work at home, to work when I want to and to be able to generate some extra income. My husband and I are both retired. Well, we're both retired from working for others, now we work for ourselves in our eBay store and auctions. We use the money we make to do a little traveling, buy some non-essential treats and to save for a rainy day.
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