the art of buying old cars and parts

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barbee6043

barbee6043

barbee 6043
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i get amazed at the occasional times some guy buys a part for his car, off here, Ebay, where ever. it is a long distance transaction, pics are sent, descriptions declared, discussion made. I have to wonder how many people do not realize a 40 yrs old hood, lets use for example, will have a ding or two, more likely. the trim on its nose is not new looking, etc. say it is described a driver quality. needs work to be perfect, like new. hard to tell everything by pics, one guys idea of acceptable may not be the others.
in a restoration of most cars, there are used parts that are required,.... nos not available, or too high, reproduction part not made, so used is the only method.
I have always figured this. I will ask good questions. pics not worth too much. I also figure most parts I buy will be like I thought. some will be much better than I though. a few less. it averages out. IT AVERAGES OUT.
there are few boneyards with these old cars much anymore. most parts cars are in hands of enthusiasts. maybe they bought that parts car for parts for their project. maybe to sell parts off for a profit. vast mmajority of these people like to get what a part s worth. honest guys. if their part is too high , I pass. if it is called driver quality, then I figure it is not like new, nor perfect, has blems, is a core.??
sometimes buyers expectations are not reasonable. occasionally a part is not described as clearly or accurately as it could be. it all averages out in the process of working on our old cars...
 
I totally agree! This is not wal mart where the supply is unlimited. Call us"flippers"-"hoarders" but the term I detest is"hobbyists"! The thread about R&R salvage I didn't post in because I remember Ron and have done business both ways with him and liked the guy. I wanted to see if anyone would say that he had"killed the hobby". Reason being, when he started and also was running his business lots of hate comments of how he ran all over the country buying/hoarding mopars. But strangely not a peep from the haters-why? He as so many"flippers"/"hoarders" have brought cars and parts out in the open that may have been crushed when the price was up. I have crushed my share! I had no idea there were so many"great and wonderful" sellers until they got to patting themselves on the back after someone claimed to be stiffed. But not a word of one great seller that had a wonderful bumper to sell at the same price? Hmmm that's odd!
 
many, many cars were crushed over the last few years back when scrap prices were so high. too bad all those cars could not have found their way into the hands of the parts seller, flipper, hoarder! most people do not have the acreage to store parts cars, or the little woman will not allow it! ha
Ron Slobe was an enthusiasts and a good businessman that loved the game. he spent many hours and $ hunting parts cars, and saved many projects that went to people that restored and saved them. sure I have heard remarks from the "haters" years back. I just didn't agree with their logic.
I still say if a person asked good questions, vast majority of parts transactions are great. very few sellers will not make it right. unless a part was totally misrepresented, I would never ask for the seller to pay shipping to and from. just me.
way before there was internet , instant camera pics, and all this instant technology...... I bought more than a few cars over the phone, by asking GOOD questions. I got screwed once out of maybe 50 buys. several or more were paid for "up front". I knew how to ask questions, and what to ask, or how to get a feeling about the guy over the phone. if I smelled a rat I ran. seldom did I smell a rat. now ,sometimes it was someone selling a car that knew squat. sometimes they were not trying to mislead me, but they didn't want to sell their car "short". I knew what quality of said car I expected for said price, I asked questions to be certain the car was what I thought. was it generally in my backyard? NO .. I traveled states away for the "right" car.
 
Yep-I started helping my brother at nine years old on a 49 Buick and haven't stopped at 65. I have seen and heard just about every BS statement going. NOS or new off the showroom were not perfect.
 
The parts game really changed when the internet came along! Before then, you sat in cold, dusty barns or out in the hot sun, you were limited by how far you could drive to go to swap meets, met people face to face and had handshake transactions while looking straight at the part in question! Yea, it took longer to do a car because you couldn't just open the catalog, click on the mouse, or send instant money 1/2 way around the world and get an impossible to find part in a matter of days!!

Nowadays however, while the country is going the opposite way of integrity, honesty, courtesy and manners, there is a place for scammers, theives and conmen to do their business and not get caught, and it's called the Internet!! I agree that both buyers and sellers need to amp up their game, with complete and accurate descriptions, clear and descriptive pictures, and open lines of communication! Our site here is based on the very qualities as mentioned above, and if we all just put a little more time and care into our dealings with each other, we can be the exception rather than the norm!!

Take the extra time to be a good buyer or seller, it will pay off for everyone!!!
 
cosgig said:
The parts game really changed when the internet came along! Before then, you sat in cold, dusty barns or out in the hot sun, you were limited by how far you could drive to go to swap meets, met people face to face and had handshake transactions while looking straight at the part in question! Yea, it took longer to do a car because you couldn't just open the catalog, click on the mouse, or send instant money 1/2 way around the world and get an impossible to find part in a matter of days!!

Nowadays however, while the country is going the opposite way of integrity, honesty, courtesy and manners, there is a place for scammers, theives and conmen to do their business and not get caught, and it's called the Internet!! I agree that both buyers and sellers need to amp up their game, with complete and accurate descriptions, clear and descriptive pictures, and open lines of communication! Our site here is based on the very qualities as mentioned above, and if we all just put a little more time and care into our dealings with each other, we can be the exception rather than the norm!!

Take the extra time to be a good buyer or seller, it will pay off for everyone!!!
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Well stated!
 
I am more interested in everyone getting a voice on here. For so long and if you will count the posts it's very obvious that buyers get the lions share of"poor me" sympathy.? I will not drag members through the mud on here even though at this date seventeen on here have not paid. Call it my fault if you want but I have seen what happens when others have called members out like has been done lately. On the bumper thread I guarantee you the guy would have received the brackets bolted the bumper on and a "daily driver" would have been born.
 
Let's not turn this thread into a debate about a previous problem here. All those opinions have been aired and we are done.
 
cosgig said:
The parts game really changed when the internet came along! Before then, you sat in cold, dusty barns or out in the hot sun, you were limited by how far you could drive to go to swap meets, met people face to face and had handshake transactions while looking straight at the part in question! Yea, it took longer to do a car because you couldn't just open the catalog, click on the mouse, or send instant money 1/2 way around the world and get an impossible to find part in a matter of days!!

Nowadays however, while the country is going the opposite way of integrity, honesty, courtesy and manners, there is a place for scammers, theives and conmen to do their business and not get caught, and it's called the Internet!! I agree that both buyers and sellers need to amp up their game, with complete and accurate descriptions, clear and descriptive pictures, and open lines of communication! Our site here is based on the very qualities as mentioned above, and if we all just put a little more time and care into our dealings with each other, we can be the exception rather than the norm!!

Take the extra time to be a good buyer or seller, it will pay off for everyone!!!
Click to expand...
And here is the problem, you have addressed the sellers responsibility in detail but as usual the buyer has not been addressed! Perhaps you don't know how a responsible buyer should enter into an agreement or you feel he has no responsibility other than his expectations must be met by others. But to be fair about it the others that gave you all the "harrumphs" missed it too.
 
d5667 said:
And here is the problem, you have addressed the sellers responsibility in detail but as usual the buyer has not been addressed! Perhaps you don't know how a responsible buyer should enter into an agreement or you feel he has no responsibility other than his expectations must be met by others. But to be fair about it the others that gave you all the "harrumphs" missed it too.
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The seller initiates the sale and must be honest from the start. The buyer is at the mercy of that honesty until he pulls the trigger and decides to purchase. The buyer must be cautious and not get overwhelmed with the excitement of finding that elusive part. (often times in our cases) You need to ask questions, ask for more photos, measurements, applications, and the like. Make sure it's what you want before committing. The old "caveat emptor" comes into play. Buyer Beware!
 

toolmanmike said:
The seller initiates the sale and must be honest from the start. The buyer is at the mercy of that honesty until he pulls the trigger and decides to purchase. The buyer must be cautious and not get overwhelmed with the excitement of finding that elusive part. (often times in our cases) You need to ask questions, ask for more photos, measurements, applications, and the like. Make sure it's what you want before committing. The old "caveat emptor" comes into play. Buyer Beware!
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Absolutely correct! The buyer has the responsibility to get his questions answered. Check new prices if available and understand why the parts are priced the percentage of new.
 
When buying old cars, do you test drive them?

I don't, they're old. I expect them to handle like ****, have flogged out wheel bearings and a whiny diff.

I build that expectation into the price when I'm standing next to the car negotiating with the seller.
 
d5667 said:
I am more interested in everyone getting a voice on here. For so long and if you will count the posts it's very obvious that buyers get the lions share of"poor me" sympathy.? I will not drag members through the mud on here even though at this date seventeen on here have not paid. Call it my fault if you want but I have seen what happens when others have called members out like has been done lately. On the bumper thread I guarantee you the guy would have received the brackets bolted the bumper on and a "daily driver" would have been born.
Click to expand...
Well, I have seen many people post against sellers that were themselves pretty iffy about their communication and expectations. But, I believe that sellers have a responsibility to their customers to be honest and stand behind their products and statements. When a seller states they will do something they need to actually do it. Customers should be treated as they matter.
I definitely agree with you guys' viewpoints on their being a need for a certain approach to buying, and I personally would never put myself in the position of trying to sell old car parts online. :)
 
d5667 said:
And here is the problem, you have addressed the sellers responsibility in detail but as usual the buyer has not been addressed! Perhaps you don't know how a responsible buyer should enter into an agreement or you feel he has no responsibility other than his expectations must be met by others. But to be fair about it the others that gave you all the "harrumphs" missed it too.
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.....umm, ok, but if I'm the buyer, I expect all of the above in my post, and if I don't see it or read it in the description, I ask questions, request more pictures of specific areas, ask for shipping quotes, ask for clarification if I'm in question as to the level of quality of the item BEFORE I send any money!! See, I've also been the buyer of many 1000's of parts, cars, and other items! How many cars have I bought on description alone?? Some descriptions of vehicles I see are all of one sentence, then I see 1/2 a dozen low ball off the cuff offers based on this shoddy description!!

If you haven't learned how to buy items over the Internet by now, especially after reading all of the things that CAN go wrong, then maybe you should stick to the advise given above, buy only at swap meets where you can see the part!! All harrumphing aside, I can speak to both sides of the deal!! Can you???
 
cosgig said:
.....umm, ok, but if I'm the buyer, I expect all of the above in my post, and if I don't see it or read it in the description, I ask questions, request more pictures of specific areas, ask for shipping quotes, ask for clarification if I'm in question as to the level of quality of the item BEFORE I send any money!! See, I've also been the buyer of many 1000's of parts, cars, and other items! How many cars have I bought on description alone?? Some descriptions of vehicles I see are all of one sentence, then I see 1/2 a dozen low ball off the cuff offers based on this shoddy description!!

If you haven't learned how to buy items over the Internet by now, especially after reading all of the things that CAN go wrong, then maybe you should stick to the advise given above, buy only at swap meets where you can see the part!! All harrumphing aside, I can speak to both sides of the deal!! Can you???
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BS- I'm 65 years old started at nine with my older brother copart weekly five shipping accounts. Most of you FOE buyers feel that sellers have no choice but to sell to you so any offer they deem appropriate is valid. When someone sells you a fifty dollar part how much of those"big bucks"are labor? But to you it makes no difference because "it's not you! And when you decide a fifty year old part is not acceptable on your "hobby" car you want all your money back after you have wasted the sellers time and shipping money! If all I ever sold was Chrysler parts I would be one broke SOB! Buyers need to understand new vs used, how to blow up pics, understand what can be found new and realize if it can only be found used-it won't be new. This ain't wal mart and it ain't Burger King parts are limited and you need to decide now. Lots of threads on here where buyer lost a deal because of"waiting"??? I guess it would be fair to say I have bought and sold at least a couple of"vehicles".
 
oh i don't know.. its both sides responsibility to make sure the deal goes down ok.. i see an asking price and don't really care about the labor the seller went through to get it.. that should be already worked into the asking price.. almost always i will offer less then asking price.. 99% of sellers (myself included) list a part higher then what they expect to get for it to begin with. its nuts to just pay asking price without at least trying to get it cheaper.

i think a big issue is when someone lists a part as spotless and its far from it.. a lot of things don't show up well in pictures.. a lot of guys just take crappy pictures and without having it in your hands its really hard to tell the shape its in.. i have no problem paying a premium for something but i also expect it to be as described by the seller. if i'm selling i always point out the imperfections that i know about and try to get the best pics i can of those imperfections...

saw it here a while back. part was listed as perfect originals when you could see what looked like a dent in it. when i asked if it was a dent or just a glare in the pic i got a nastygram back about how it was an old part..bla...bla...bla..... don't say its perfect if there is a dent in the damn thing.. i ended spending a little bit more and bought the parts new. they were perfect..:)
 
All these are my points exactly!! Get descriptions and pictures, ask questions, get as much information as you can to make sure the deal is straight, on both sides!

Now, I'm sure you can ask anybody here if anything I sell is priced too high!! Take my crossmember project as an example! This is a part that anybody running dual exhaust in an early A body would be interested in! I sell them for $75 plus shipping! How much do you think I make at that price?? I have to find them, buy them, sometimes pay to have them shipped to me, just so I can blast them, mill them, cut the blanks, weld them together, blast them again, paint them, pack them, list them, and ship them!! All so I can make a profit on them??....or just get parts to those that need them? And that's just one item!

I'm a buyer, and a seller, and have been for a long time as well, but I'm confused!! First you're on the buyers side, then the sellers!! If you've been both and have sold over the Internet, you should understand how important due diligence is on BOTH sides!!
d5667 said:
BS- I'm 65 years old started at nine with my older brother copart weekly five shipping accounts. Most of you FOE buyers feel that sellers have no choice but to sell to you so any offer they deem appropriate is valid. When someone sells you a fifty dollar part how much of those"big bucks"are labor? But to you it makes no difference because "it's not you! And when you decide a fifty year old part is not acceptable on your "hobby" car you want all your money back after you have wasted the sellers time and shipping money! If all I ever sold was Chrysler parts I would be one broke SOB! Buyers need to understand new vs used, how to blow up pics, understand what can be found new and realize if it can only be found used-it won't be new. This ain't wal mart and it ain't Burger King parts are limited and you need to decide now. Lots of threads on here where buyer lost a deal because of"waiting"??? I guess it would be fair to say I have bought and sold at least a couple of"vehicles".
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I get a chuckle when I think back of the last time I sold a part ( or car) on Ebay, was like 2007. I never have sold but a few cars or parts off feebay. BUT, many truckloads of parts at the nats years back. but........ this is true story:
I had a perfectly straight 68-9 charger bumper. only "ding" was a very slight dimple where someone had over tightened a bumper ( carrage) bolt little too tight. one smack with a hammer would has made it gone. I mean perfectly straight. chrome was not peeling, it had the old age freckles. I could sell them all day long for cores at Nats back then for min of $75. I put it on Ebay, listed it as good driver quality, good core. to me it was that EXACTLT> good pics. i figured someone coul;d use it and be tickles poopless. price is $75. .......
it sells to lady from Canada. shipping was $75. she gets it and goes OFF, exclaiming it is NOT straight, it will cost her $400 to have it straightened, and also the shop will charge then another $400 to re chrome it. blah blah blak, threatens me .... she WILL give me a BAD feedback unless I refund her $150 she has invested in said bumper. ( this is true story and has nothing to do with previous thread!,)
OK I tell her I described the bumper correctly. she bought a good core, driver quality bumper. yes I will refund her pourchase price IF she returns me my bumper. so she would have spent $150 to get back her $75!!!!!!! will i refund chipping to or from? NOooooooooooo..........sorry. I was right .... she was wrong.. so Ebay gives me a bad mark!!!!!! ha................ last time I sold a part of feebay.
life is funny. people are crazy!!!??? ha
 
Makes no difference to me if you want to give your parts away. That's up to you! If you sell enough or buy enough you will have problems. We ship fed x ups old dominion saia Rockford usps etc.I know for a fact that everyone has the responsibility to show and tell the truth! Is it one sided-NO! There are liars on both sides! Here's one for ya- a person on dodge connection needed a plastic fuel tank to move her truck out of storage, shipped the tank to Ocala fla gave her my personal PayPal address,tank was delivered-no response. She called three weeks later and a miracle had happened, my tank was no good but she found one for $20.00 locally.Amazing!!!
 
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