How NOT To Buy Parts

[Joe L.]

Recently, I noted a set of 63-82 Corvette power steering hoses sold on eBay. These hoses are still available from GM and, as of the last time I purchased them (not too long ago), they were identical to the ones sold and identical to the originals, including "crimp configuration".

Here's the deal:

eBay #4597257877----GM #3826276---GM list price= $93.17---high bid= $199.06

eBay #4597257235----GM #3826275---GM list price= $78.51---high bid= $152.50

eBay #4597256364----GM #3826277---GM list price= $75.36---high bid= $179.06

Considering that GM parts can be easily purchased for 25% or more off list, the entire set of 3 could have been purchased for $185.28, or less. Instead, a "savvy" bidder who goes by "lienbo1" was able to "pick off" all three and paid a total of $530.62. So, you might say that he threw $345.34 "down the toilet".

But, the same guy wasn't done yet. He also "picked off" a set of front sway bar bushing kits, GM #14101339, for a "cool" $148.05. Unfortunately (for him), these are still available from GM for a current GM list price of $16.41/each. Once again, at the "easy" 25% off, these would have cost him $24.62 for the pair. So, another $123.43 "down the toilet".

Don't blame the sellers here; they started the bidding off at very fair prices. It's the buyer and a lot of other would-be buyers that drove the price to where it ended up.

By the way, these auctions ended some time ago. I don't post "lessons" like this until the transactions are completed lest the buyer, who may visit this board, find out about his folly and decide to back out of the sale. That would not be fair, at all, to the seller.

[Warren F.]

Re: How NOT To Buy Parts

Joe:

Very good lesson to learn. I don't think I've fallen into this trap with Corvette parts purchased from ebay, however I have been a successful bidder on some discontinued parts that were NOS and probably paid DEARLY for them.

Last example would have been part # 3915280, Wiper Limit Switch Assmbly in original box. Winning bid was $113.61. I usually look these parts up in the Corvette Vendors catalogues and see that the parts are GM new old replacement stock or reproduction, and then go after an original configured piece, if still in the old style GM box.

[Clem Z.]

the buyer may be a $500 per hour lawyer

and if he took time to go look for the parts he would loose even more money. convenience to big money people is worth the price. people who restore these corvettes must be above average in earning because who else could afford to spend $80K restoring a corvette that worth $60K went finished.

[Jack W.]

Re: the buyer may be a $500 per hour lawyer

well, you don't get be a $500 / hr lawyer being stupid and not doing some basic research . . . if the buyer is a lawyer, he is a country boy lawyer without too many smarts

[Clem Z.]

there are lots of big money people into old

corvettes and i bet the guys that restores those corvettes for them do not spend a lot of their time running around looking for parts when some one else is paying the bills. they just check Ebay from their place of business and bid it till they get it. JMHO

[Joseph T.]

Re: there are lots of big money people into old

Clem..you hit it right on the money. The high dollar restoration houses..just pass the cost on to the customer..who pays until it hurts and then pays some more.

[Jim D.]

Re: the buyer may be a $500 per hour lawyer

I would be very happy to split he difference and only charge him $250 an hour to restore his car.

[Tom P.]

Re: the buyer may be a $500 per hour lawyer

Yep, I fully understand. Years ago when the Axle Link for FI units was no longer available, I gave as much as $250ea for NOS axle links (in original boxes/sacks). I'm now stuck with 3 NOS axle links! If your into FI, you know that Frank Antonicelli reproduces excellent axle links somewhat cheaper. Oh well!
Any buyers?

[Roy B.]

Re: How NOT To Buy Parts

Out west NCRS don't do swap meets, I've taken original parts to some of the meets out here and no one even looks at them any more. They buy pretty repro's from dealers now. Even if I tell them it's original to their Corvette ( design , logos or what ever) that so many Corvettes now have repro parts on them that people believe they are original.

I now get some people looking at my 55 telling me what is not original , when 97% are or NOS. Another 10 years or so most Corvettes will be sporting more and more repro. parts making a real original Corvette look totaly wrong.

The biggest hit I took at the 05 National was on parts condition because I don't like having any repro parts on my 55, I like many that try to have the real deal still have to replace interior seats etc. , weatherstripping , paint , tires and so on. They are all repro. But if nice and pretty get full boat points under original and condition.

[Norris W.]

Re: the buyer may be a $500 per hour lawyer

I was just thinkin' how nice it'd be to see a $500 an hour lawyer be gettin' a good screwin' from somebody else for a change.

[Larry S.]

Re: How NOT To Buy Parts

Joe I would say the worst part of this whole thing,Is this will be the same guy at a show or meet crying how much he had to pay for his parts to restore his car,he is the same guy sitting under his car tent having his lunch catered while I am limping around the swap meet trying to find parts at a bargin price.

I no longer listen to the folks whining about how much it cost to "restore" a car as I feel they may just be lazy and would rather spend money then to search for affordable parts.

[Gary C.]

Re: How NOT To Buy Parts

FYI - just watch some of the Snap-On tool auctions. They'll often bring more than catalog price. As pointed out, e-bay just's easier than digging things out for one's self, particularly if you have lots of dough. Happy New Year, Gary....

[Steve Antonucci]

Re: How NOT To Buy Parts

Larry,

I agree with you in general. The only problem is that once one fool spends
mega-bucks on a NOS part, or other hard to find part, all sellers want to get
the same $$. Often, these high dollar auctions prices prompt holders of these
rare parts to put them up for auction also.

This is very evident on eBay as one NOS part auction ends, the next auction for
a similar part has a reserve very close to the final auction price of the
previous auction. I see this activity daily on "the bay".

So, what does this mean to you and me? Well, it means that unless we are very
lucky to find the right part cheap, we will either bone-up the big dollars to
get the part, or we will simply not get the part. That is the reality I am
faced with on my 69 big block restoration project.

Steve

[Mark Milner]

Re: How NOT To Buy Parts

That is possibly the case in the majority, but not all. Sometimes you have parts you just can't find, or have become high dollar items for no other reason than eBay and such.

Like the '79 driver's side AC duct. Why is that high? You can buy many of the other years for half or less of what a '79 duct will cost.

Then there are midyear AC parts. You can walk for the next six months, but they are all going to be priced the same - astronomical.