Do you remember the first item you ever sold online? Let us know by sending an email to ina@auctionbytes.com and we may publish your story. Today we hear from Juli who took a chance on a yard-sale castoff and discovered the thrill of being on the receiving end of snipe-bidding on eBay!

Hi, Ina:
My mother was an avid garage sale and thrift store junkie. She was raised during the Depression era, so she always hunted for the best bargains. If the item was broken, but she still liked it, she always said, "I can fix that". And, she did! She was a great recycler before the "greenies" ever thought of the term.

Anyway, while "saling" with my mom back in 1999, I found a telephoto lens for a film camera that was in its original box and price tag from Montgomery Wards for $137.99. The seller at the garage sale wanted $10.00 for it. I had no idea if it would fit my Canon EOS but thought it was worth $10.00 to find out.

Unfortunately, it didn't fit.

However, I had been looking at eBay for a while because we had just moved into a vintage home. I was buying chenille bedspreads for the beds and it occurred to me that I might be able to buy another chenille if I sold the camera lens. I didn't have a digital camera at the time. So, I put the lens and the box, making sure the original price tag showed on the box, on my flat-bed scanner. I covered them with a pillowcase to give a nice, neutral background and.....presto! I had my auction image.

I started my auction at $9.99, sure that it would do better than that. All week it was up there......no bids. Sheesh! I was very anxious that week. Then the closing day came. I sat at my computer anticipating a big payday. Three minutes until closing. Refresh! Still no bids. Sigh! Refresh! Still nothing. Whimper! Refresh! First bid! Hurray! Refresh! Still only one bid. Sigh again! Refresh! $11.53! Hurray! Refresh again faster! Still $11.53. Refresh! $26.00!!!! Oh, my gosh, I'm doing the happy dance! It ended at $36.00. Not a huge profit, but, I was so happy. I became quite addicted.

I've been selling something on eBay almost every week since. It has changed my life and has given me a vocation that I love. Now, my house is full of "junque". Of course, my house is too small for us and eBay. I definitely need to learn how to organize better. However, I still love it and have learned so much about the antiques and decorative arts world. It is something I will pursue for the rest of my life.
Thank you!
Juli Barrett
Ontario, Calif.