I just bought my first Bitcoins on an eBay auction today.
Yes, I paid more on eBay than from one of the direct exchangers. But buying on eBay is easy, almost effortless. And using eBay is a simple way to exchange PayPal for Bitcoins. Plus, two other, important factors:
- eBay offers a reputation rating of the seller.
- If there is any problem, eBay has a good dispute resolution system.
For someone just starting with Bitcoin, eBay is an easy -- and safe -- first step. I'll buy again on eBay for those benefits.
Of course, eBay and PayPal are very much
not anonymous. So that's the negative side.
Now, I wonder, are eBay sellers just one-time deals? Or, are Bitcoin miners selling their output on eBay? If so, that would be a convenient way to buy Bitcoins from a variety of miners who may have output available at varying times. Rather than buying direct from a stranger, I'd use the eBay "private auction" system, just for the "insurance" factors mentioned above.