Ebay Gambling

I'm not much of a gambler. I consider state lotteries to be a tax on the poor and have trouble hiding my emotions behind a poker face. I won $40 on my first quarter in a slot machine which understandably won those some immediate favor, but I should have stopped there. One thing I do, though, is something I call "eBay gambling." I am busy, forgetful, and can't always be awake or home to watch auctions. If I've sniped, it's usually because I came upon the item in its last moments. I've come to terms with this by bidding on items with the understanding that someone else may bid and beat me to them. This has created a game in which I bid on things almost betting that someone else will come along (kind of similar to the way one bets he or she will get sick when buying health insurance--betting on an outcome doesn't mean you necessarily want it to occur). And if no one does, then I win! I must admit it has caused one or two instances of buyer's remorse over things I wasn't too serious about--like a vintage red mesh Whiting & Davis handbag that, while cool, would get a lot more love from me if it was a different color. It was only like $10 though.

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I like to cast a wide net over inexpensive items and see what I catch.
$3 party dresses?
$0.99 cocktail rings?
Why not? Why not? Why not?
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What tends to happen is I end up coming away with about 10-20% of what I actually bid on. It's sort of like online window shopping--when you fill up your cart and then don't actually check out (do you do that too?). The warm fuzzy drug-like shopping feeling is there and you let fate decide what you actually buy. Warning! This is a dangerous game! If you have a problem with budgeting or addiction to shopping, then this is not for you! I don't want to encourage anyone to get into trouble. Never bid on an item if you can't afford it, always own up to your end of the bargain, and never bid on more items than your budget can handle just in case you actually win them all. Proceed with caution! The nature of the game is: You win some, you lose some. That's life, right? Have fun! :)

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Do you play any games with online shopping?

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Filed in: Shopping by Annie Spandex.


18 Responses to “Ebay Gambling”

  1. Michelle, on December 16th, 2009 at 8:08 pm Said:

    Actually, I end up doing the same thing you do a lot! It’s kind of bad for the budget, haha. Especially when I forget that I bid on something and then 5 days later get an email saying I won it…

  2. stylefyles, on December 16th, 2009 at 8:43 pm Said:

    hahah I loved this post….

  3. AlysonIsNeat, on December 16th, 2009 at 9:12 pm Said:

    I play the, “How long until it goes on sale?” game a lot. There was this amazing silk scarf bag from Anthropologie that NEVER went on sale though. So disappointed because I would have bought it the second it went on sale.

    I am currently not shopping for a year and so its really difficult browsing through websites, and not being able to buy anything. Its like I’m tempting myself on purpose. *sigh*

  4. Kristin, on December 16th, 2009 at 11:35 pm Said:

    I am the WORST ebay shopper. I need to read a book on how to do it right. Ah ha ha

  5. Valencia Lia, on December 16th, 2009 at 11:56 pm Said:

    I do play games with online shopping too,especially EBAY !! It really gets me excited or angry at times ahahaha

    And when its something I really love alot,I’ll bid till I get it:)

  6. daisychain, on December 17th, 2009 at 8:21 am Said:

    I’m the same as you with ebay! Right down to the buyers remorse.

  7. Danielle, on December 17th, 2009 at 12:39 pm Said:

    I am the queen of ebay crap. what started out as a cool way to get oddball designer pieces and art supplies on the cheap quickly turned into an addiction!

    Ebay should have a disclaimer on their homepage.

  8. jennine, on December 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm Said:

    acutally most the time i can’t be bothered unless it’s ‘buy it now’ i hate that i get attached to the idea of getting something then i get outbid, or if i want something and wind up paying much more for it than i would if i saw it in a store. it’s all crazy!

  9. Dirty Hair Halo, on December 17th, 2009 at 8:14 pm Said:

    Funny how you gamble.

    I happen to be the sniper. I’m a Ninja.

    XO

    http://www.SeekingDirtyHairHalo.blogspot.com

  10. EmilyKennedy, on December 17th, 2009 at 8:59 pm Said:

    I am constantly filling up online carts and never buying the stuff in them. However, I really can’t do ebay. I’m the one for whom you wrote the Caution statement. I will be one screwed pooch if I ever start doing this stuff, because considering the status of all those filled, but not purchased online carts, I probably can’t even ante up for the 10-20% that works out right. :)

  11. Grant, on December 18th, 2009 at 4:38 am Said:

    I also fill up online carts constantly and think to myself “OK, next pay-day I’ll go back and buy that stuff…” But I never do.

    I’m the king of bad eBay buys. Seriously. I have wasted so much money on stuff from eBay lately that I’ve finally gotten and gone “Huh. Why did I think I needed this again?” or more recently “How much did I weigh when I ordered this, cause I aint fitting into it now!!!” :”(

    FML!

    Loved this post though. Xx

  12. Ruta, on December 18th, 2009 at 10:19 am Said:

    I’ve never bought anything off ebay myself, but I do like browsing through things.

  13. Retro Chick, on December 18th, 2009 at 10:37 am Said:

    I do this. It’s so dangerous. I sit and panic that I might win things and then get relieved when I’m outbid last minute!

    On the other hand I’ve got some great things by taking a 99p gamble on things with no photos or bad photos and descriptions.

  14. vnssa906, on December 18th, 2009 at 11:30 am Said:

    i do this TOO much! i am an ebay shopaholic. and y not, its so much cheaper!

  15. All Women Stalker, on December 18th, 2009 at 3:39 pm Said:

    Oh no, this is a concept too dangerous for me to consider. I spend enough time shopping online as it is….

    -meream

  16. Annie Spandex, on December 19th, 2009 at 8:51 pm Said:

    Michelle – So I’m not alone! ;)

    stylefyles – Thanks!

    AlysonIsNeat – I’m waiting on the 80%20 Cody boots to go on sale. I don’t know if they will, though! They’re so hot.

    Kristin – How so?

    Valencia Lia – Lol… I can get pretty miffed when I get sniped at the last moment.

    daisychain – haha, it’s phenomenon!

    Danielle – Oh yes, I am totally addicted.

    jennine – I know the feeling!

    Dirty Hair Halo – Was it YOU who got those vintage orange boots at the last second?????!!!!!! ;P

    EmilyKennedy &
    Grant – I do that ALL the time because I can’t afford anything but want to pretend I can just pick whatever I want, haha… Can you imagine going through a mall and just leaving everything you grabbed at the counter and walking out? lol..

    Ruta – How can you resist?

    RetroChick – Isn’t that weird? Why do we bid when we don’t really want it? It’s like an impulse.

    vnssa906 – It’s fun, isn’t it?

    Meream – Hehe.. yeah, there’s a disclaimer for a reason!

  17. Becca, on December 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 pm Said:

    oh I am an ebay fiend! I am always lurking on auctions looking for deals. My perfect bargain score so far? Suede Chanel oxfords. LOVE.

  18. Annie Spandex, on December 28th, 2009 at 9:50 pm Said:

    Becca – OMG, that IS a score!! That’s why I love eBay.

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