cheapest ebay strops

There's been a good many threads about strops, but none answer the questions I have (at least I can't find one that does) - would it be ok to buy a 5 or 10 dollar strop from ebay? I fully expect it to be poorly manufactured and come apart the first chance it gets, but that's not what i mean. If it really is a cowhide strop, will the result on my blade be vastly inferior to that which may be achieved with a 100+ $ strop?
If the DIY section contains instructions for making a canvas strop from your old jeans that supposedly performs just fine, I can't imagine why any of the ebay ones would be any worse. Is this true for leather as well?

If it is real leather not the fake or laminate stuff, is smooth without imperfections and of decent quality then it should be OK, not good but OK, for beginner use although for $40 of ebay you can get good strops from The Illinois Razor Company (or Fromm as they are the same). If you really want something cheap go to a leather worker or outlet and get a bit, put a hole in the top for a bit of string to attach it to a hook and use that. At least that way you can inspect what your getting to make sure it is OK

Some of those eBay strops are pretty poor, and the problem is you cant see what you're buying in advance on eBay as Eddy says.

I'd be inclined to go the leather worker route. That way you can slash it to pieces while you learn and then upgrade to a decent strop once you've got your stropping down.

Or the SRD strops are modular, thats another option. So you can buy a great strop and then just buy replacement leather if you need it.

Tandy Leather Factory - Natural Cowhide Leather Strips X-Long (66")

Another concern, for me anyway, would be how the strop is packaged. Will it show up folded flat in thirds, and crammed into an even flatter package?

ifcis,
While there is a quite difference in leathers I think most any leather would have the potential to improve the smoothness of your edges.
As long as there are no abrasive foreign objects imbedded in the leather you should be ok.
Regarding strops there are far more important issues than the material used for construction.
Learning the proper relationship between pressure of the blade on the strop and tension of holding the hanging strop taught is important.
Also learning how to turn the blade with the fingers rather than the wrist will make it far easier to do the number of passes that are sometimes necessary in order to achieve the smoothness you are seeking.
Six months into my stropping I bought a nice Tony Miller strop and it was amazing to use.
Although it had been a month or two since I had nicked a strop and my confidence was high I managed to put a substantial nick in it.
Long story made short..... I advise the newbe to buy a cheap strop and learn all you can from proper use of it and then consider a better quality item.
You are on the right track and I wish you sucess.

The easy button...SRD... And no, I wouldn't buy my ROO strop when starting out, but some good quality strops relatively inexpensive.

You have always the option to contact a local/forum craftsman, it is cheaper and with a good quality for sure. Promote the local commerce!!!

Just buy a RupRazor Filly and be done with it!

You won't get better quality for less. Brilliant size, hide and craftmanship for the $$