Product Reviews

What's it all about:The title says it all. The book is about how the author managed to kit herself out for pregnancy and the first three years of her son's life on a limited budget using the auction website Ebay.

Presentation: The book is split into two sections. The first section goes through all the equipment you'll need for a new baby and recommends what's an essential and what you can do without. The second half is a "how to" guide on using Ebay, both as a buyer and a seller. There aren't very many pictures, just loads of text but it's broken down well into sections and there's a good index at the back which helps you dip in and out of the book. There are also a lot of useful weblinks.

Tone and target audience: This book is clearly aimed at the first-time mother, who is new to Ebay. Anyone who has had a baby before will know most of the advice given in the first section about buying and choosing products, and will probably have their own ideas about what are the must have items. Similarly, anyone who has bought or sold on Ebay before won't find much new in the second section, which is a real beginner's guide to the site. It would also be useful for someone who has lots of left over or unused baby gear that they would like to sell as it takes you through the selling process also.

The good points :Very clear and comprehensive guide to both all the equipment you might need for a new baby, and how to use Ebay. Good clear chapters and sections make it easy to read bits and pieces when you have time; you don't have to read the whole thing from cover to cover. Also discusses the pros and cons of all the different products so you can make an informed decision about what would suit you and your baby best.

The bad points : This book will probably date very quickly. Ebay are constantly changing and upgrading their site, and the screen shots which are current now may well be out of date in 6 months or so, which would make things very confusing for a real newbie trying to follow the steps in the book and not seeing the same thing on the screen. As with all baby books nothing should be taken as gospel and facts should be checked out. in the feeding section, for example, the author implies that second stage (follow on) formula and hungry baby milk are the same thing, which of course they aren't.

Best Feature: Very comprehensive guide to Ebay and what you will need to buy. Worst Feature: Will be out of date quickly. Verdict: It's certainly the only book on the market like this and even Ebay veterans may pick up a hint or two.

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