Continuing the "nostalgia" theme, I'll take the opportunity this evening to reflect on another site that has had a major impact on me as a builder and collector:
eBay.
I joined eBay eight years ago today, at the recommendation of a Hess toy truck collector. My first purchase was a back issue of
Entertainment Weekly, but my first model purchase followed soon after: it was a 1/28 Ligier JS-11 from Blue Tank that would go on to become
Mirage. Since then I've been a regular user, averaging about one transaction per week, and eBay has helped my hobbies immeasurably: the Vanette kits used for
Ratchet and
Ironhide, the Pantera for my
1987 Batmobile, or the
Tomorrow Never Dies BMW would've been impossible to find otherwise (not to mention quite a few Transformers and other old toys).
Later that first year was also the debut of my annual
Holiday Auction. My selling has pretty much been limited to those and the occasional
diorama detail set, though I've put up the occasional model kit, toy, or other miscellaneous item now & then.
Overall, I've been very happy with my dealings on eBay. Sure, there have been a handful of bad users - and it has in no way replaced some of my other hobby outlets - but the benefit of getting those rare & out-of-production items has been worth it. I just make sure to keep it fun, avoid the snipers whenever possible, and look forward to many more years of buying & selling.
