"eBay's not over until the "fat ladies are Bought"

 When asked if I have ever been “on” eBay, I generally make a non-committal response like, “Why, have you?” If the truth were known, I’m an eBay junkie! We are legion. I spend most of my Internet time at home perusing eBay offerings. I’m a buyer, not a seller. I can relate war stories about the great purchases I have made-- like the leather seats for my old MR2. On the other hand, I can remember with chagrin some purchases I have missed. I get excited and my heart beats faster whenever I log on to eBay.

My latest eBay passion was for “Fat Ladies”. These are small (15 inch tall) ceramic funerary figures produced in China between 600 and 900 AD (during the Chinese Tang dynasty). My fascination began with the purchase of a reproduction of one last June while on a tour in China. After bringing home this chubby little statue, I started researching its history. I learned that heavy-set women were prized by the people of the Tang Dynasty as the fatness reflected the wealth and stability of the time. To be buried with these ceramic “Fat Ladies” to attend to your needs in the afterlife was to assure yourself of a pleasant hereafter.

Well, from the research, I naturally progressed to the Internet and eBay to learn if I could purchase more. I wasn’t disappointed and for nearly two months I was on a binge of bidding on and sometimes purchasing “Fat Ladies”. We now have six of these figurines in our house. My wife has said, “Enough!” And I reluctantly agreed. But what fun it was. (Maybe we should each have 3 “fat ladies” put in our coffins!)

A friend of mine recently purchased a sports car on eBay. As he and his wife were planning a trip to Florida, he decided to try “eBay Motors” to locate in Florida the kind of car he wanted. He found several listings for that type of car. After some exciting bidding he purchased the car and once he got to Florida, he picked it up and drove it back to Nebraska. He actually bought it from a car dealer off a used car lot!

The Library has a number of books to help a person become acquainted with eBay. I don’t believe my friend looked at this book, but it might be advisable to check out “eBay Motors, the Smart Way” by Joseph T. Sinclair. In this 2004 book, the author helps both the buyers and the sellers establish a price, arrange for a mechanic’s inspection, and take delivery. As the author says, “There is no other marketplace to match the huge selection, the enormous exposure, and the unbelievable convenience of eBay Motors!”

Other new books about eBay include “How To Sell Anything on eBay and Make a Fortune” by Dennis L. Prince. Joseph T. Sinclair, the author of “eBay Motors...” also has a second new book entitled, “eBay the Smart Way”.

Two books published in 2003 about eBay buying and selling are: “The Official eBay Bible” by Jim Griffith and “How To Do Everything with Your eBay Business” by Greg Holden.

Recent donations to the Columbus Library Foundation include those in memory of Jane Ann Liss from Mr. and Mrs. Richard Luebbe, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mead, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trautwein. Luella Smith, the mother of Dwayne Smith was recognized by a memorial from Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Fleischer. And, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Luebbe and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Fremarek, and Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Krumland presented memorials in honor of Donald Beckenhauer.