Do you think finding good deals at online auction sites such as ebay & others is a good strategy for saving money - or is it a recipe for potential overspending instead?

I haven't for awhile, but have been considering it if the postage costs aren't too high. Luckily, you can check on that beforehand for any given auction.
I was thinking about new items vs used .. and likely in competition with other retail online vendors or even warehouse bulk vendors like Costco, etc.
Anyway .. thought I'd toss it out there. Going to run a few searches and see what the numbers are like. There are also vendors with fixed price stores on ebay too, so you never know. :)

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by debtahals wears a curiosity COAT on February 12th, 2009

Oh .. I've gotten lots of stuff on ebay in the past and was overwhelmingly pleased with what I got. No furniture though. I'd bet the percentages vary by product category? Certainly would vary on length of time seller has been there - and their ratings. (Always check their feedback!!)
But I haven't been out there for easily 5 or 6 years now. I'd thought about heading back out there several months ago. Never got around to it. But now, been thinking it's time to do some cost comparisons and add it to my list of places to check.
I think I'd go with walk in stores or Craig's list for furniture .. but not ebay. But what do I know? lol

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by debtahals wears a curiosity COAT on February 12th, 2009

True enough.
Have some "bulk things" I'm hoping are sitting in seller's stores at a flat rate that are good prices. I do a LOT of mailing, for example. So if I can get bulk mailer envelopes? That would be great.
Don't know. Going to start with things I normally use and just do some investigating and pricing there.

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by debtahals wears a curiosity COAT on February 12th, 2009

Good points!
One good thing about online auction houses like ebay is that while you can put in your starting bid, you can have it automatically increase your bid if you're not there as soon as anyone passes you by (assuring you're still in the running) .. BUT .. and this is a big but .. you get to set your "maximum bid". So there's no reason to wind up spending more than we have or should if we use that feature.
You're right too that an emotional bidding war is NOT going to lead to saving us any money! Same is true for in person auctions. But BOAT hold potential for good deals if we go about it slowly and carefully.
I'm going to be adding both back into my shopping behavior. Haven't done either in person or online auctions in some time now.
Thanks. Nice to see you. :)

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by debtahals wears a curiosity COAT on February 12th, 2009

Nice to see you, too, debtahals. : )
I've considered using eBay, but I haven't done so (mainly because I would be afraid that I'd see something that I had been searching for but gave up on and will want to buy it).

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by a 10sEn is the AB Ninja Lounge bartender on February 12th, 2009

Yeah ... that "temptation factor".
Exactly why I haven't been there in forever. Got a lot of collectibles there in my time.
Thought I might start out with "bulk buy" areas .. and look for things I use all the time like open top plastic sheet protectors.
And I admit it .. I'd also like to follow up on those comic books with the Presidents in them. LOL

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by debtahals wears a curiosity COAT on February 12th, 2009

Don't make me come over there and take away your credit card. ; )
LOL! Just kidding, of course. : D

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by a 10sEn is the AB Ninja Lounge bartender on February 12th, 2009

ROFL!! I'll put out a Tarzan yell if it looks like I'm entering "danger zone". lol

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by debtahals wears a curiosity COAT on February 12th, 2009

Okay. Sounds like a plan. : D

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by a 10sEn is the AB Ninja Lounge bartender on February 12th, 2009