The other day, I posted a response to George Daina's question about the purchase of a 1968 wiper motor on eBay. In my post, I commented upon the fact that, based on my observation, there are many items on eBay for which the "reserve" or actual selling price is WAY higher than any rational person ought to pay and folks need to "put their thinking cap on" before bidding. Well, I've got a story to report about eBay prices that I think will amaze you all.
It seems that a few weeks ago I noticed a string of auction items on eBay which were "original" 69-76 console engine data plates which the seller said that he had purchased "over 30 years ago from GM" and was now selling. He had posted several different auctions for the many different plates which he had available. Some of the auctions said that he had more than 1 of that particular plate and the high bidder would have the option of purchasing 1 or all at the winning bid price per each. The seller also mentioned that "most" of the plates were in their original GM package and that while some of the plates were available in reproduction, not all were currently so-available.
It seems that there was a ZL-1 console plate among those up for auction. I had been planning on obtaining one of these as a "finishing touch" for my "replica/conversion" so I figured that I'd bid on it. Now, I know, of course, that the plates are available in reproduction and, for my purposes, a reproduction would be just fine. But, the reproductions cost $14 and, since I doubted that anyone would really want the ZL-1 plate, maybe I could get it for $10. So, that's what I bid.
A few others outbid me by a few dollars over the course of the next few days, but I figured that on the last day maybe I'd bid $20 and win it. Of course, $20 is really too much to pay, but the "originality" of it might be worth a few extra dollars.
Well, it seems that on the last day, some other folks started a "bidding war" for these plates and also L-88 and L-71 plates that closed about the same time. When the dust cleared, the ZL-1 plate went for $255 for ONE(with the option to buy the 2 others for the same price each). To make matters worse, someone else had bid up to $250 for this same plate. The L-88 plate went for $237.50 (with the option to buy one additional plate for the same price)to the same buyer that bought the ZL-1 plate. On this one, another bidder had bid up to $235. And, there was a 1969 L-71 plate that sold for $91.00 to the same individual that bought the ZL-1, and L-88 plates.
Now, I've not seen the seller re-post for auction the extra plates, so I have to assume that the buyer purchased each of them for the bid price. Or, perhaps, the seller offerred them to the next-high bidder.
Following seeing this, I happened to be out talking with a friend of mine who is in the Corvette parts/service business. I told him what I had seen on eBay and I asked him if he had any of these plates. He responded that he had all of them that were ever made. He had purchased most of them from GM years ago, but rarely sold one, especially the ZL-1 or L-88 plates. For some of the more popular ones, he had sold most of his originals and had "reproductions". He told me that the reproductions were EXACTLY THE SAME as the originals and that there was ABSOLUTELY NO WAY to tell the difference. He showed both to me for those plates which he had in both "original" and "reproduction". THEY WERE EXACTLY, POSITIVELY THE SAME. In fact, even the "peel off" strip on the back(which you remove to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive)had the same lettering and brand name on it. Based upon my careful and thorough examination of the plates which he had in both original and GM, I WOULD DEFY ANYONE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. Actually, I think that the "reproductions" must be manufactured by the original supplier to GM or someone with the GM tooling who makes the plates EXACTLY like the originals. Also, my friend told me that ALL of the original plate configurations were currently available in "reproduction".
My friend also told me that the "reproductions" are actually BETTER than the "originals" since with old originals, the adhesive deteriorates and sometimes will not adhere properly. The reproductions, with fresh adhesive, adhere like the originals used to. He sold me one of his "original" ZL-1 plates for $20.
This morning I called Trim Parts, the source of these plates, to place an order for a few things and I inquired about these data plates. They have ALL of the plates in stock. The ZL-1/L-88/blank plates are $14.10 each and ALL of the rest are $7.95 each. AS MANY AS YOU WANT!
By now, you may be doubting this story figuring that NO ONE would be crazy enough to pay these kind of prices for these plates. But, if you wish, you can confirm this for yourself. Dial up www.eBay.com, click on "search", click on "search by item number" and then check these item numbers: #282123577, #282122283, and #282110863.
So, George, don't feel so bad overpaying for your 68 wiper motor. This guy is "the king of overpayers". In fact, HE MUST BE THE GUY that P.T. Barnum spoke of years ago. Now, as I've said many times before, I don't sell parts. But, for this guy, I might make an exception. If he'll pay $255 for a console data plate that he could buy a perfect and indistinguishable reproduction of for $14, a guy with some really rare parts could get rich off him! Quick!
Cranes Corvette
It seems that a few weeks ago I noticed a string of auction items on eBay which were "original" 69-76 console engine data plates which the seller said that he had purchased "over 30 years ago from GM" and was now selling. He had posted several different auctions for the many different plates which he had available. Some of the auctions said that he had more than 1 of that particular plate and the high bidder would have the option of purchasing 1 or all at the winning bid price per each. The seller also mentioned that "most" of the plates were in their original GM package and that while some of the plates were available in reproduction, not all were currently so-available.
It seems that there was a ZL-1 console plate among those up for auction. I had been planning on obtaining one of these as a "finishing touch" for my "replica/conversion" so I figured that I'd bid on it. Now, I know, of course, that the plates are available in reproduction and, for my purposes, a reproduction would be just fine. But, the reproductions cost $14 and, since I doubted that anyone would really want the ZL-1 plate, maybe I could get it for $10. So, that's what I bid.
A few others outbid me by a few dollars over the course of the next few days, but I figured that on the last day maybe I'd bid $20 and win it. Of course, $20 is really too much to pay, but the "originality" of it might be worth a few extra dollars.
Well, it seems that on the last day, some other folks started a "bidding war" for these plates and also L-88 and L-71 plates that closed about the same time. When the dust cleared, the ZL-1 plate went for $255 for ONE(with the option to buy the 2 others for the same price each). To make matters worse, someone else had bid up to $250 for this same plate. The L-88 plate went for $237.50 (with the option to buy one additional plate for the same price)to the same buyer that bought the ZL-1 plate. On this one, another bidder had bid up to $235. And, there was a 1969 L-71 plate that sold for $91.00 to the same individual that bought the ZL-1, and L-88 plates.
Now, I've not seen the seller re-post for auction the extra plates, so I have to assume that the buyer purchased each of them for the bid price. Or, perhaps, the seller offerred them to the next-high bidder.
Following seeing this, I happened to be out talking with a friend of mine who is in the Corvette parts/service business. I told him what I had seen on eBay and I asked him if he had any of these plates. He responded that he had all of them that were ever made. He had purchased most of them from GM years ago, but rarely sold one, especially the ZL-1 or L-88 plates. For some of the more popular ones, he had sold most of his originals and had "reproductions". He told me that the reproductions were EXACTLY THE SAME as the originals and that there was ABSOLUTELY NO WAY to tell the difference. He showed both to me for those plates which he had in both "original" and "reproduction". THEY WERE EXACTLY, POSITIVELY THE SAME. In fact, even the "peel off" strip on the back(which you remove to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive)had the same lettering and brand name on it. Based upon my careful and thorough examination of the plates which he had in both original and GM, I WOULD DEFY ANYONE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. Actually, I think that the "reproductions" must be manufactured by the original supplier to GM or someone with the GM tooling who makes the plates EXACTLY like the originals. Also, my friend told me that ALL of the original plate configurations were currently available in "reproduction".
My friend also told me that the "reproductions" are actually BETTER than the "originals" since with old originals, the adhesive deteriorates and sometimes will not adhere properly. The reproductions, with fresh adhesive, adhere like the originals used to. He sold me one of his "original" ZL-1 plates for $20.
This morning I called Trim Parts, the source of these plates, to place an order for a few things and I inquired about these data plates. They have ALL of the plates in stock. The ZL-1/L-88/blank plates are $14.10 each and ALL of the rest are $7.95 each. AS MANY AS YOU WANT!
By now, you may be doubting this story figuring that NO ONE would be crazy enough to pay these kind of prices for these plates. But, if you wish, you can confirm this for yourself. Dial up www.eBay.com, click on "search", click on "search by item number" and then check these item numbers: #282123577, #282122283, and #282110863.
So, George, don't feel so bad overpaying for your 68 wiper motor. This guy is "the king of overpayers". In fact, HE MUST BE THE GUY that P.T. Barnum spoke of years ago. Now, as I've said many times before, I don't sell parts. But, for this guy, I might make an exception. If he'll pay $255 for a console data plate that he could buy a perfect and indistinguishable reproduction of for $14, a guy with some really rare parts could get rich off him! Quick!
Cranes Corvette
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