The Four hundred Dollar GI Joe

Let me start by saying I am a sixty-six-year-old male. That is still a ten-year-old at heart. Growing up, all of my friends and I had GI Joe action figures. Apparently, the manufacturer knew boys would not want to call their GI Joe's dolls. We had a hard time arguing with our friend's sisters that they were not "dolls." They were "action figures."

Fast forward to this past February. I had spoken with one of my old friends, and of course, we talked about our old neighborhood and all the things we did. He asked if I still had my GI Joe. I told him that was long gone. Proudly he told me that he still had his plus all of the extra equipment. Well, our memories of those times playing with our GI Joe's took over.

As soon as I hung up, I went straight to my computer and eBay. A quick search, and I was in a world that never existed when I was a ten-year-old. I spent over a half hour just looking and remembering my GI Joe.

As you are well aware, online searches bring streams of advertisements of those items you looked at online. Well, I was bombarded by everything GI Joe. From the ones, we had in 1964 all the way up until this year.

Well, for the longest time, I ignored their constant ads. Then it happened the "hook." I was on my computer when what pops up, but an ad from eBay, showing a GI Joe figure of a soldier from the Vietnam war. Well, my brother was in Vietnam from March 1968 to March 1969. He was with the 1st Cavalry 7th Battalion, General Custer's old outfit. So, I clicked on the link just to check it out, or so I thought?

What do you know? This figure was a soldier in the 1st Cavalry and "Operation Delaware." That happened to be one my brother John was involved in. I looked it over, and it looked good. John's birthday is at the end of March, so I thought what a gift to give him. That was until I saw the price! It was $399.00 plus another $29.00 for shipping and taxes. Well, I love my brother, but spending $428.00 for a gift may be a bit too much. Especially if my wife found out. It is safe to say she would kill me if I spent that much on a "doll."

With my brother's birthday approaching, I thought I would get him something like a hat or t-shirt with a 1st Cavalry emblem on it. So, I searched on Google and checked out several sites, but I could not make up my mind on exactly what I wanted to get him.

As most of you already know from online shopping. I started seeing ads for 1st Cavalry merchandise. The eBay ads for GI Joe continued, plus the one I was interested in.

I did my very best to ignore the one I liked, but the eBay ads finally did their job. Worn down, I found myself going back and looking at it. I was torn between getting something my brother that he would enjoy or suffering the wrath of a mad wife.

Well? What do you think I did? Sorry, you are wrong. Against all logical thinking, I bought it. However, the devious husband that I thought I was. I used a credit card we rarely use. The smart guy that I am figured my wife would not see the charge, and I would pay it off before there was any chance she might see it. To all of the wives reading this, please don't think your husband would do such a thing. I am sure they are smarter than me.

Well happy with my purchase and knowing my brother would love it. I came out of my study beaming with happiness. There standing in our living room with an angry look on her face, was my wife. The first words out of her mouth were. "What did you buy on eBay for over four hundred dollars?

I was busted. What could I do? Blame eBay for the constant barrage of ads? Even though it was true, there was no way in hell my wife would understand that reasoning. So I told her it was a gift for my brother. She said, “I get that. I know how much you love your older brother. If you just spoke to me about buying it. I would have said yes.” Online advertising and eBay's did play a role. Ultimately, I am responsible.

The moral of my story. If you are overcome by advertisements and drawn into buying something you may not really need. Take a minute and think. If you have a spouse or partner. Talk to them before clicking the purchase tab. It will save everyone from a lot of grief.