[Northviewcats]

Can we ease up a bit on eBay and eBay sellers.

To be honest I know that I wouldn't have the collection that I enjoy today if it wasn't for eBay. Sure, they are not perfect, but they are going through the same growing pains that every business has when they have been in business for ten years. The novelty has run its course and most people want to buy products immediately and not wait seven days for an auction to end. Unfortunately, for us the card and collectible is a perfect match for the way eBay ran their business when it first started, now that they are trying to be more like Amazon and other retail sellers we have to adapt to this reality. Something will evolve that will fit out niche, but we cannot blame eBay for trying to survive in a changing market.

As for the postage: the other day I waited forty-five minutes to mail two cards at the post office because both clerks were taking care of applications for Passports. Why they couldn't have one window for passport applications I don't know. And believe me long waits at the post office are the rule not the exception. I'm sure there are probably other ways of mailing out my eBay sales, but I'm to lazy to find them. I still consider it just a hobby. If I charged my customers for my time I spend driving to and waiting in line at the post office, I would have to charge $10.00 per transaction.

The bottom line is collecting is a hobby, for most of us. eBay and the post office have made it easier for us to collect the things that we want. We should keep looking for new ways to trade cards, and a better way will come around, but in the meantime it wouldn't hurt to appreciate just a little bit the vehicles that have helped us in the past.

Best wishes,

Joe