More "Winner's Curse" Ebay Prices!

[Jeff Murphy]

Looks like another case of two people putting in "Guaranteed to Win" bids and skyrocketing the price of parts.

69 Camaro/Chevelle BB NOS Motor Mount Set (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2414060308)

Parts don't even look particularly NOS...

[Belair62]

Holy Sh** /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[SS427]

Geez! I've got two NOS sets. Maybe I need to buy a vault. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
Mine look about the same and are NOS so it must just be shelf aging.
Rick

[Unreal]

I'm thinking the same thing. I put two NOS ones on my car and the only time on the engine is 20 minutes break in. "Nearly NOS" must be worth $800!

Gotta have a buyer before you can have a sale:)

[JChlupsa]

Showed my neighbor (Mr Big Block/Hawaii) this E-bay ad and prices and he shows me a box of them since the mid 60's that he has collected. Guess he will be cleaning them up and sorting them out now

[Mr70]

I recognize three bidders in that auction.They are usually very conservative bidders. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[92646]

If these motor mounts are indeed "NOS" and are of an older design. I would be concerned about the age of the rubber. I would think it could not be much fun when you nail the throttle and the fan goes through your "NOS" fan shroud, the ears break off of your numbers matching transmission, you then wad up your "NOS" driveshaft into your original rust free floor pan. Just because you paid extra for a pair of motor mounts that were non returnable to G.M. because they no longer had the original packaging.

[55chevy]

Looks like 4 guys fighting over them from the bid history.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Ed

[68z302]

You'll see what will happen next.
I'll bet a few more sets will be on ebay soon, and they'll probably sell for a lot less. Maybe someone will get a "deal" for only $400 or so. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
This same seller had a '68 smog adjusting brace on another auction at $25 with no reserve.
I was the only bidder, but the auction was ended with a couple of hours (if that) left because ebay will let you end early if
"the part is no longer available for sale" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif
next time add a reserve Buddy!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[Charley Lillard]

If you were high bidder on a No Reserve Auction you should file a Compaint on him.

[Jeff H]

Yeah, if you were the high bidder and there was no reserve than you are the winner when the auction ends. Check to see if he's done that before.

[Mr70]

I agree with you guys entirely,but this where Ebay sides vastly with the seller,and I disagree with them.
As A seller on Ebay you have the right at any moment in time before the auction "OFFICIALLY ENDS" to cancel all bids and stop the auction.You can sell it to your next door neighbor,as long as Ebay gets their commision fee for listing it.I have been the High bidder on a few auctions that were ended early by the Seller,only to be told "SORRY,I got a Better offer". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

[68z302]

mr70's right.
Believe me it was the first thing that I checked.
What he did is within the rules according to ebay /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif
He must have anticipated a whole lot of action that never was /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif so he killed the auction.
I emailed him and asked that if he had "another" one for sale we would talk. no reply. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
I thought how could I lose for that price.
I've ordered one from MacNiesh that I'm waiting on & paid a lot more that that for it!

[mc25t190]

i've never had a good experience in a dispute with ebay, they will not contact you and put you off.

[DarrenX33]

I was watching a 69 GM Camaro front passenger fender yesterday. I bid on it and before I knew it the auction was over and it had sold for $600!. At this rate I am not sure I can afford to keep my car. Maybe I should look in to trading for a Ferrari. I hear they are easier and cheaper to maintain. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Seriously this elevated pricing on parts is ridiculous. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

[68z302]

DarrenX33
I couldn't agree with you more.
Thank God I have a '68.
It's bad enough trying to bid on the crossover year parts /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif
the '69 model is by far the most popular Camaro, you can't argue with that.
There must be a hell of a lot of '69 Camaro's being restored /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
I'm afraid I'll need another job to buy parts soon!

[MikeA]

Does anyone think this is just an ebay thing or have you guys seen prices like this at swap meets, etc.? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I think the prices at Carlisle swap meet were about 1/2 what I've been seeing stuff go for on EBAY. Carlisle actually was better this year compared to the prior two years, not sure if vendors started coming back to sell or more stuff is being rooted out and the supply has increased a little. Either way, there was a good supply of parts, and they were reasonably priced - no more EBAY for me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[juliosz]

I hope your correct (more vendors coming back to swap meets). My biggest fear especially after last years GM nats swap meet is that the good vendors are starting to stay home because of Ebay. I have had luck on a few items on Ebay, example: walnut wheel for my 68 Z, no cracks, no repairs, real nice for around $280.00. I think Ebay is like a lot of other things, you have to do your homework, be patient and set a limit. When somebody pays a ridiculous price for an item I chalk it up to either an uninformed "newbie" who has more money than brains or there really was never a true bid placed for that amount. One last example of the Ebay follies and I'll quit: I looked during a three month span for a set of new, stock .030 over TRW pistons for my 302 and the same boob kept buying every set that came available no matter how much it cost him. There must have been at least a dozen sets available during that time and he bought all of them (some sets more than $900.00). My point is that prices on Ebay are cyclical. If the folks who have these parts see there's someone out there who's willing to pay brain damage for a set of pistons that you can have custom made for less than $800.00 you'll se a lot more activity on that type of part (at inflated prices) for a while. FYI - after the piston guy fulfilled his 11.0:1 fetish, prices fell back to around $400.00 - $500.00 range. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[55chevy]

Speaking of Carlisle. Does anyone know if there are any annual Carlisle-type swap meets held anywhere near the Tulsa, Ok area? When I lived in PA I was a regular at Carlisle every year since 1987. My last attendance was in 1999 and early 2000 I moved to Oklahoma. Since being here I haven't been able to make it back for the Carlisle show even once, and it doesn't look like I'll be able to. If I could find something like that around here I could fill that void. When you get used to attending something like Carlisle you start to miss it. Ebay is without feeling. You may be able to find a lot of parts on Ebay but it doesn't compare to being there and rumaging through a pile and seeing all the different vendors selections. Except when it's cold and rainy. Anyone who's ever sloped through the mud at 8am on a cold/rainy day at Carlisle knows what I mean. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

Ed

[whitetop]

Marlin
I think the economy has a lot to do with the price being lower and the quantity of parts being higher at Carlisle this past year. When the economy picks back up the parts will go up and start to disappear once again.
I read a interesting report on Ebay and it said when times are tough people put stuff for sale on ebay for spending money and when times are good their buying. Ebay is always in a win/win situation.
I still like the small 30-40 vendor swaps the best because you have non - professionals just cleaning out their garages for spare spending loot.
Ford NOS prices have been dropping because Dennis Carpenter bought all the old Ford tooling and is releasing parts that have not been made in years such as the 64 1/2 mustang hood. A year ago you could not find one of those hoods now there is 1-2 used ones on ebay every week.
Maybe the same thing will happen with GM NOS.

[Salvatore]

Hey Julio, I need (1)30 over TRW 302 piston 1969. About a year or so ago GM had (7) 11:1 pistons for sale. I bought them from Bergeys Chevy in hopes I could find one for sale. Can you help? Thanks, Sam /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[juliosz]

Sam,
I bought my set from Al Maynard here in the Detroit area. Al has about any hard to find part you can think of and is reasonable. He may just have a single .030 over. I know he bought up a bunch of 302 pistons from Smokey's estate sale. I actually bought a set of NOS .020 over from him. I'll E-mail his phone number to you.

Paul Gallo

68 Z/28

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Whitetop;
I understand the logic, but how do we explain the crazy prices for stuff on EBAY? If the economy is causing lower prices for swap meet stuff, why is it not causing lower prices on EBAY? I was hoping that when the economy comes back the EBAY prices would come down!

[Jeff H]

It's people who are desperate to get a specific part and when they finally see it on Ebay, they can't hold back. The guy who won the motor mounts has Camaros and Camaro parts for sale all the time on the various sites. If he thought they were worth that much, it must be because he couldn't find a set or needs them right now for a restoration. I watched a burgundy center console for a 91 SS454 Chevy pickup go for $165. My high bid was $125. It was a console that was basically new, the guy took it the first day he had the truck. I've slowly been looking and finally found another one for $55.

[whitetop]

Marlin
[ QUOTE ]
I understand the logic, but how do we explain the crazy prices for stuff on EBAY?

[/ QUOTE ]

To quote Dickens, "These are the best of times and these are the worst of times"... Some people are doing well in this economy and some are really hurting.

As a seller on ebay most of the prices are down at this time but you do see the occasional $3500 LS-6 distributor.

[JRSully]

I was at Carlisle this year, and IMO, if the guy KNEW what he had, he was charging accordingly, knowing that he could probably unload it on Ebay at a good price if he didn't get it at the swap meet. Ebay will make the seller of the part aware of it's value, even if he doesn't have a clue. All depends on the part

[JoeC]

Ebay prices go both ways. I have seen items sell a lot lower then the item was worth and have seen some items sell a lot higher then it is worth. You have to know the value of the item you bid on and stop there or the bidding goes crazy.

[whitetop]

While on the subject of prices and swap meets, while not car related, a friend of mine bought a complete Schwinn Krate bike for $25 at a church bazar fundraiser two years ago. These bikes are going for what $850-1000 today?. The Ebay mania has not yet hit everyone, yet.....

[Mr70]

Dave
Orange Krate?!
My first Muscle Machine.I can still feel that cheesey shifter in my hands,and that small front tire turning ever so fast.
I'll be home when the Street ligts come on Mom! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[whitetop]

Rick
It was yellow. Not up on my Schwinns.

[Belair62]

I have 7 of the darn things in my garage....hopefully I have them sold though...take up a lot of room....Lemon Peeler,Orange Krate,Pea Picker,Grey Ghost,Cotton Picker,Apple Krate,and a late model Grape Krate....

[whitetop]

Belair62
There is a guy in my area that put out want ads in all the local free type classifieds for a 8-9 year period. I called on him for my business a while back and he had probably 15-20 of them in his shop at the time. Not sure how much you guys communicate/know of each other but he has a florist/greenhouse shop in Bridgeport, Ohio (Rhodes Florist).

BTW were the moms back in that time period trying to ban the bikes because the 5 speed shift knob could hurt their little boys privates or is that just an urban legend?

[Belair62]

Not sure if it was the moms but they did stop making them for safety reasons I think....guess a lot of boys with higher voices were running around /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif