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A Knight's Tale sequel axed
Before I started buying things on eBay, I used to think of it as a place where people traded their old underwear and sold old computer games to like-minded geeks. You know, world's largest garage sale online with a complicated bidding process to boot.
But after scrolling through millions of items listed, I've discovered that eBay became a huge market of new household items available at fixed price. Sure, there are some weird items like MiG-21 fighter jet and city of Bridgeville, California (pop. 25). But it's also filled with items you can buy online with considerable savings as opposed to buying them locally at a big box store.
Since then, searching eBay became a part of my routine before buying anything. New bike light? Check eBay. New knives? Check eBay. Laptop battery? Check eBay! With some exceptions, most items can be bought on eBay with considerable savings without compromising the quality. The only downside is waiting a few days before the item arrives in the mail.
Here's an example.
Recently, my iPhone charger decided to end its miserable life by tangling itself. It survived, but exposed wires were a clear sign of an upcoming trip to the electronics farm where all electronics go when they get old.
So, I decided to stop by a local electronics store to buy a new one. A well-mannered sales clerk informed me cheerfully I'll have to spend $50 on a genuine Apple charging cable. Instead, I pointed somewhere behind him shouting, "Watch out for the T-Rex!" and promptly left the store while he wasn't looking.
When I got home, a quick eBay search revealed that I can buy iPhone chargers for less than $1. These chargers will do the exact same job as a $50 charger bought locally, but the end result would be more money in my pocket. Thank you eBay for saving me yet another pile of money so I can put away more money towards our future while still being able to charge my phone!
In general, I'm usually able to save at least 50% off the item. Downside? I have to wait a few days until the items are dropped off by Doug, my favorite Canada Post employee.
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This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
