Have you ever given similar excuses to your spouse? If so, then you already know all about web auctions. Web auctions can be a really neat place to find great bargains or just another place to buy future yard sale items. I am talking from personal experience here. There is just something so alluring about getting such a great deal. I really did want that Zip Drive and it works great too. On the other hand my wife's watch with the fancy silver and turquoise watch band is really a tight fit. The first thing she asked after I gave it to her was "does the watch band adjust?" Well it doesn't so of course she can't ware it very often, she hates getting all that butter on her arm.
I have visited several different web auctions the last year and have come to some conclusions. I better make sure whatever I bid on is truly something I need, not could use. Checking what the shipping & handling charges are is a good practice also. I am always amazed that some auctions charge over $10 for a very small item. Now some products being a year or so old is not a big deal, but a year old computer or hardware item is ancient. Be aware of the "Refurbished" products also, I guess refurbished sounds better than used, returned, or fixed.
I am going to try to avoid any future spur of the moment bids. I have another computer sitting in my home because of getting caught up in bidding wars. Now I am not talking about some brand name computer either. My new to me computer kind of reminds me of old Johnny Cash song. You know the one where the guy builds his own car using parts he had taken from the factory over the last 10 to 20 years. Hold on, I paid for all the various parts of my computer. I have found out that there is a lot of computer oriented companies out there that was unknown to me. I think I will name my computer the "Mongrel." (Find out more by reading my "How to build a computer and wish you hadn't." page)
Are web auctions a good deal, I guess they can be but bidding over $20,000
for a Volkswagon Beetle seems like a bad deal to me. One thing for sure,
the web auctions aren't going to lose money on their deals.