The People's Economy: "Stuff 4 Sale"
Done any online buying or selling of horse stuff lately? Maybe through an equine-related message board, buy/sell site, or even craigslist?
If you said "yes," I wouldn't be surprised. Today's digital-communications means--cameras, camcorders, high-speed connections, and so forth--combined with online social networks and instant-payment systems--has brought forth a whole underground economy in people's used goods. And why not? Getting this stuff swapped around is just so easy to do nowadays.
It's not even hard to skip right past the use of ebay or the like, and to sell something on your own, to an eager individual, without paying a commission. Online contact in like-minded social groups can be audience enough. And as the economy tightens, the used-item discount holds appeal for a lot of people.
My favorite horse message board, for instance, has a "Horse-Related Goods" section that functions like an online tag sale of everything from used tack to "worn once" items of show clothing. I've sold all sorts of things on it lately, to unseen, unmet individuals who've happened upon my posts, and just zipped me the funds via PayPal. It's sort of like renting a table at the annual saddle-club tack swap. Except this venue is open for one-on-one commerce 24/7, 365 days a year.
My favorite sale so far was of a newborn foal blanket. The wee blanket went to a lady halfway across the country, who bought it not for a baby horse, but for a tiny orphaned calf named "Norman," pictured here in the blanket.Personal commerce often comes with personal stories. And that was really fun in the case of Norman the calf.
How about you? Got stuff 4 sale? Looking 4 more? Are you part of the people's underground economy?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 3:12 PM
12 comments
12 Comments:
Hang in there--photo will show up eventually!
Photo's up. Great story about the orphaned calf... like "Norman" from City Slickers!
I do ebay and have for years but am thinking of going other ways as well. I pay part of my feed bill this way. With a herd the size of mine any help is a good thing.
I've never really been game enough to buy/sell anything online, I might start one day, still a bit 'shy' online though! At the moment I'm trying to sell a stock saddle and an english saddle...oh and a bridle, but because of the horse flu outbreak around here, no-one is interested in risking bringing it onto their property. Hopefully that should go away pretty soon, because my state has been cleared of the flu, but everyone is still weary.
By the way, I've given you the Excellent Blog Award, I really enjoy reading your blog, and the range of different things you put on it, so that's why I've given it to you. =) Swing by my blog to pick it up.
OMG! I want a Norman, only I would name him Walter.....too cute!!!!
Hey Juli, you've been tagged to "spread the love" by me.
http://themares.blogspot.com/2008/02/waaaayyyy-back-on-feb-9th.html
You hit the nail right on the head with the "underground economy" statement! I've bought and sold tons of stuff, including big, expensive western saddles online. Last year, I paid for all my spring shots (including dental work) with funds from online sales, just selling things I no longer used from the closet to the tack room. My favorite eBay buy was my Double J barrel saddle, of which we on the east coast can get almost NOWHERE. I took a shot and it paid off - fits my mare and I to a Tee, zebra-stripe inlays and all!
I haven't sold much online lately, but did take a bunch of horse tack to a local auction where it sold really well..I was surprised.
On another note, I have noticed more name brand saddles being sold on ebay, and many of them note they are getting out of horses or cutting back. They are also going for less than what they did a year ago, which I find very interesting. I suppose it is another sign of the horse industry downturn.
Erin in MI
LOL @ the darling calf! Hey, I have one of those foal savers for sale....*light bulb goes off above head* Seriously. I think I was one of the first to use eBay, we've sold everything from saddles to jewelry, and then bought every piece of old Royal dinnerware my mom's set was missing, online. Our whole family uses some form of online purchasing at least 5 times per month. Other comments: GREAT TO "SEE" you online again! *sniff* All grown up and with a blog...I'm verklempt! Working on my own online horsey site, and can't wait to share it with you in the very near future :D Miss our chats...Diane in St Louie
Diane in St. Louie--
Welcome aboard the blog train...
Feel free to email me with what's new! Especially on your horse front.
we're new to this blog thing. really enjoy it. Hubby is annoyed at daughter and I wasting money on "horsey toys" as he calls it. We've got to ebay stuff off like you guys do so he can't complain anymore. thanks for the tip. I'm curious, how do you mail a saddle?
This month I've cleaned out the tack room and put stuff up on eBay to pay for some new stuff I needed for shows this year. I sold a yearling sized sleazy hood that doesn't fit my guy anymore, a surcingle that I used to use to line drive my english pleasure horse, and an english saddle. I've made enough to buy a new sleazy hood and blanket and a few other things I needed. Someone might as well get some use of that stuff I haven't dusted off in years!
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