I do some of my Christmas shopping on Ebay. Yes, really! I have bought gently used toys for my youngest child from eBay on many occasions. I’ve also bought out of print books, videos, games, and CDs for my older kids.
Shopping on Ebay is frugal. It is a great place to find out-of-print or discontinued items without spending a fortune. Plus it is better for the environment. It is “greener” to buy a used toy than it is is to buy a new “eco-friendly” toy.
So how do my children react to an eBay Christmas present? The first present my youngest son opened last year happened to have been purchased from Ebay. He did not want to open anything else, he just wanted to play with his “new” airplane. Every time we asked him if he wanted to open another present he said, “I already have one and I’m playing with it”. He was grateful to have a gift that matched his interests; he didn’t care where it came from.
Tips for Buying Gifts on Ebay:
Check the reputation of the seller. You can read past buyers reviews if you have concerns. I often compare reputations when two buyers are selling a similar product.
Read the description carefully. Look at the images and send an email asking for clarification if you have questions.
Make sure you know when bidding will stop. You want plenty of time for the present to ship to you.
It is much harder to return items bought on Ebay and some sellers do not accept returns. Do not make impulse purchases. Before you buy a gift on Ebay, make sure it is really something that you want to buy.
Make sure you know the shipping charges and figure that into the price. Some sellers will give you shipping options. Calculate the costs based on your shipping preference.
Find out where the item is coming from. I unknowingly ordered some cool Legos from a seller in the UK and a video from a seller in Japan. They both made it the day before Christmas, but it was too close for comfort.
Have you ever shopped on Ebay for gifts before?
Annie says
I have shopped for gifts on eBay, especially their half.com section for books, games, videos, etc. I have also shopped thrift stores, antique malls, flea markets, etc. At least some of our gifts are second-hand each year.