Ebay listed a NOS 68 only wiper motor, so, I won the bit at $147.00. Now< knowing that they are no longer available, and the repos are junk, and not knowing the condition of mine after siting ALL THOSE YEARS, thought I'd take a chance and bid on it, and I got it.
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Re: Is this a buy or the day or am I brain dead...
George-----
Who told you that the 68 wiper motor was no longer available? It has changed GM part number several times, but one of the later part numbered units that I've seen, looked identical to the original motor in every respect. The Last Detail sells brand new GM/Delco 68 wiper motors for $90. Perhaps, that's where the fellow that had this one up for auction got it?
George, you've got to be careful on eBay. I've seen an awful lot of things that were still available from GM fetch bids that were WAY OVER GM FULL LIST PRICE. Someone uses the "magic word" NOS in their item description and everyone goes crazy. Now, of course, there are some truly rare NOS pieces that do come up from time-to-time on eBay. However, I've rarely seen one go for a good price; usually either the reserve is set way too high or some fool comes along and bids WAY MORE than you could otherwise buy the part for(if you know where to look).In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Is this a buy or the day or am I brain dead...
Don't give up on ebay entirely George, How about a complete NOS oil filter cannister, filter, and adapter, silk screen is allegedly "mint". $127.50Comment
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The eBay experience
I thoroughly enjoy shopping for parts on eBay. I've found some really neat stuff, but very few bargains.
I've found the auction text descriptions are about as accurate as the sales pitch you get from a typical swap meet vendor. Examples: "was taken off a Corvette"; "was working when removed"; "fits all Chevrolets, including Corvette"; "new, but sold as-is"; "discontinued by GM"; "in perfect condition"; "selling for friend who says it fits a Corvette".
I've bought parts on eBay that I probably would never have found by attending a lifetime of swap meets. I've also bought things that I wouldn't have ever purchased if I had been able to hold them in my hands first. Over time I've adopted some rules for bidding that help me avoid disappointment. I never bid on items that aren't shown in a photograph. I don't bid if the seller won't answer my questions during the auction. And, most important of all, I don't bid on items that sound too good to be true.Comment
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Multiple choice? 'B', I choose 'B'...
Was I right? Just think of it like giving back the savings on your center carb, George. ;)
JPComment
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Thanks for the info.....
I'll contact the last bidder and offer it to him for his bid price which was $2.50 less. The last Detail, forgot all about that place.Comment
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The underground eBay experience...
My policy is to bid only on NOS stuff (after assuring myself it is not NORS). But the best part of eBay (and I shouldn't tell you this but I'm not the type to shoot fish in a barrel, I like the mano-a-mano competition) is to contact a new seller as soon as you see their first Corvette related post and buy the lot before they auction it off willy-nilly.
eBay is full of make artists but occassionally you find someone who started a restoration and sold only the car and has all the NOS stuff he bought for it 25 years ago or better yet, someone who inherited the stuff. Early on, I found a guy who's father had died after being into muscle cars for 35 years. The stuff he had was amazing and I worked a deal for the whole lot.
The other thing is the 'Wanted' section. With one posting I got countless responses, including a guy who sold me some mint brass pieces (for $22) for a wooden boat I thought I'd never find.
Once you buy all the good stuff, you can go into Driveline and gouge. Is this a great country or what? ;)
JPComment
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Sounds a lot like the Communist's bike to me...
Hey,George, what happened to your Corvette ethics and ettiquette? Weren't you a member of the anti-gouging contingent last week? Why would you offer it to someone for $50 above its value? Why not just give the guy The Last Detail's phone number and let him buy it cheaper from them? Or e-mail him a copy of Joe's post? Or offer yours to him at what you now know is a fair price if you don't want it any more?
JP ;)Comment
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Well Jeffrie, it's like this....
whatever the market will bear, right? That's the Capitalist's way, now if we were in the u.S.S.R., not sure if that is the correct name now, but U get the picture, a fixed price would be set for us by the state.
To answer your question, ethics, got em, I'm offering the part for LESS than I bid, and to my thinking, I ain't gouging the dude.
Hey Jeffrey, what's with you today? You got a burr up your ass or did you fall out of bed and get a bump on your nogin?
Oh, I get it, you can't let by gones be by gones. Shame. We must move on in life for new challenges.Comment
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Re: Is this a buy or the day or am I brain dead...
Joe, coudln't agree more. I have quit even looking at E-bay after seeing part after part sell for way more than you can buy them for from the big vendors with a satisfaction guarantee.Comment
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Give it a REST
Jeff:
I seem to remember you were in the minority by far and the Communist shock value has lost it's impact.
jerryComment
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Put a sock init........move on POLITILY nt
ntxComment
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Re: oooooops, there I go again
Apparantly you flunked Economics 101....ITS CALLED SUPPLY AND DEMAND....those with rare parts can generally name their price. The other end of the equation is, if you haven't got the bucks - you lose !! By the way, the "REAL" market price is not what YOU WANT to pay for it, but what the guy paid to get it while you were complaining. By the way, what does the word communist have to do with anything ???Comment
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Re: The eBay experience
You definitely have to know your prices, and I can attest to the fact that descriptions are not always "accurate" and even questions are not always answered totally honestly. I bought an early 67-only brake handle with "very nice" chrome, and was totally disappointed. I contacted the seller and after about 2 months, finally got my money back. I recouped everything except the cost of shipping it back to him. He told me he had several other buyers already lined up. Guess they were looking for a "very nice" piece too. Bottom line is, that you do have SOME protection w. ebay.
BKComment
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