eBay is a fun source of "stuff". But don't expect good deals. Most collectors will tell you that you will get better deals on "real stuff" from reputable dealers.

Most sniping services cost money. So obviously, somebody wants "their" item more than most of us. Further, I disagree with Tongue Pirate. Some of the better deals I have seen were made by people placing their maximum bid early in the game. Subsequent bidders will try to nickel-and-dime the raise, only to find they are already outbid. Since there's no way to know how badly the first guy wanted it, most people get discouraged after a couple attempts...and quit.

Also, if you look at the process from the seller's perspective, it's really discouraging to watch the auction for days, and see little/no activity.

Just one more opinion...

Wow, after all the bad stuff I said about eBay, my new switches just arrived. I bid $18 for a Lucas toggle switch. They regularly sell in the Moss Motors catalog for about $45. When I won the auction, I asked the seller if he had another switch. He did and sold me two of them, with shipping for $48. I expected dirty and rusted parts but they look very nice, almost new. Now, I will have a matched set of four authentic looking switches across the dash.

I love eBay!
Paul

I’m curious, can you post the link of the auction you lost? I would like look at the bidding history…..Thanks J

An interesting thread would be to list the best deals/most fun items we have won or lost on Ebay! I missed out on a quality poster of a Cobra snake, something that you would find in a zoological display, by five bucks, at $80....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ory=34208&rd=1

That's the first time I've looked at it since I bid....I guess I had a little more than $5 to beat the bid...everything was happening in the last 30 seconds....I thought I just needed $5 to win....I guess my computer wasn't refreshing fast enough...

I should have thought about something before I titled this thread what I did.....don't we have a few European Cobra owners on here? Doesn't "pissed" have a different meaning in England? Like "drunk"....hehehhe...

Now all these English guys are gonna be reading this thread and thinking that I was Ebay'ing while sippin some gin........

I used to baby sit the auctions too,then I used a sniper program,which worked great,now though I just bid the TOP price I will pay and forget it,,lifes too short to drive myself nuts second guessing.
All the advice I have read here seems to lead toward bidding at the last possible second,or random ending of the auction,those tactics may be unfair to the seller,many of whom make a living there,remember theres two sides to a deal.
I have to admit I love ebay,,,just see many things I wouldnt other wise,I hate to admit how much I spend there,,easliy 6 figures yearly,given some stuff I buy and resale,,mostly bikes,
it blows my mind the subjects we discuss here,I love it,,Tk

PS,,nice watch for sale on ebay,,snipers welcome,,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=31387&rd=1

misfit ,

The problem with a fine Rolex is the same with a Cobra.........

.....every one assumes it's a fake....:D

KK

Sgianino has a good point. I've watched and waited just to lose by a few seconds or worse wait a week or so and find out it isn't that nice cherry part is was advertised. For the really important stuff the satisfaction of a quality part at a fair price far outweighs that bargain.........Call David Kee
just my .01 spent the other .01 on ebay:D
Howard

I personnally do a lot of buying and selling on Ebay. It has paid for a lot of my own parts. Most deals are found because the seller listed them incorrectly and they show up in a limited listing with little visability. The big audience of buyers sometimes don't even know the item is out there. You can look all year for a part at the car swaps and not find it but click on Ebay and there are three of them! I only caution to read the description of an item in side and out. If the description is vague and the seller has little feedback or tainted feedback stay away! If the seller does not answer your email questions fully..stay away!Request a phone number from the seller so that you can talk personally to him..you can usually get a better feel of the seller that way and gather a lot more info. I especially do this on high dollar items. Like the other members of this forum have already said in refferance to bidding...do not sit your bid out there all week for either someone else to beat or for the seller to get a buddy to pump up your bid! Sniping is the safest way to keep the price down and to better your chances of winning. A high speed internet connection is great for bidding because you are always on line and don't have to worry about the dial up server losing your connection at bid time. I have lost many a good deals to AOL but have long since changed over to a high speed connection. It's a jungle out there just keep your cool and don't get caught up in the "got to win this". Keep the parts books handy and check the part numbers. Don't always think that the seller knows what he is talking about, We don't! Hope this helps, Sal.

And you admit to this ?!?!?

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/...l-bidding.html You might want to read about this illegal (not to mention unethical) practice. Jeez, I bet Cobra guys will be lining up to bid on your future Ebay auctions..... :rolleyes:

Guys,

Let's face it, Ebay is a wonderful place to sell, but not always the greatest place to buy things.


Bill S.

:3DSMILE:

Think I'll clear out the shed and see what I can sell.

%/

Looking for the big bidders

Cheers

Bernie

Bernie Knight
Mt. Gambier South Australia.

Karl,,
your right about that ,,but those of us who know,,know the difference ,,right ? haha Tim

hey Misfit41..need a nice Am radio for your CSX... Mustang NOS Radio

Whoaaa

:3DSMILE:

Picked up a Business magazine in the airport and there inside is a great story on the eBay founder.

I'll take 1% amd slip away and enjoy life

%/

No doubt you guys have seen her profile and business growth plans.

:confused:

Don't know if I believe she still drives the kids around in an RV each day to school etc.

%/

Makes good reading though.

Cheers - back to the article

Bernie Knight
Mt. Gambier South Australia.