Christmas shopping on ebay offers unlimited possibilities... and good deals on myrrh
Dan Brawner
November 29, 2007
Your father gave up watching television in 1986 after the dog ate the remote to his beloved 26-inch color TV from Montgomery Ward. (The dog was never the same after that. It seemed depressed and, well, kind of distant.) Now imagine the look on your dad's face when he unwraps his Christmas gift from you and finds the incredibly rare, matching remote control for his TV in perfect condition! You'll be a hero.
And for that sister who craves exotic and expensive clothes, you could get her a stunning hand-made cashmere shawl with wool as fine as a spider's web from the little Russian town of Orenburg. For the boss who travels the world looking for antique religious artifacts, you can get an 18th Century prayer wheel from Tibet. For your uncle who never got over the 60's, the Flintstone's lunch box you get him will bring tears to his eyes.
All these things, plus virtually anything else you might think of can magically appear at your doorstep with the snap of your fingers. Or, at least, the click of your computer mouse. Yes, I'm talking about ebay, that colossal Internet garage sale where you can buy everything from Gutenberg Bibles to Beany Babies. All it takes is a credit card.
When ebay was founded in 1995, the first item sold was a broken laser pointer for $14.83. From that moment, they knew they were on to something. In 2006, ebay racked up over $52 billion in sales. The company has over 248 million members worldwide and, at any given time, offers more than 102 million items for sale.
In 2004, ebay sold a 10-year-old toasted cheese sandwich that had a ghostly image of the Virgin Mary (and a bite out of one corner) for the ungodly sum of $28,000. In February of this year, after Britney Spears went nuts and shaved off her hair, she tried to sell it on ebay for a million dollars, until it was removed from the auction.
Looking at what's available today, I see there is a nice, home-made coonskin hat currently going for $82 (winter is coming - think about it, Britney). There is a 1803 Methodist hymn book for $75,000, an unused Dr. Pepper bottle cap for $6, a 2005 Rolls Royce Phantom for $185,988 (reserve price, not met) and bidding for a McDonald's Happy Meal in a plastic bucket has reached $2,370.
You begin to see the problem with ebay. On one hand, you can buy anything on earth from them, but on the other hand, there are so many people looking at each item, it sometimes sells for a ridiculous price. Out of the five million people who see a $2 thimble on ebay, 50 will swear it once belonged to their Grandma Ida and will pay $400 for it. And three people immediately recognize it as the missing part to their spaceship and will pay anything to get back to their home planet of Zebulon.
I admit I am slightly addicted to ebay myself. But somehow I think the Three Wisemen got along just fine without it. Even for that very special person, it's the thought that counts. And for that person on your Christmas list who has everything, get him some frankincense. Or better yet, some myrrh -- it's only $4.29 on ebay.
And for that sister who craves exotic and expensive clothes, you could get her a stunning hand-made cashmere shawl with wool as fine as a spider's web from the little Russian town of Orenburg. For the boss who travels the world looking for antique religious artifacts, you can get an 18th Century prayer wheel from Tibet. For your uncle who never got over the 60's, the Flintstone's lunch box you get him will bring tears to his eyes.
All these things, plus virtually anything else you might think of can magically appear at your doorstep with the snap of your fingers. Or, at least, the click of your computer mouse. Yes, I'm talking about ebay, that colossal Internet garage sale where you can buy everything from Gutenberg Bibles to Beany Babies. All it takes is a credit card.
When ebay was founded in 1995, the first item sold was a broken laser pointer for $14.83. From that moment, they knew they were on to something. In 2006, ebay racked up over $52 billion in sales. The company has over 248 million members worldwide and, at any given time, offers more than 102 million items for sale.
In 2004, ebay sold a 10-year-old toasted cheese sandwich that had a ghostly image of the Virgin Mary (and a bite out of one corner) for the ungodly sum of $28,000. In February of this year, after Britney Spears went nuts and shaved off her hair, she tried to sell it on ebay for a million dollars, until it was removed from the auction.
Looking at what's available today, I see there is a nice, home-made coonskin hat currently going for $82 (winter is coming - think about it, Britney). There is a 1803 Methodist hymn book for $75,000, an unused Dr. Pepper bottle cap for $6, a 2005 Rolls Royce Phantom for $185,988 (reserve price, not met) and bidding for a McDonald's Happy Meal in a plastic bucket has reached $2,370.
You begin to see the problem with ebay. On one hand, you can buy anything on earth from them, but on the other hand, there are so many people looking at each item, it sometimes sells for a ridiculous price. Out of the five million people who see a $2 thimble on ebay, 50 will swear it once belonged to their Grandma Ida and will pay $400 for it. And three people immediately recognize it as the missing part to their spaceship and will pay anything to get back to their home planet of Zebulon.
I admit I am slightly addicted to ebay myself. But somehow I think the Three Wisemen got along just fine without it. Even for that very special person, it's the thought that counts. And for that person on your Christmas list who has everything, get him some frankincense. Or better yet, some myrrh -- it's only $4.29 on ebay.
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