I sometimes say that ebay saved my life. Several years back, I lost a child. I found that being a lawyer after that just wasn't what it used to be. I'd have some whiplash client come in and I'd want to say "Get over it! Stop whining." (Some disgruntled ebayers may report that I still say that.) So when I was pregnant with one of my many boys, I decided to stay home and be a full-time Mom. My little boy who had died actually caught what killed him at a daycare so I vowed to never let any other of my children be raised by someone else and possibly be exposed to anything harmful.

While that is a wonderful sentiment, it is extremely hard for a Type A personality (part Shark) to sit at home and be maternal. My husband is a teacher and doesn't bring in the big bucks. My desire to stay home unfortunately didn't have an accompanying paycheck.

I did okay for quite awhile and even home-schooled my 3 boys. At some point, they decided they wanted to go back to "real" school. Literally, the day after they walked onto that school bus I slumped into a depression. All my feelings about my lost child and our financial situation just welled up and poured out.

My husband was really worried about me. I was having real difficulty getting out of this deep funk. By sheer happenstance, I came across ebay. I wasn't a computer person. As far as I could see, a computer was just a glorified typewriter (which my former secretary had used to constantly misspell words in my correspondence.) But I figured "how hard can it be?" And it isn't hard. So I dabbled and then double-dabbled...and now I am a full-time Power Seller. I can be home for my kids when they walk off that self-same school bus. I make more money than my teacher husband (sorry honey) and I am happy and fulfilled.

So that's how ebay saved my life. Now for the part I like to call "All the stupid questions I've ever been asked on ebay." You see, as a former lawyer, I am not naturally a customer service person. If I am wrong, I will admit it. But heaven help you if I'm right! Perhaps if I came from a retail background I would be quicker to believe that the customer is always right. But I don't and they're not! So here is what I don't want you to ask: Don't expect me to take an offer that is less than 50% of my listed price. I would lose money...and I don't like losing money. I get snippy if offers are way too low. Funny, whenever I respond in a factual (downright lawyerly) way to an unreasonable request, that makes me rude. So be it!

Next question I find irritating....I charge flat rate shipping within the US. Don't ask me to reduce it. If you live within a close proximity to me, I'll reduce it myself. But don't win the item and then, after the fact, refuse to pay the flat rate shipping. And if you are outside the US, ask how much shipping is before you bid. Again, after the auction is over is too late. We then have a contract and you are required to pay the quoted shipping.

There are more things I find extremely irritating (don't get me started on deadbeats) but I don't want you to think that is all I'm about...so I'll stop there. I do want all you potential customers out there to know that I love ebay and ebaying. I have met some wonderful people through ebay and 99.9% are salt of the earth, super folks. There are some wackos out there (hopefully you know who you are.) But to the rest of the non-wackos in cyberspace, I wish you happy ebay hunting and I hope you will be a frequent visitor to Vicki's Goodies. I'm really not so bad when I don't have to put on my lawyer hat.