battlebeast

Ever since eBay went live in 1995, it has, to me, been a blessing and a curse. eBay has afforded me the opportunity to find rare items I might never have otherwise found or been able to purchase any other way.

Rare items, items no longer made or common items not sold in one's area... they are all available on the auction powerhouse.

When I was four years old in 1987, I received a cassette tape that, to this day, I treasure. Smurfin! 10th Anniversary commemorative Album is still one of my favortie albums. However, 15, 20 years after it's release, eBay finally allowed me to obtain another copy, this time on LP. I was also able to find it on CD. Awesome! Other items, like toys from my childhood, porcelain dolls for my mother, certain out of print movies, the EXACT hockey card I need... I can find them all on eBay.

But there are two major problems I face when it comes to eBay: the first problem I encounter is that I find too much of what I want, and I end up spending a lot more money than I should on stuff that I probably don't really need. The second problem I face when it comes to eBay is that when I want something, say, a Ryan Smyth Franchise Ink autographed hockey card or Al Hamilton Retired Number patch card from the 2013 Upper Deck Edmonton Oilers Collection, I have to wait until someone posts for sale that card I'm looking for. Sure, I can buy the box and hope I get the patch card that I need, but that could take a long time buying expensive box after box, and I still may never get the card. It also may never be posted for sale.

So here's to you, eBay, for helping us all out and no doubt frustrating us to no end! A blessing and a curse. Cheers to another 20 years and more!