I don't get it!

[West Peterson]

A set of front original license plate brackets for 1927-1931 Packards (four pieces) just sold on eBay for $50 after 9 bids. A few months ago, an identical set sold for more than $300. I was dumbfounded when the set sold for $300, knowing that $50 was more in line. I bought an original set a few weeks ago for $40.

Of course, this is not unique, where a relatively inexpensive item sells for HUGE bucks on eBay. Can anyone tell me what is going on? I feel like I've been in a closet for a long time, not understanding what appears to be common practice. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

The key to Ebaying is patience. Even non-auto items have these trends. You will see an item bid up to far more than its is worth obviously by folks that want it no matter the cost. The next week you can see an identical item that generates absolutely no interest and you can snatch it for the opening bid price.

You have to watch and wait and then strike. Getting into bidding wars is silly but it happens at Barret-Jackson as well but the result is paying $100,000 over average price instead of a $100. If you see an item and decide what you want to pay you're best to put in the maximum bid and leave it alone. If it's $20 and the thing goes for $38 you wait for the next. Unless it is a vital and unique item that you can't do without for a restoration it just doesn't make sense to spend double or triple of market price for anything.

I see way too much of the "damn the cost, I'll have it at any price!" attitude on all sorts of vintage items in the non-auto field too. Watching the Ebay cycles pays off.

[Restorer32]

Sometimes it's a case where someone is simply tired of searching for a particular part or perhaps tired of paying their restorer to search. You will often find that overseas buyers will pay more when they come across a part they need due to the difficulty of searching for American car parts in Europe. I have paid more for parts than what they were worth on occasion just to get on with the project. It's a tough call sometimes, especially when you're spending a customer's money. If they are not able to search for parts themselves and they have to pay someone to do it, it sometimes makes sense to pay what may seem to be an inflated price. Sure, the part you need will likely show up again at a better price, but will it show up before you absolutely need it? All that being said, $300 seem like a h*ll of a lot of money for a license plate surround!

[West Peterson]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> $300 seem like a h*ll of a lot of money for a license plate surround! </div></div>

I agree. In fact, I find it hard to swallow paying $40, especially since I absolutely hate the look of license plates on the front of a beautiful car. It ruins the fluid lines worse than extra lights. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

[6219_Rules]

I know what you mean, West. In my search for a front crest for the 1956 Cadillac, I found several companies that had them new, but for $250??? And on top of that it is painted clear plastic!! ACK!

Thank goodness a friend gave me an old one I repainted and applied. It looks great, in spite of a few scratches. And so much nicer than shelling out $250 for a new one!!

[Guest 1956Packard]

These ones were primered while I recall the previous ones being plated.

Having said that I can't explain it either. I gave up on these last ones at about the $35 range.

Maybe the proliferation of 'magic mushrooms' or some other mind altering substance???

Geoff

[Clipper47]

Now I am worried! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Yesterday I "sniped" a 1947 Goddess of Speed hood ornament on Ebay for $51 which I thought was a bargain and wondered why there were only 2 bids. Tonight I see another one which appears to be slightly better go for $139 with 13 bids. Did everyone else see or know something I didn't? I guess I'll just have to see what arrives in the box in a couple of weeks. I sure hope I got a deal but maybe........not? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Dave Mitchell]

Buying on eBay is a gamble. I used to buy a lot, and got burned several times and quit it a few years ago. Now I have been looking for some rare parts - and people have told me about some on eBay, so I look and bid. I know some people love eBay, but once again, I have been fooled. I buy parts that look great in the photos and sound perfect in the descriptions, from "reputable" people, and when the box arrives, it bears no resemblance to the description, and I can see that if you were really careful, you could take photos that conceal all the damage that makes the parts useless, which is what the seller did. Sometimes the seller doesn't really know that the "low mileage" carb he is selling as great is junk inside. But you are still stuck with it. There is no substitute to holding the part in your hand before you decide if you want it. People say that eBay is killing the swap meet, but not for me. The other odd eBay thing is that I will bid up fairly high on something, and don't get it, but the next day I am offered it for my high bid as a second chance, or it is relisted with a "buy it now" price of my high bid. That seems fishy to me.

[tbirdman]

I've been fortunate on Ebay. Sometimes you do get surprise. There was an original stone guard that I got for half the price of an repo. No bids except for mine. I did getting into a bidding war over one item but it was something I had been unsucessful in trying to find. I do agree that a lot of the best bargains ar not on ebay however they do make it easy to find things.

[Guest 55_Clipper]

All that was said above is true. Prices on E-bay depend on three things, patience, desire, and money. The patient type of people usually get a good deal because they refuse to enter a bidding war. The cost of an item goes up depending on the desire to own the object. The amount of desire is measured by how much money the buyer is willing to spend. I recently spent $170 on a <span style="font-style: italic">set</span> of tailights(lenses and housings) for my 55 Clipper. They were advertised for a 53/54. The seller didn't know that the 55 Clipper tail lights were a "hang over" from earlier model years. To replace the housings alone would have cost me $225 apiece, tack on another $360 for lenses. I was patient, sniped at the last possible moment, and got what I needed. My advice is this- Find out how much a good used or NOS part would cost, deduct 25% and make that figure your maximum bid. That is how to save on E-bay. I need a swap meet to get the diffusers for my tail lights. Even though what I bought on e-bay wasn't a perfect set, it was a hell of a lot closer than what I currently have on the car now.

Happy Hunting <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Twitch]

Clip47 if you're going to rechrome it for later use it shouldn't matter. Certainly some have weathered time better than others but I wouldn't care if one I bought had some pits(they all do) and faded chrome. Buying one with slightly better preserved original luster isn't important if you are going to refinish it anyway.

The main thing to check on Ebay is the feedback folks!!! I NEVER buy anything from anyone with less than 95-96% positive feedback. Even then I read the comments. Most of the gripes are with shipping I've found. People think the seller can control the speed of the delivery and they can't. I bought 2 items today from 99.3 and 99.9% sellers. The percentage is even more impacrtful when you begin looking at the number of transaction they have. The 99.9% guy has over 9,000 positive feedbacks!

I bought my whole car on Ebay! The seller included 40 photos including close-ups so I had no disappointment even with the cormorant which had pits and some thin chrome. It was apparent in the quality photos and no big deal since I rechromed it.

[Clipper47]

The Goddess hood ornament arrived in yesterdays mail and I am not disappointed. After I polished off the grime it looked so good I put it on the car and it looks great. It will need a replating for show but at 80 mph who can tell the difference? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I still wonder why I got it so cheap compared to what they usually sell for?