Adventures in eBay

I have been an avid user of eBay since I was a senior in high school. Back when eBay would send you an empty box you outbid nine other people in the last three minutes on by bidding 74.01 plus shipping and handling. And you were happy if what you got was 'gently used' like it said and not a completely disgusting rag ass shit shirt. Now eBay is glorious and secure and pretty much a store that you can buy everything & anything brand new with tags (or NWT).

Well now I love it even more. My dad was like 'Look, Ruth.' He found the North Face I wanted on backcountry.com for 161 dollars and free shipping. Too bad it wasn't in my size.
Dad "Oh nooo."
Ruth "It's okay. We'll go on eBay."
Dad "EBAY?! WHY EBAY?!"
Ruth (thinking) Uh because it's easy as hell and has everything you could ever want?
Ruth "Just watch." Five minutes later, I showed him how to purchase the coat I wanted in my size and color NWT for 135.00. Shipping and handling was 9.92. So a coat originally 179.00 was 144.92.
Dad "Oh man, you have to pay for shipping and handling?! The other website didn't make you pay for shipping and handling."
Ruth "Dad, even with shipping and handling, it's still cheaper than the other site."
Dad "Yeah but it was free." (I smell a victim of sale ploys.)

We go to tell my mom.
Mom "Ebay? You got a used coat? Eww no wonder it was so cheap."
Ruth "No, Mom, eBay does have new stuff. You just have to look. It's new with tags."
Mom "How does that work?"
Ruth "Well if I got something for Christmas and I didn't like it but couldn't return it, I could sell it on eBay."
Mom "Ohh wow. So it was only 145? Did you get free shipping and handling?"
Ruth "It was 135 plus shipping and handling."
Mom "You had to pay ten dollars for shipping and handling?!"

So I helped my dad purchase my Christmas gift. And in a couple of weeks I will be wearing my brand new brown North Face hoodie. Hooray for being a slave to brand names!