Curriculum and Cash

I’m a homeschool curriculum junky. When I hear of a new learning resource, it doesn’t take much to convince me that it would be JUST PERFECT for at least one of my children. After looking it over, that proves to be true a little less than half the time. The rejected material has often ended up on eBay.

The online auction process is a unique experience. Often, it’s profitable. Frequently, it’s educational. Usually, it’s entertaining.

Not too long ago, I listed a workbook from a popular publisher. Because virtually anyone shopping for this item would already be familiar with it, my description was brief: “This is XYZ workbook from ZYX publisher. The book is like new. There is no writing in this book.”

The next day, I received the following question in my email regarding said auction:  “Is there any writing in this book?”

I’m not sure why this person was interested in buying a book, because it appears she can’t read. (No, I didn’t point out her oversight. The potential customer is always right.)

A few years ago, I was baffled by one buyer who was the high bidder on three of my auctions. Instead of sending the total price for all three books, she issued three separate payments. I was mildly disgruntled about this, because PayPal charged me thirty cents per payment received. I decided not to make a big deal about the extra sixty cents, but was curious enough to ask why she had paid that way. She willingly answered, “My husband and I agreed not to spend over twenty dollars at one time without consulting each other. The books I purchased from you cost almost twenty dollars each, so this way I don’t have to ask him first.”

Can you say, “Creative Accounting”?

I’m always amazed when people are willing to pay more than the new price for a used item. I’ve often seen this happen when two bidders engage in a bidding war at the end of an auction. Up, up, up goes the price until somebody WINS. It doesn’t matter that the item is available for far less at a variety of retailers. What matters is that they WON! When it’s time to pay the invoice, I imagine this type of behavior gives “win at all costs”  a literal definition.

Once, the closing price of an item I was selling for My Husband was more than double what the overly-enthusiastic bidder could have purchased it for at his local KMart. Riddled with guilt, I emailed my buyer, explained how to research reasonable prices, and offered free shipping to help compensate for the excessive purchase price he was obligated to pay. He replied cheerfully, “Oh, don’t worry about it. eBay is the only place I can buy sports equipment without paying attention to what I am spending. If it comes from eBay, my wife thinks it HAS to be a bargain, so she doesn’t complain!”

I hope neither of these people are spending ALL their money. I suspect they’ll need it to pay for future marriage counseling.  

Since I have your attention, I will mention that I now buy and sell my used curriculum at The Swap, a site operated by my friend Amy and myself. Listing and selling costs only six dollars for three months, shopping and buying are free, you set your own prices and, unlike eBay, you can sell teacher’s manuals!

We would also be happy to have you join us on one of the fun, encouraging, informative and VERY active forums for homeschooling parents. The Swap is the oldest used curriculum site on the ‘Net! (Advertising is allowed only in the Classified Ads section. No advertising is allowed on the forums.)