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Article
Why I Love Ebay
I talk a lot about how cycling is a great way to keep fit, have fun outdoors, and even make your own little contribution toward saving our planet. People are constantly asking me for advice about what equipment, clothing, and other gear they should have for their bikes – advice I’m only too glad to give. But the fact is that for most people these days, adding yet another thing to their lives that requires outlays of cash is a real burden. I’ve said often that cycling doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t. Sure, there are some things that, if you’re really going to get into the cycling habit you might want to invest a little bit of cash into, but it’s the accumulation of little things that can get worrisome. That’s where one of my favorite tools comes in – ebay! Yes, that’s right – I said ebay!
Of all the many wonderful and innovative destinations on the internet, ebay is one of the most practical, useful, and, once you get used to the “tricks of the trade,” FUN places you can go. Over the years, I’ve gotten into the habit, before I go off and start buying things, of stopping and asking myself if the thing I’m looking to buy couldn’t just as well be bought on ebay. I’ve bought everything from furniture to underwear on ebay, and had uniformly good experiences. And no, before you start thinking that I bought used underwear, it was brand new, in the box, with the tags. There are people who make quite excellent side incomes (or even their full incomes) by buying merchandise wholesale, and re-selling it on ebay. Since they have little to no overhead, they can undercut even the big chain stores.
For the cycling enthusiast, this can be a real boon. A lot of cycling equipment doesn’t necessarily need to be bought in person, or even brand new. I recommend, before you set out to buy something that might be a bit on the pricey side, to check out what’s available on ebay. You might just be very surprised.
Specifically when it comes to cycling, ebay can be a great way to do certain things you’ve been putting off because of the cost. Figured out which bike you want, but it’s out of your price bracket? Once you know the model and size, you don’t have to see it in person. Search for it on ebay. Odds are you’ll find, if not the exact thing, then something comparable – and at considerably less. Upgrade your components. Get the fancy odometer you’ve wanted, without breaking the bank.
The other great thing about ebay is that it is most definitely a two-way street. When economic times are tough, and you take on a new hobby or sport that requires a bit of investment in gear, why not take advantage of some of the “stuff” you have lying around, or cluttering up closets, when you can turn that stuff into cold hard cash? I know a lot of people are reading this and saying “oh, that’s so much bother.” I’m here to tell you that it isn’t! Quite the contray, ebay selling can be quite a lot of fun. And you’d be surprised at what people will be willing to pay for something, if it just happens to be what they want or need. TV sets, radios, dishes, furniture, cameras, that designer jacket you bought two years ago that’s too big for you now since you lost all that weight cycling…. all good ebay fodder. And if you want to upgrade to that fancy new carbon fibre bike, sell your old one to help finance it!
Lastly, by selling your used and unwanted belongings, you’re “being green,” by recycling things that, while they may have outlived their usefulness to you, may yet give many years of pleasure to somebody else. So don’t use this as an opportunity to get rid of that radio that doesn’t work, or the chipped dishes. Every ebay user gets rated on the quality of their transactions, and the higher and better your ratings, the more people will trust you. It’s how you should choose what sellers you want to buy from as well. So just go out there and start seeing how you can use ebay to help you achieve your cycling goals. And think of the whole thing as one big (profitable) game – just so long as it’s a game you play with integrity!
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