Do You Know The Way To eBay?

[BinaryMode]

Since a lot of us, including me, buy radio gear on eBay, I thought you might want to feel older in that this coming September, 3rd will mark the 30th anniversary of eBay. Back then it was called AuctionWeb before being called eBay in September, 1997 by founder Pierre Omidyar. Omidyar originally wanted the website to be called "Echo Bay" after his consulting firm, but the echobay.com domain was already registered, so he shortened it to eBay.

The first item to ever be sold on eBay (AuctionWeb) was a broken laser pointer by Omidyar himself which was listed for $1 and sold for $14.83 back in September, 1995. Being surprised of the sale, Omidyar contacted the Canadian buyer to confirm they knew the laser pointer was broken. The buyer indeed confirmed and said he collected broken laser pointers.

eBay has been a popular website of all things from the very strange and unusual to the down right "you can't be serious" seller category. Like how one year Colorado had a tremendous snow storm and a savvy Colorado entrepreneur sold some of the snow on eBay. Or the eBay auction of burnt toast that looked like the image of Jesus. Then there's the pop culture aspect as well. Weird Al Yankovic wrote and sung a song "I Want It That Way." A parody from the Backstreet Boy's song. Then Saturday Night Live got into the mix and parodied eBay's TV advertisement, "Do You Know The Way To eBay?" Which is a parody of the 1968 song, "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" by Burt Bacharach and sung by Dionne Warwick. Unfortunately, I can't find the eBay SNL parody because Google and stuffs... But I did find the original 2003 eBay commercial. No telling how long that too will be on YouTube. eBay's headquarters happens to be in San Jose, California.

eBay has not been without its controversies either. From getting rid of the ability for the seller to leave negative feedback to higher selling fees to stalking and harassment as described in this LMG Clips episode.

YouTube Link



With that, what awesome radio stuff have you bought on eBay in these 30 years and was it a good deal? For me, it was a RadioShack Pro-2042 with Optoelectronics OS535 board already installed. I didn’t know about sniper services back then and watched that auction to the second! I don’t recall how much I paid for it though. But if sold on eBay today I can only imagine would fetch for some $400 or more me thinks.

 

[mikegilbert]

I've been selling on eBay since 2001, and buying just as long. I've found so many oddball / rare / one-off Motorola radios on there over the years, so I keep coming back.

My latest score was the prototype for the Jedi series!

 

[kc2asb]

I signed up for Ebay in 1998. Bought too much stuff over the years, but essentially stopped browsing Ebay about three years ago. I much preferred the way the search and general navigation worked years ago. Like with all good things, they keep tweaking it until they ruin it.

It was a mistake to prevent sellers from leaving negative feedback. It's supposed to be a two way street. That reason alone is sufficient to not want to sell on Ebay.

I did buy a decent amount of radio gear over the years. I found a number vintage scanners that I was unable to find at hamfests for whatever reason, such as the Realistic COMP-100 (RS's first programmable scanner) and the PRO-2001 (first with a keypad). The PRO-2001 was like new, with the original box, manual and packing material.

My biggest radio purchase was a JRC NRD-515 with the original manuals and matching speaker. It was no bargain, though. However. the exceptional condition of the radio plus the fact that the seller dealt only in communications gear, had a stellar feedback rating, and generous return policy made it worth the cost.

The 515 is built like a tank - even the front panel is cast aluminum. (photo from the net, don't have a pic of mine handy)

 

[BinaryMode]

I haven't been to a hamfest is so many years... We're talking circa 1997. LOL!

Lots of cool stuff can be had on the bay. I now currently will use the Gixen eBay sniper service and I use a website to send me an e-mail alert should something I'm interested in show up. I seldom bid. Only snipe. LOL

 

[kc2asb]

The last time I was at a hamfest is probably not that many years beyond when you stopped going. No doubt there are cool items still showing up on Ebay, but I switched to a "less is more" mode a few years ago. It's easy to accumulate stuff, but much harder to get rid of it. One thing for sure, I do not need any more radio equipment.

 

[Chronic]

i have all but quit buying from FleBay. A good part of everything on there comes from china. you can not set a default buy from location , such as usa only.

 

[kc2asb]

i have all but quit buying from FleBay. A good part of everything on there comes from china. you can not set a default buy from location , such as usa only.

That is more than a good enough reason! I used to use North America or set a zip code/distance for the item location. That seemed to exclude any items from China.

 

[BinaryMode]

i have all but quit buying from FleBay. A good part of everything on there comes from china. you can not set a default buy from location , such as usa only.

Do what I do, use picclick. Go to picclick.com and you can set a country filter and a whole lot of other stuff. I use this website EXCLUSIVELY when searching eBay... They used to have a sold items filter, but I'm wondering if the eBay API doesn't allow that anymore.

I personally love eBay - as cringe worthy as that might sound to some. I find that I can buy the same item on eBay used or cheaper than Chinazon. In fact, all of my radios now are eBay buys. No issues once so ever. All the radios I've had over the years from RadioShack, Icom or Grove Enterprises were sold on eBay.

Edit-

I'm sure (I'd have to look) eBay allows a region setting in the advance search mode. If their API does their website should.

 

[PACNWDude]

I have sold and bought a lot of stuff from that auction site......some a good deal, and others just oddball equipment. To include also getting a Pro-2042 scanner with the OS535 board installed. It was a great deal too, just like the one OP mentioned.

Have been able to get various radio equipment, to include a former FBI direction finding unit, broken and only capable of receiving the four frequencies for transmitters it would have come with new.....now modified to take any input from a "donor" radio, and continues to be used for "fox hunts" with appropriate antennas.

I do not sell anymore, as there is too much power given to the buyer, and then restrictive marketing/shipping/seller requirements.

Have been on the site pretty much since the beginning of the site though, and on the Internet since 1988. A lot has changed, and lots of radio, computer and other electronic purchases later....still using it.

 

[kc2asb]

I do not sell anymore, as there is too much power given to the buyer, and then restrictive marketing/shipping/seller requirements.

Have been on the site pretty much since the beginning of the site though, and on the Internet since 1988. A lot has changed, and lots of radio, computer and other electronic purchases later....still using it.

I don't understand Ebay's rationale for hamstringing sellers. They are just as essential to the site's success as buyers, perhaps more so. Two-way feedback, positive or negative, was critical to the site's functionality. Sellers could cancel bids from headache buyers, and buyers were aware of which sellers to avoid. Plus, many buyers also sell on the site. How they behave as buyers is likely reflective of how they will conduct theirs sales transactions.

I've been on the Internet since '93 or '94. Indeed, a lot has changed, and good deal of it was not for the better.

 

[StoliRaz]

i have all but quit buying from FleBay. A good part of everything on there comes from china. you can not set a default buy from location , such as usa only.

I find that even when I click on filter and set item location to US Only it still gives me listings from other countries, or obvious fronts who have a US address but import their garbage from China. Especially certain electronics like cell phones.

Also yes selling on there sucks. I recently sold an item for $19.99 with free shipping. Packaged weight was only 5 ounces so I didn't mind giving free shipping to sell it quicker. After shipping and fees I didn't even get $12 for profit. It isn't worth it.