eBay My World: sec9611( 177)

I like win-win deals, in which both the seller and I are better because of the transaction. I pay fast, like immediate shipping, and timely feedback, both ways.

I rarely sell. I have sold concert tickets after obtaining better ones, shoes and shirts, purchased on eBay, and that didn't fit properly. I've sold University of Georgia football tickets for a friend who has eBaphobia, pronounced, ee bay foe be ah - they should put it in the dictionary.

Men's dress shirts, New Balance 990 series running shoes, and a few narrowly defined categories of semi-valuable UK and US coins, concert tickets, & books. Oh, 5 years ago I did buy a car, a six-year old Volvo. Flew to San Antonio the day the bidding ended, liked it, and used the dealer's computer to bid aggressively. My credit union overnighted the check and I drove it home the next day. Great car. I've put 60K flawless miles on it. I initially dismissed the idea of buying a car on eBay as absurd, but now believe that with proper precautions you can get a good buy on a used vehicle. However, if you're spending $5000 - $10000 or more, IMO, it's worth a $500 airplane ride to check it out. And if you can possibly avoid shipping it home, do so.

I collect a couple of examples of semi-rare books and coins. I can't afford truly rare items. For example, I'd like a true first edition of The Catcher in the Rye, in fine condition, signed by Mr. Salinger, but don't have $40, 000 or more.

English

Family, jogging, pick-up basketball, softball, music, reading - spend a lot of time reading and participating on Internet Blog and Listserve activities, more time than I should.

History, especially biographies, books about scientific discoveries, and scientific fraud, deceptions and scams of all kinds. Trust Me, about Charles Keating, is a good example. One book I bought on eBay that I am very happy to have is a signed copy of, The Double Helix, by James Watson, published in 1968. It is a classic, a fascinating narrative of what happened behind the scenes, the human interactions and competition, as groups of scientists raced to discover the shape of the DNA molecule. I rarely read fiction. If I had to recommend three books, right now I'd pick: 1. Truman, by David McCullough; 2. What Happened, Scott McClellan, and; 3) any of several books about the Battle of Midway in WW II, when, in one day, the US sunk (sank?) all four Japanese aircraft carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor and reversed Japanese war strategy from offense to defense. I'm reading, Blackwater, right now, a scary book about a private ideological army with ties to the Christian Right. They have made large don

Annie Hall, Aliens, Empire of the Sun, Office Space, Saving Private Ryan, ET, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, the version with Robert Preston. Just saw Wall-E and thought it was great. Pixar is a national treasure, or perhaps it's Steve Jobs. I love my Mac, my iPod, and my iPhone, too.

Hard and soft rock. The Who, Beatles, CCR, Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and our local bar band (who we did see in bars in 1980 or so) REM. I'm especially fond of Bruce Springsteen, who I believe to be a genius. His song-writing is matched only by McCartney and Dylan, and his live performances, with the E-Street Band, are the greatest rock n' roll that has ever been or ever will be, and I've seen almost every major act since about 1969, when I first saw the Rolling Stones.

West Wing, it's better than most movies. The Discovery and Military channels - often c-span. Sports, especially college football. Bought an HDTV just for college football. Favorite team: Georgia, of course; Second favorite: Whomever is playing Notre Dame; Third favorite: Michigan State; Fourth: Michigan's opponent. I just love football Saturdays.

Our word is all any of us has out here in cyberland. If I make a promise or commitment, I keep it, even if it costs me time and money. I do not bid and win without paying, ever, or sell, without the most accurate descriptions I can possibly provide, including flaws. If I've made careless bids, I stood by them and suffered the loss. A bid is my word. In over seven years as a member of eBay, I have 100% positive ratings from over 160 different sellers on over 250 transactions, and also all positives from about a dozen or so buyers. I like to think of eBay as a community of friends who haven't yet met, a community with a culture that is not me, me, me, money, money, money. I've never given or received a negative feedback, and wouldn't, except for fraud or nonpayment, which, of course, is fraud. I would do back flips to please a buyer, and would be very slow and reluctant to give a negative feedback I always pay, and almost always within 24 hours of the end of the auction.

I grew up in South Georgia, but love Athens, home of the University of Georgia. Unlike South Carolina, and most other states where there are many U of South Carolina campus', there is only one University of Georgia, and it is here in Athens. The entire state takes pride in what is truly a great university, a university that a great football team can finally be proud of, too. Although it is too expensive to buy season tickets, friends often have an extra. Though the games are usually on TV, there is nothing better than being at Sanford Stadium for a game. I am married to a Georgia native and our children have thus far carried on the traditon. I am a public school teecher, NOT yet too old to rock & roll, but definitely too young to die. I mispelled teacher as a goke.

I prefer to pay, and to be paid by Paypal, immediately. I don't pay with cashier's checks, and won't send money orders. I won't bid if those are the only payment options. I am flexible when I sell. I'm not running a business and have the time to wait for a personal check to clear. Selling locally, I have had buyers come to my house and pay with cash. Paypal really is safe and simple, but like most people, I think their fees are outrageous. I'm happy to send a personal check to sellers who want to avoid those fees, and wait till it clears for my purchase to ship. For concert tickets, when time is a factor, for folks with positive ratings I have no problem sending or receiving electronic tickets from Ticketmaster.

When I sell, I'll do pretty much whatever the buyer wants. I occasionally sell tickets and usually include free shipping as part of the sales price. It's too complicated and, IMO, lacking in class to hassle over $10 in shipping charges. I have items I win shipped to a PMB box I rent at a nearby UPS store, where they always sit securely, regardless of delivery time, and where an adult will always be there to sign, if need be. This address is registered with Paypal. I generally prefer the least expensive shipping method possible, unless time is an issue. Whether buying or selling I want more expensive items - over $100 - to be shipped UPS or Fed EX and to have tracking numbers and thus a way to watch the item's movement online.

If someone did not like what I sold, which has never happened, I would offer a 100% refund, plus shipping both ways. Exceptions would be, for example, if I sold size 12D shoes and they didn't fit the buyer perfectly. I wear 12D and that's why I would be selling them. If I misdescribed concert ticket locations, and this wasn't discovered until the time of the concert, I'd probably give the buyer half or 2/3 their money back, depending on how far off the description (this has never happened, either). If the ticket was off by a row or two, whether a buyer or seller, I'd let it go. If I claimed row three and it it was row 20, more serious action would be required. Common sense is a good guideline. There is trivia and there are mistakes that make a difference. Ultimately, I'm guided by high standards of ethics and fairness, whether a buyer or seller. If you have questions about me, or an item I'm buying or selling, please feel free to contact me.

Ernie08@mac.com