On E bay, there was the auction for the hand crank and extension, #4538853390. Look at the ending price! He paid $216.50 for that!!!!!! Talk about insanity! I bid a low amount (cheapo), knowing I probably wouldn't get it. I never thought for a minute it would go that high! The seller must be laughing his A** off all the way to the bank!!

Barry

50 F-1

 

Some of the stuff on eBay I wonder what the seller is thinking. There was a '48-50 F-1 listed last week that was in original, unrestored, sitting around for years condition needing a full restoration and the starting bid was somewhere around $9000. What do these guys think these trucks are worth fully restored? There was another that the seller listed multiply times. The discription and pictures told the whole story. The truck sat in the guys yard for years, the tires were flat, it had the typical rust and hadn't run in many years. The starting bid was $5000. I don't think he ever sold it.

Prices paid for parts for these old Fords are another amazing thing. I have seen stainless grill covers that have dents and scratches and no mounting hardware go for $150+. You can buy high quality reproduction strips for $199, a lot I know, but at least they're nice and straight and come with all of the hardware to mount them. If you have to buy clips you need 24 at about $1 apiece. I just got out bidded on a set of reproduction hubcaps for a F-1, they sold for $60 plus shipping and I'm sure if I would have gone higher the other bidder would have gone even higher, the ad said they were gently used with a few minor scratches. You can buy the same set new for $100 from a dealer and know you have some kind of recourse if you have a problem with them. Many times I have seen new reproduction parts go for much more than what the normal repro dealers sell them for. I just can't it figure out.

OK, enough of my ranting but I have been thinking about this for a long time and thanks to Barry opening the door, I just had to vent.

 

I'm glad to see that others think like me. Thanks Bob!. There's a truck on E bay now starting at $22,000+ I didn't even look at it. Probably a rod. They seem to think they're worth more. Go Figure?

Barry

50 F-1

 

I know what you are talking about. Now too many times when I'm at a swap meet somebody will say "this just went for $XXX.XX on ebay. I usually say then list it there, this is here. However it still is a good sounding board on many items to see what they are going for by searching completed items.
BTW, check out the 1952 there now, item 4539665650. It looks to be very original.

 

I think you guys are missing the point. If people pay too much for stuff on eBay, then it's a seller's market and an opportunity for you. Start selling stuff on eBay.

 

Earl,

I agree with you, it's a seller's market and I, along with many members of this board, sell things on eBay. I must admit that some things I have sold on eBay weren't worth a whole lot but I start the pricing low and give very detailed discriptions and pictures and leave it go from there. I don't force anyone to bid on anything I post. I will not try to sucker someone into buying junk, I don't like being screwed with and I don't like screwing others. I personally like to "horse trade" for stuff. I like dealing with other truck people one on one when possible. Many of the over priced items on eBay start way too high and never sell. I just find it amazing the prices people pay for some of the junk that is listed. On the other hand I have seen some very good trucks just sit there and not get a single bid. I will never be able to figure out the auction mentallity.

 

The problem with eBay is that some people aren't educated on what's available in the aftermarket/repro market. I, too, see if an item could be purchased in the repro market before placing a bid. I usually only buy things that aren't available in the repro market or are way too expensive.

I love selling on eBay, because you'll always (most of the time) find someone out there who needs a part. Better than throwing it away. eBay is also another way of how I fund my hobby.

However, I think that we could alll conclude that most eBay sellers are crazy when it comes to selling parts. They think that they have struck a gold mine, when all they have is junk.

I agree that eBay has ruined the swap meet pricing. Now at swap meets people also think that they have gold just because it sold for $X on eBay.

Why drag the crap out to a swap meet if you're not going to sell it? It costs more time and money to drag this stuff around than to put it on eBay. Time also equals money.

Ilya

 

I agree with Bob, I sell stuff on Ebay and it's hard to figure people. They'll pay top $$ for something that's basically a piece of crap and won't bid on a decent item. I've listed stuff and one time it sells and other times it just sits there. Lately, I've had better luck selling stuff off Ebay. I'll give a honest price and I have no problem selling it. I'd love to "Horsetrade" on stuff, but the almighty $$ seems to win out.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Funny thing Barry, I have done more Horsetrading for parts on my truck than any other project truck I have had.. And I think it is more of a win win for ever body that way, And I have found more people here on this board that will wheel and deal with me and not try to make a big dollor profit.. I have seen so many parts on E bay.. but its scary for what there going for.. Heck.. there was a intake I wanted and it was on ebay.. it sold for some outrages price.. I just couldnt believe it.. I could have bought 3 New 4bbl intake from clifford for the price someone paid for this 2 1bbl intake...

 

I'll agree with you with people here, they'll deal and are great people. I guess I'm really complaining about people that I've met at swap meets. They want it for dirt cheap and complain about what they do spend on it, but then you see it on thier table for double what you asked for it! I see it here in the east. I gave up selling at swap meets, a waste of time. I miss the swap meets. It's so much easier to post a pic and just wait. I liked going to meets and digging thru the boxes and seeing old friends and B.S.ing with them. You could deal then. Granted, I've gotten stuff for my truck that I'd never find locally, on line, but I miss the old way. Times change..... I guess.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Hey Barry.. I still go to meets when I can.. Just to meet up with old buddies .. I know of a few in RI and Mass if you are having problems finding good meets..

 

Here's one for you, this guy must of bumped his head first before he listed a pair of rear fenders on ebay for a 53-56 with heavy rust on them and a starting bid of $700.00 and that wouldn't even be counting shipping. Unless I'm crazy, ok! maybe a little, (lol!) i'm pretty sure you can buy them new for the same or less.

 

As the old saying goes..... One man's gold, .............. you know the rest!

Barry

50 F-1