There are good deals out there, you've just got to know how to search and how to
bid. For my MGB V8 project I've purchased the following items on eBay: '62
Buick
Aluminum Block V8, Camaro T5 transmission, Hurst shifter and Allison electronic
ignition. On the transmission alone I saved $400 over buying it at my local
wrecking yard, on the other items I saved another 3 to $400. I've also gotten
some very good deals on old out of print car books. On the other hand I have
walked away from a lot of auctions. You just need to know what an item is
worth.
When I see a book that I am interested in, the first thing that I do is run a
search on the used book web site to see what they are going for. I have found
it
a very good source for hard to find items (where else could I have found a
repair
manual for my 1947 Philco tabletop radio?).
Kevin Brown
Odessa, MO
Matt Pringle wrote:
> <snip>
>
> > I just bid on a 1990 Range Rover on eBay (Your Personal Trading Community).
> > I had the first bid, and it said bidding started at $1000! So I bid $1100.
> > I was outbid in about 5 minutes. (The blue book value is $13,000.) Hey, if
> > I could get it for $1K, I wouldn't mind flying to Dallas, TX to pick it up.
> > It's up to $8100 today, and the reserve hasn't been met.
> >
>
> When I first heard about eBay I thought that it would be a boon to
> purchasers looking for a great deal. I know realize that it's only a
> boon for sellers.
>
> It's the old case of supply and demand. At your neighbourhood garage
> sale you pick things up dirt cheap because you may be the only one
> interested in a particular item and hence demand is low and supply is
> high. On eBay though, there are usually a hundred people who have an
> interest in anything of value and they tend to drive the price up to
> it's true market value. Add to that the psychology of bidding frenzy
> and I've yet to come accross any real deals.
>
> I think the only thing it provides for purchasers is selection.
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