Can someone tell me why these hubcaps are going ballistic on ebay. Guy claims they retail for $85 but I have found multiple listings for $35.
F-Series Truck Hub Caps

ebay item 251051228145

 

Oops. I didn't see the other set. Danged if I know. I'd call that supplier and see if they truly have the big truck hubcaps. The ebay guy probably is just saying that.

 

I sold a really nice original pair awhile back for $40......
Originals are scarce, but there isn't a lot of demand since they are reproduced.

 

It's a free market...you can spend as much or as little as the seller is willing to take. Ebay has opened up this market to many buyers who don't have a clue as to the true market value of an item and will pay more than what it's worth many times. Then there are those highly competitive bidders who won't let an auction slip through their fingers for want of just another bid. It is interesting to watch, especially if you have no vested interest in the outcome.

 

Quality varies greatly from vendor to vendor. Do they fit? Are they concentric? Do they stay on? I've seen trim rings so thin that putting them on irreparably distorts them, but they were only $20/set. BTW $138/set is hardly ballistic, that's right in line with $35 each.

 

ok Ross, are you one of the bidders. LOL Still 3 days out remember, 7 bidders, 9 bids, thats pretty active. Going to be interesting to see what they close at.

 

$35X4=$140, Ross you're right about that.

Basically I figure there are three reasons why people over pay for stuff on eBay.

Stupidity, more money than brains.

Ignorance, they don't know there are other vendors out there that offer offer this stuff at lower prices.

Availability, they want or need it now. There's a eBay seller in FLA that sells vintage Buick parts at 2-3 the reasonable prices but they have it. Most of the old Buick guys know about this seller and laugh at the ridiculous prices they start their bidding at. Their parts recycle on eBay for weeks until a fish comes along and bites. I figure the buyers are probably restoration shops that need a part of two to finish a customer's car and are willing to pay 2-3 times the price just to get the part to get the car out of their shop. No shop wants a car to take up space because they can't find a part or two. Time and space are money for a shop. An individual can go from swap meet to swap meet looking for one elusive part. Also an individual doing their own cars tend to form relationships and leads among that certain make of vehicle and are able to follow up on leads. A professional shop isn't going to waste the time to form these connections because one week they may be working on a Buick and the following job might be a Chrysler. Also, I'm sure some individuals who just need that one part and their 10 restoration project will be finished. I'm sure they are willing to pay 2-3 times the price just to get the job finally done, especially if their wife keeps asking when it will be done.

My favorite story on eBay happened about 3-4 years ago. I saw a stainless grill kit for a '48-50, you know the pretty ones. The seller stated he bought the kit new for $200, put it on his truck but didn't like it so decided to sell it. He listed the price, part number and even the place he bought it from. Starting bid $65. Just for the heck of it I bid $75, no one bid against me and I got it for $65. The following week same story different seller, but this time the opening bid was $150 and this time the seller even listed the web site address for the part. This set ended up selling for $230! $30 dollars more than from the original vendor!! Now that's just plain stupid.

 

No John, I'm not bidding... I don't use the old wheels. I'd bet tho that the seller's $15 shipping for a set of 4 is less than the parts houses are charging, so I could see it going above $140 and still be a deal.

What did you end up doing for a radiator?

 

Well, ross the radiator is a sad story. My project is dead in the water due to a dead radiator (beyond repair, like swiss cheese. New one is more then I paid for the truck and I am not sure this flathead will even hold water when it starts up so....bummer. My pressure washer broker so I had to use my yearly allowance to replace that. So I need to find a new rich wife that likes cars(dont think they exist), find a cheap radiator that does not leak, or work on other parts of the truck until I see cash.

 

I thought you rebuilt the engine? Why wouldn't it hold water.

Seems a shame to balk at such an important part of the truck. What else does it need to be on the road? Are the brakes and such all done, I know you rebuilt the trans? Tires? Might be a legitimate time to dip into the plastic if that's all it will take...

 

Ross, when I did the engine I did not take it to a machine shop. Few and far between here. They think a flathead is a type of haircut around here. I have built engines for 35 years so I decided to tackle my first flathead. Had some small stress cracks in the bolts between the cylinders but after talking to some flathead guys, I think one of them may have been you, they said dont worry about it, its typical so I am going to keep my fingers crossed. The brakes....thats a story too...I designed a new system using a Dodge 1-ton truck dual master cylinder and keeping my wheel cylinders but thats going to require an adaptor piece for mounting so I am thinking about using the stock master cylinder and just run the truck around the north forty for a while.

 

OK, I just bought a set of these for my F-2. Yes I paid a few dollars more than I should have but there was a big difference between those that were $85 and those that were $35. That was too big a difference. I was concerned, just as Ross says, about the quality and fit. Some suppliers like LMC Truck and Mac's didn't even list the F-2 hubcaps. These were stainless and when I got them they looked great and they fit right on with no trouble.

If I had to do it again I would try the $40 ea. SS hubcaps from Dennis Carpenter. At least I know that they will take them back.

 

Stupidity confirmed... 1948 49 50 51 52 Ford F-2 F-3 3/4 ton truck hubcaps No Reserve flathead scta | eBay

 

So the guy paid $63 too much, more then I would but I thought it would have gone higher. Maybe those bidders saw our thread. LOL

 

Hopefully no one here was the final bidder. Just think though, it takes two to drive the bidding up.