Research suggests that parents now spend in the region of GBP50,000 on their children in the first five years of their lives, GBP7,000 of it in the first 12 months alone! When Wiz Wharton found out she was pregnant in 2005, she was living in rented accommodation in London with no regular income. Determined to provide her baby with everything he might need but knowing she'd have to do it at a fraction of the normal cost, she found her solution on eBay, the world's largest online auction site. With the sort of military precision only reserved for the truly obsessed or the truly pregnant, Wiz compiled a file of everything she was going to need, from maternity wear, to nursery equipment, via sterilisers, nappies and toys. What she discovered was that with a little bit of research, some streetwise bidding tactics and patience you can pick up all you need in next-to-new condition for far, far less than normal retail prices; "I eventually managed to buy all of my son's items from 0 to way beyond 3, including all my maternity items, for about GBP500", she writes. Some of Wiz's online triumphs have included: A GBP200 cot for GBP11.5 0; A GBP400 designer buggy for GBP200; and, a GBP175 one-off maternity dress for GBP15. All brand new, boxed and delivered. In this unique book, Wiz tells other mums-to-be and their partners how to save themselves literally thousands of pounds by doing what she did, and have fun in the process. The first part of the book reproduces and builds upon her own detailed product research, telling parents what equipment they are going to need and - just as importantly - what they won't. The eighteen Buyer's Guides are the most comprehensive and up-to-date research of their kind, and invaluable for parents lost in the confusion of what to buy, when and for how much. The second part of the book offers a detailed explanation of how eBay works, with step-by-step instructions for readers new to the site, plus advanced tips and tricks for those who already have some experience. With humour and insight, Wiz reveals the mistakes she made, and shows how her techniques improved to the point where she could be confident of winning items that had previously eluded her. Basic errors are highlighted, myths exposed, and 'golden rules' stressed. There is even a section on how to avoid the much-publicised eBay scams. The final section of the book instructs parents in the 'selling' side of eBay. Wiz tells you how to turn the products that you have bought back into hard cash by listing them either in an eBay auction or in a Buy It Now sale. Threaded through the narrative is her desire not only to help other parents achieve what she did, but also to encourage the principles of recycling. Whether you are a mother-to-be, a father, or just know someone about to have a baby, 'How to Have a Baby on eBay' is an invaluable, money-saving, planet-friendly guide.

Table of Contents

About the Author Dedication and acknowledgments Introduction How to Use this Book Part 1 - So You're Going to Have a Baby So you're going to have a baby What do I do and when? Handy pregnancy calendar What do I really need? Sources of help, support and advice Part 2 - The Buyer's Guides Introduction Parenting books Pushchairs Car seats Baby carriers and slings Beds Baby monitors Highchairs Children's books Toys Bouncers, rockers and swings Changing tables Breast pumps Bottle-feeding Sterilisers Maternity wear Reusable nappies Child-proofing and safety around the home Safety gates Part 3: Having a Baby on eBay Why shop on eBay? A brief history of eBay eBay in a nutshell Registering with eBay for the first time How eBay auctions work Other types of auction on eBay Finding what you need with eBay's search engines Other ways of viewing items on eBay Navigating an item's full page listing Bidding for an item After the auction Feedback Exploring 'My eBay' Advanced search techniques What to do if it all goes wrong Compensation: eBay's standard purchase protection How to spot and avoid eBay scams PayPal Part 4: How to (Re)Sell on eBay Money for old rope What can I sell? Your eBay seller's account Building your reputation as a seller Preparing to sell Once the auction begins After the auction ends What if the transaction goes wrong? What if the item doesn't sell? All about fees eBay and the taxman Conclusion Index

Author Biography

Wiz Wharton was born in 1969 and had her first publishing success at the age of 13 as co-illustrator on the children's book, Never Trust A Camel. A post-graduate of the National Film and Television School, she has gone on to become an award-winning scriptwriter with success both at home and abroad. How To Have A Baby on eBay is her first non-fiction book - the result of a year's self-imposed sabbatical which also saw the birth of her son, Ren. Having first stumbled across the site in 1999, she now regards herself as something of an eBay veteran and divides much of her spare time between buying too much and having to sell it again. She lives in London.