Fishing

  Ten years ago I discovered eBay and used it exclusively for working on my baseball card collection. (I don’t know why I didn’t grow out of this like most boys, but I never have.) After making a dozen or so purchases, I dipped my toe into the waters of on-line selling. It was fun. I remember one card that I listed resulted in a pretty fierce bidding war. I had hoped it would fetch $5 or $10, so when the high bid sailed past $20, and then $30, it was thrilling. (It sold for $66.) After dabbling in card sales I gave it up because the post office trips and cashing small checks was more hassle than it was worth. Also, I didn’t have a scanner or digital camera.

Fast forward to 2008. Not only do I have the “imaging” equipment, I have time for the hassle and small checks have taken on new meaning. Also, a new post office opened a mile from home and with PayPal, payments are done electronically. No more checks for $1.75.

So last month I decided to list a few items. I did what market research I could on eBay itself ad took the plunge. The auctions last a week and I am reminded that it is kind of like fishing (but without the slime and guts.) I usually have about 6 or 7 “lines” in the water. To date, half of my 32 auctions that have ended have had bids for a combined sales total of $96.39. (I have another $8.87 in pending auctions.) I know, not whopping numbers, but still. It has been entertaining and I have a lot of cards. Now I need to figure out how to spend so much time in the world of collecting, and not spend more than I’m selling!

(The other plus to this venture is when I'm playing with my cards and Kara asks what I am doing, I can furrow my brow and sigh, "working.")