How I became an Internet Junkie!

As recent as five years ago I thought of the computer in my tailor shop as a fancy-fan-fangled typewriter with a screen. It created invoices, monthly statements, tax reports and it played a mean game of Tertris and Spider-solitaire.

Then a major catastrophe changed my life, a fire destroyed the building that housed my tailor shop. Even my car was lost, which had been parked at the back door of the building. For the first time in 30 some years I found myself with time on my hands and no sewing machines, no sewing gidgets and gadgets and worst of all no fabric collection. With other words, this pack-rat was totally devastated and at a loss.

Now I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with 'eBay'. I was not; all I had heard from friends was that it was a great place to find just about anything you were looking for. Well, trying to take my mind off my misery, not knowing which way to turn my life I was game, still willing to try most everything once. I sat myself down in front of the home typewriter unit with screen... I mean computer... and asked myself... Do I dare? Can it really be a good place to buy? Oh well! I guess I can check it out. I thought, I don't have to buy anything, just looking won't hurt, just to see what's available out there... right?

Well, it was a big mistake to think that "window" better said "screen shopping" would satisfy me. Living in a small town of less then 5000 people any major shopping had to be done in the city 35 km away. And with no car sitting in the driveway at my disposal I just had to try this new to me way of shopping. (Life is funny that way; what ever is really needed it ‘giveth'---in my case shopping opportunities. No woman should have to do without shopping for long; it can be hazardous to our health---that is my story and no matter what I'm sticking to it.)

Now let me tell you it was an eye-opener. Creating an account took a total of 2 minutes. (With my daughters help) Then type in sewing notions, sewing equipment, sewing machines, industrial sewing machines, sewing fabrics, sewing material, sewing thread, sewing zippers, sewing books, sewing........ Wow! Man-OH-Man I'd found my new heaven. Just about anything is available, some of it actually dirt-cheap.

For days and days I was glued to my new found best friends the typewriter with screen and the Internet. (Some days my daughter left for school while I was in front of the screen and when she returned home I was still in the same position... in front of the screen. At the beginning it was just fun to watch how the bidding etc. went.

Then I dared.... My first bid and win was a little hair-raising but more fun then I can explain. Be fore-warned though 'E-BAY-ING' is addictive... did you see how I said that? I can not say "can be addictive" I will say it "IS" addictive as I still hunt for deals and am totally hooked. I have had a lot of great luck, only a couple of deals have actually backfired. One at the start because I didn't double check on the cost of shipping and handling... for example the 6 brand new pillow forms that I won the bid for, for only .99 cents actually cost me almost Can$48.00. And one where the vendor took my money but never shipped the goods. However Paypal fixed it eventually and replaced my money. These are the only mishaps that occurred in the past three-four years out of 708 transactions up till now. I don't think that those are really bad odds. Do you?

So here is a list of the main concern that I double check on BEFORE bidding.

~Does the price seem like a good deal?

~Where is the item located?

~Does the vendor have a good reputation and score?

~Does the vendor ship to Canada?

~Does the vendor accept paypal?

~Does the vendor have a shipping calculator attached to his offerings?

~Is the itemsupposedly in good working order?

~Does the vendor guarantee the item to be in working order?

~How often does the vendor ship?

~Does the vendor spend time displaying and explaining his goods? (chances are that if the vendor showcases his inventory with pride the item will be of good quality)

I honestly think that eBay is a great place to find everything you need or would like as long as you are somewhat familiar with the prices for the items in your area. (Naturally you have to remember to add the shipping and handling costs and build them into the deals). Only deal with vendors that accept Paypal or money orders, as those are a secured way...

Isn't the internet just the most amazing thing ever? It has shrunk the world into a small little "second" in time. It let's me travel and chat with just about anyone anywhere. And the opportunities for a nosey bee like me are just phenominal... Knowledge, knowledge and more on the screen of my fancy-dancey-typewriter

Wow... Hmm... I wonder what's up with this site called Hubpages I really should check into it as I'm really ready for a new addiction

Oops, did I call Hubpages a new addiction? Well it has been one for me now for a full 12 month. For me it has been more then that, it has become a life line... that connects me to the outside world in ways that I could only dream about.

I would like to say a mega thank you to the great Team at Hubpages, for making it possible for this tech-ignoramous (me) to be able to be a part of it. And a great thanks to all the nice friends that I made here... from all over the US, Australia, England, France, Israel, India,.....