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Pros: Can find anything you may be looking for, new way to meet people with similar interests
Cons: few instances when the site is down for repairs, non paying bidders

I was introduced to this auction service by my dad. At first, I didn't think much of it; it was just another site I'd never be able to figure out. My opinion changed 180 degrees when I saw all that this site had to offer! You can find virtually anything on eBay!

I am a scrapbook addict, and when I saw that they offered an entire scrapbook section, I knew I was hooked. You can just browse or search for a particular item, and a lot of times find items you didn't know you wanted! You can also search for items in your area, and this is helpful for items that are hard (or impossible) to ship, such as cars.

eBay is also a great way to meet people that are interested in the same things you are. I have met many, many people that love the same things I do. These are important contacts that I'll always have in case I need to find something.

The bidding process is simple. All you have to do is sign up (it's free) and bid on what you want. Then, if you are the winner of the auction, you contact the seller (or they contact you) to finalize the sale. You do not have to have a lot of experience with auctions to be able to do this. You can pay your seller by various methods, including money orders, cashier's checks, and online credit card services such as PayPal (which I also love). Then, the seller ships your item and leaves feedback on you as a bidder. When you receive your item, you leave feedback on the seller. The feedback system shows other eBayers how reliable you are as a bidder and/or seller.

In addition to being a bidder, I am also a seller (user id: kemills). The selling process could not be made any easier. You basically just fill out a form and you're done! And, it's a lot of fun to watch and see how people respond to your listings -- I've had some things sell for way more than I was expecting.

As far as the "cons" go, I have had a few instances in which the site was down for repairs, right when I needed to get on the site and do something. Fortunately, this does not happen too often. Also, I have had an instance with one non-paying bidder (in eBay lingo: a deadbeat bidder...lol). Again, this does not happen too often.

This was my first Christmas as an eBayer, and I was able to find some gifts on eBay that I would not have been able to find otherwise. It is really the most wonderful service available today. I have looked at other auction sites, and none compare to the service that eBay provides. I recommend this service to everyone on the internet.