| There was a time that I never would have | | | | pickup date that was a few weeks away - |
| pictured myself camping, let alone purchasing my | | | | perfectly fine with the sellers because they |
| first travel trailer on Ebay. But after a number of | | | | wanted to get our new toy ready for us. Little |
| circumstances falling into place, that is just where | | | | did we know, how far these two people went to |
| I found myself in 2005, spending late nights on | | | | make our purchase smooth and enjoyable. |
| Ebay scouring the RV travel trailer listings. | | | | As the two weeks elapsed, the emails turned to |
| And so the camping adventure began... | | | | camping advice, trials and tribulations and the |
| We don't exactly live in the camping capital of the | | | | wishes from the sellers that we would have as |
| world and when my family and I decided to | | | | many fond camping memories as they did. |
| purchase a travel trailer, we were in for quite an | | | | Knowing that we were complete novices, these |
| education. We did what I suspect most people | | | | two people went so far above and beyond a |
| would do, and started scanning the local classifieds, | | | | seller's obligations, that they could give lessons in |
| picked up the trader magazines, etc. All to no | | | | good service after the sale. They covered |
| avail. Everything we looked at locally was either | | | | questions we didn't even know we had! |
| way overpriced or uninhabitable. Mind you, we | | | | So the big day came and we took off on our |
| weren't looking for a mansion on wheels, but we | | | | road trip to go get out new baby. It was a 7 |
| wanted to at least make sure that we could tow | | | | hour drive, so we also made arrangement to stay |
| it to our driveway without falling apart. | | | | at a local hotel - which our new friends |
| So, that little voice inside said, Ebay! But I was a | | | | recommended based upon the ease of parking |
| little hesitant at first because this was a large | | | | our new trailer there overnight for the first time. |
| ticket item and there were the logistics of | | | | And until that point, being car travelers, the size |
| transport to consider as well. But hey, it doesn't | | | | of a parking lot was certainly never a concern |
| cost a dime to look, so off we went to search | | | | when we booked our hotels. |
| Ebay. | | | | When we arrived, the trailer was everything we |
| Luckily, I have an uncle who is basically a camping | | | | thought it would be and more. One of those rare |
| and RV guru in his own right, so I can't quite claim | | | | times that the photos didn't even do it justice. |
| that I did this single handedly, but for the most | | | | And the hospitality the sellers extended was |
| part, it took about two weeks before I clicked on | | | | awesome. They even had dinner waiting for us! |
| an auction that would forever change our family's | | | | So after our long trip and a very tasty dinner, we |
| vacation adventures. | | | | were taken through all the basics of hookup, |
| We ultimately found our "perfect" trailer, but not | | | | awning setup, electronics, maintenance, upkeep |
| after swapping many emails and more photos | | | | and more! It was so refreshing to find others |
| beyond what was in the listing. But along the way, | | | | who go the extra mile and we were so clueless |
| Ebay did more for us than just match us up with | | | | going in, they don't even know how easy they |
| a seller. It matched us up with two wonderful | | | | made the whole transaction on us. |
| human beings that were just as happy to have | | | | So as we swap campfire stories from |
| found us as buyers as we were to find them as | | | | campground to campground, we will always have |
| sellers. | | | | such fond memories of our largest Ebay purchase |
| After the auction was complete, we arranged a | | | | yet. And what a story to tell! |