The SUSPENSE is KILLING ME!
How do you people do this?! This is completely nerve racking! I’m not saying it’s not a good thing – but the SUSPENSE! Oh my god! It’s enough to give you a heart attack (or ME, anyway). And patience! To be good at it, you need patience! NOT my strong suit. (Favorite Quote: “Instant gratification takes TOO long!” - Postcards from the Edge)
I just discovered eBay. (Yes, I know, I’m about a generation behind the times (thanks for reminding me)). I had heard of it, and sort of knew how it worked, but it seemed so foreign. After all, there are stores for new things and classifieds for used things – where’s the need for this on-line swap meet? (There are so many exciting things out there beyond my comfort zone – it’s amazing!) I had never even been to the eBay site – I had no need (and so much fear!). But my recent decision to turn my laundry room into a darkroom drove me to eBay.
So I searched for darkroom equipment. Who knew?! In the new digital age of photography all the old film equipment went to eBay to retire – COOL! I found about 8 enlarger set ups I wanted to “watch” in “My eBay” (aren’t you impressed – I know the lingo already!). I even emailed several of the sellers to ask specifics (and got responses!) (It’s an amazing world we live in!) But the “time left” on the first item up for bid wasn’t due for over a day – a whole day! So I decided which one I wanted first and I actually bid! With trembling fingers I signed up for Pay Pal and clicked [Bid Now]. But I soon got into a bidding war with some jerk who was also bidding and that sorta pissed me off, so I stopped bidding. I ended up giving that item up – I had decided it was not the best choice, there were a couple of more attractive choices coming up, so I decided to practice patience (of all things!).
Somewhere early in this process I read a “tip” on the eBay site suggesting that you start with a small item – like a CD or something, to get comfortable with the bidding process. (good advice – I probably should have taken it – oh well.)
Of my remaining items on “watch” I zoned in on what I wanted and I didn’t do a thing. I waited. And I watched. A few fools bid back and forth, running up the price, but still I waited. Not time yet. I am a quick study! If you are available to be at your computer when the auction ends, there is no point running up the bid, giving those other eBayers an opportunity to think about it and bid against you! WAIT – be PATIENT – it will pay off (literally!)
Finally – the hour arrives, I wait some more. . . . ahhh, 10 minutes left ‘til the auction closes, NOW I strike! I place my “highest bid” (that which I am willing to go up to) and the eBay machine ups the published bid by $5 with my logon next to it (and I am willing to go much higher.) I hold my breath. . . hmmm, no one else has a standing bid in any higher. Ohhwww – maybe I’ll GET it?! Tick. . . Tick. . . Tick. . . This was the LONGEST ten minutes of my life! I must have hit my refresh button 100 times! My heart was racing! – I couldn’t take the suspense. I had to walk away! I came back, hit refresh again and . . . . STILL had 1 minute to go! Another few refreshes. (my god, this minute is taking FIVE minutes!) And then! Before my screen could do it’s last refresh, my email notification popped up “msg from eBay re: You Have Won!” YEAH! I WON! (at this point I was literally jumping up and down!). I WON! (well, okay, for $255 plus shipping I won – but still – I won!).
Bottom line – I’m glad I have conquered my fear of eBay and I’m sure I’ll be back to eBay for other purchases from time to time. But the trauma was too much for me. I could never be an eBay junkie – I don’t have the nerves or the patience for it! (Just as well, I have enough vices!)
I just discovered eBay. (Yes, I know, I’m about a generation behind the times (thanks for reminding me)). I had heard of it, and sort of knew how it worked, but it seemed so foreign. After all, there are stores for new things and classifieds for used things – where’s the need for this on-line swap meet? (There are so many exciting things out there beyond my comfort zone – it’s amazing!) I had never even been to the eBay site – I had no need (and so much fear!). But my recent decision to turn my laundry room into a darkroom drove me to eBay.
So I searched for darkroom equipment. Who knew?! In the new digital age of photography all the old film equipment went to eBay to retire – COOL! I found about 8 enlarger set ups I wanted to “watch” in “My eBay” (aren’t you impressed – I know the lingo already!). I even emailed several of the sellers to ask specifics (and got responses!) (It’s an amazing world we live in!) But the “time left” on the first item up for bid wasn’t due for over a day – a whole day! So I decided which one I wanted first and I actually bid! With trembling fingers I signed up for Pay Pal and clicked [Bid Now]. But I soon got into a bidding war with some jerk who was also bidding and that sorta pissed me off, so I stopped bidding. I ended up giving that item up – I had decided it was not the best choice, there were a couple of more attractive choices coming up, so I decided to practice patience (of all things!).
Somewhere early in this process I read a “tip” on the eBay site suggesting that you start with a small item – like a CD or something, to get comfortable with the bidding process. (good advice – I probably should have taken it – oh well.)
Of my remaining items on “watch” I zoned in on what I wanted and I didn’t do a thing. I waited. And I watched. A few fools bid back and forth, running up the price, but still I waited. Not time yet. I am a quick study! If you are available to be at your computer when the auction ends, there is no point running up the bid, giving those other eBayers an opportunity to think about it and bid against you! WAIT – be PATIENT – it will pay off (literally!)
Finally – the hour arrives, I wait some more. . . . ahhh, 10 minutes left ‘til the auction closes, NOW I strike! I place my “highest bid” (that which I am willing to go up to) and the eBay machine ups the published bid by $5 with my logon next to it (and I am willing to go much higher.) I hold my breath. . . hmmm, no one else has a standing bid in any higher. Ohhwww – maybe I’ll GET it?! Tick. . . Tick. . . Tick. . . This was the LONGEST ten minutes of my life! I must have hit my refresh button 100 times! My heart was racing! – I couldn’t take the suspense. I had to walk away! I came back, hit refresh again and . . . . STILL had 1 minute to go! Another few refreshes. (my god, this minute is taking FIVE minutes!) And then! Before my screen could do it’s last refresh, my email notification popped up “msg from eBay re: You Have Won!” YEAH! I WON! (at this point I was literally jumping up and down!). I WON! (well, okay, for $255 plus shipping I won – but still – I won!).
Bottom line – I’m glad I have conquered my fear of eBay and I’m sure I’ll be back to eBay for other purchases from time to time. But the trauma was too much for me. I could never be an eBay junkie – I don’t have the nerves or the patience for it! (Just as well, I have enough vices!)
posted by 10-8-ious | 11:59 PM
3 Comments:
Congratulations on joining the digital age!
I've got one bit of advice for using e-bay, or overstock.com or any of the others. If its late and you've had three or more drinks DON'T go there...there is so much cool stuff just begging to be bought while your defenses are down ;-)
Good job Dale, I'm proud of you. I go through the same emotions when I’m bidding. Remind me to explain how you use a split screen set up for bidding. Also, I'm really getting into the book. They're on the way to Rakhat (I think that's the name of the planet).
Eggroll
I know first hand about that pissed off feeling you get when someone is bidding against you...just really grinds me...
but anyway, I LOVE ebay. I love my UPS man too when he brings me a package.
Post a Comment
<< Home