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Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

In light of this Friday split ....

Are there any members here that sold pre 2002? I know it must of been completely different but interested in your responses.

And... If you think they will bring back any of the old ways. I've only been on since 2009.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Great Post, would be interested to see veterans stories here :D

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

JeffWeico?

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I was a buyer back in those days, that's when I used to Garage Sale only for fun.

I wish I would have got into the game back then, but it didn't happen for me until 2005.

Funny Story: My Dad likes to stay up late at night and he sometimes watches infomercials. Well on one particular night he was watching one on how to sell and make money on eBay and he bought the kit. (about $75)

Well since he's pretty lazy in his old age, he asked me to read the books and watch the videos so I could teach him. :eek:

Anyway, I spent a day going through everything and taking notes and later that night made us a eBay & PayPal account that we could all sell on together.

We quickly sold almost everything in the house that wasn't being used. Back then we did auctions and always ended them on Sunday like the eBay kit said to do.

Sundays were always my favorite day back then, it was so Exciting to watch the bids go way higher than our expectations.

If it wasn't for my Dad watching that infomercial, I would probably still be working at some aircraft company punching a time clock.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Buying was way more fun back then. Can say more unique things were truly collectibles items.

One of my reinstated accounts from 2005 (not pre 2002)
had some seller's negative feedback for non payment.

But I can surely say, it was way better then. There was more trust between sellers and buyers.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I remember the time like 12 years ago, when you could create and account, put $ 600 silver watches in it on the first day, sell them, and take the money without any issues.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I remember selling a 500$ value guitar to US buyer.
He payed me thru Western Union!

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

You could sell with private feedback. Also could open brand new accounts and list £0000s with of goods the very first day.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I started in 2003 and my first listings were $600.00 items with no pictures and people would call and pay with a credit card over the phone half of the time.
No pictures, poor descriptions but a kid on the phone who could answer any question you could possibly have about the item.

People would send checks and money orders in the mail and tracking was unheard of back then. I would write out addresses on pieces of paper and wait in line at the PO for hours
Ahhhhh.....The good ole days lol

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Why do you think it changed so drastically?

Why change something when it works.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

It is simple.
Theft, scammers, fraud. I don't blame paypal or ebay for being cautious at all although it is not fair to good sellers.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

As yankee mentioned, furthermore, the e-commerce market has exploded since, so much so it has become many people's primary shopping platform.
Fraud was also occurring back then. Of the little I bought/sold, I ran into it twice, the basic paypal chargeback after item had been despatched. Paypal however reimbursed me on BOTH occasions. I guess those were the days they were building bridges, so couldnt afford to have a bad name. But now, they will toss and turn whoever they feel like. But as mentioned before, not fair on good sellers, good reputation, good account standing, good history, good practices, but one thing goes wrong and you lose it all!

P.S. I still remember my user ID from the 1st account I ever made! Back in 2006.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I remember back then when I was younger a broke I used to want thing so badly but be short of cash. I remember eBay used to let me order something have it shipped then it would take a few days for it to hit and pull from my bank. I forgot how long. But it gave me time to gather up cash in the grace period.

I also remember back in 2005 I was selling used iPhones left and right. Now if I did the amount and type of items I did back then I would be banned the within a week!

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I would believe you but the iPhone didn't come out til 2007. In 2005 was probably blackberries.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

On a side note. I still have my real ebay account from. 2002. I was trying to locate a few other accounts I had but with that password reset loop I'm unable to get the old email.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Well thats awkward, LOL

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

was too young lol, my mum used to though. Sold china/antiques, prices were higher. Used to have to wait to get the check posted to you and then wait for it to clear to send. Barely any scamming buyers

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

my bad i got the years mixed up then... or maybe im jsut a time traveler

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

If you'd tell any eBay employee this story in 2015, they'd probably have a fit and start throwing up.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

My first account was 2k3, selling online gaming items, currency, and accounts.

I was such a dick back then, I'd scam people who would WesternUnion me money, let them level the account for a month, then reclaim the accounts using the master password/secret question. I still feel bad for doing that to people. =/ I've certainly cleaned up my act since then.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Don't try selling accounts on aspkin on that note.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Not that I plan to, but hey, punish me for my actions 12 years ago. -_-

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Lol. That's how it's done. Any reference turns skeptics into believers.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

That's pretty messed up.

Sandy D was trusted and loved by many of this forum, then she did that.....

No longer around.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I started selling in late 2003 shortly after eBay had acquired PayPal. It was very much different back then Money Order were very common, personally I loved it. It was really like a close nit community and eBay was much more like a big garage sale than it is today. It was quite some time ago but I distinctly remember final value fees being like 3 or 4%. It was crazy

There were also lots of questionable items most people back then could tell what was legit and what wasn't especially after Vero police came on board. Personally it was an absolutely amazing time to be a merchant. It felt like you could make a profit on almost anything and you almost didn't think about the fees because they were so much lower than they are today.

Also sellers could leave negative feedback for buyers so it was a much more honest playing field.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I was top of this eB "fad" in mid 90s and late 90s when it was fresh....less counterfeits...money orders in the mail - it was great! No middleman cutting like PP does.

As for Sandy D :rip:

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Did Sandy D just turn on everyone one day or was it over a period of time?

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

She was a friend of mine on here. Apparently she use to sell accounts to lots of people. For whatever reason I heard multiple things like her husband got in a catastrophic accident. But none the less the accounts she sold to other who did not change the passwords she went through and stole the money. Sad day really because she was a huge part of this forum and a wealth of information. I would compare it to this terrorist nonsense someone you thought was good and trusted then went rouge out of nowhere.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Was cool way back to speak to and then just turned on me shrug so we had stopped talking - this was months before the fiasco but ah well

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

I agree I may have been a bit absent for that period as to why I was so shocked when I heard the news.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

While I was not a member of this forum when those events transpired, and never knew Sandy personally, it does sadden me that someone who spent so much time here, and had the trust of so many, became a thief and broke the trust of everyone here. It's not as though she simply didn't provide accounts to those who bought them, she embezzled funds from those she sold accounts to, and then locked the owners out so they were powerless to stop her. I hope to never see this sort of event transpire again, and I'm glad I wasn't here to witness it when it did occur.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

oh here we go now this is a good thread boys n girls :clap:... PLEASE no more sandy talk unless were talkn spongebob... lets get back to the good ol days... money orders and a mill worth of stuff listed day after creating new acct
:pop2:

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

my parents opened an account in 99. i used to buy here and there on their account. then in 2001 i got a job at the age of 16 and started collecting nes games. took me till 2003 to get a 99% complete collection. back then a complete little samson was $30. now a complete little samson will set you back 2,000 if you are lucky. most rare nes games back then were $30 max. now there are quite a few that will wear your wallet out fast.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Wow...I thought she just took payments for accounts and didn't deliver. I didn't know she actively stole paypal funds.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Her actions were wrong but the members who she was able to steal the funds should of changed the password to prevent her access to the account. :doh:

Lesson learned.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Pretty clever if you think about it, I tip my hat. Almost the perfect crime.

After all, she can not get prosecuted by law for taking money from fictional characters can she?:pop2:

You guys are talking like she isn't still active on this forum! Really????
:shhh:

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

Hope you cleaned up your act well.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

What would she have to gain? She'll never sell here again no matter how many aliases she has.

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002
 

why would this be so?

Re: Throwback eBay - Pre 2002