The eBay Effect

Accounting Technology,  September, 2006  by Robert W. Scott

Tags: eBay Inc., sales

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Garage sales are dying, says Charlie. He should know-he spends as much time at garage sales as some people do with their families and has a house whose disarray and furnishings show it. There's nothing of value at most garage sales anymore and he points to a recent estate sale where he showed up at the opening time.

Normally, he would have expected dozens of professional dealers. There were two. "eBay," said the dealer. It used to be that dealers could scour garage sales and pay little for a treasurer find whose value the seller didn't recognize. Those days are gone. Anything of value is being sold on eBay, leaving garage sales with little but toys, children's clothes, and other non-descript household items. Not only that, where once people paid a premium for items because they weren't sure they would ever find them again, now they can shop the country. ...