Post #41424 by laney on Wed, Jul 2, 2003 12:34 PM

My ebay experience started when I searched for a bracelet my Mom had since her childhood. We were at Kono Hawaii (my families favorite restaurant when I was little) when I lost her bracelet. I had PROMISED not to loose it when I begged her to wear it that night. I think I was about 8 and it was my and her favorite piece of jewelery. She never trusted me with her "special" stuff again and I know it hurt her to loose this. It was a charm bracelet with little canned and bottled products with paper labels (1940's Duz soap, heintz products, crisco, pepsi, etc.)

When I was older I thought this would be the perfect gift for her so I went to EVERY antique mall, thrift store and flea market in So. CA and the East Coast in the summers! For over 5 years I searched, left my name on want lists and was tired of describing this item to deaf ears! You know those ladies who ONLY sell costume jewelery at flea markets like the Rose Bowl? Well they didn't even know what I was talking about! Finally after a couple weeks on ebay-there was one! It was mine! since that one, I have gotten her several, she even lets me wear one from time to time.

Without ebay, I know I would still be searching for that bracelet! I have also gotten some amazing bargains, I never would have found in thrift stores or antique malls. Witco pieces and my big beachcomber lamps come right to mind! Most of my lamps come from Canada (they must have had a plastic fetish there in the 60-70's) Sure I still look but am more disappointed after spending a day running around, a tank of gas, a bored and bitching kid, smelling some nasty thrift stores with plenty of wierd-o's, and nothing remotly tiki to show for it! So off to ebay I go to hunt in my home while drinking a beer! Yea!

[ Edited by: laney on 2003-07-02 12:35 ]