Is this person a member here?

[hls30.com]

The biggest advantage to snipeing-using auction magic-or any other software, is that other bidders can't test the waters to bid the price up. Putting an opening high bid on an item brings pride into the mix-which bids up the price artificially-the guys reselling parts know this-that's why some parts go for more than a local dealers selling price. Bidding on an item, and not seeing the high bidder change is frustrating to some people, and they get that gambling mentality-I'll win if I try again-it's only money. A pair of NOS door handles going for $127 plus $15 s&h is ridiculus! They can be had for less than $80 at any local Nissan Dealer! That auction was set up for the uninformed and/or lazy.

The '83 turbo I bought proved that snipeing works against this. After losing similar auctions at over $500 by entering into bidding wars, I set the software to snipe the bid 12 seconds before close, I ended up getting the car for $351. The seller was shocked-he expected around $700, I recieved several sets of hate mail, but I picked up the car in Anderson, SC.

I want to pay for the parts, not the emotional euphoria of winning an auction.

Will

[texasz]

This thread has gone astray...I'm not asking how eBay works, I've been a buyer and seller for years and know full well that sniping is the way to go...I do it myself. Nor am I mad or anything over this, that's the way it works and I wasn't willing to go too high on these items.

What I was curious is what this guy may be working on. I did shoot him an email and it appears as though he's from Japan since the last part of his email is @nifty.ne.jp and the bidder is not the actual buyer, it's the buyer's friend since the actual buyer does not speek very good English (the bidder's English is tought to follow as well but he's really making the effort).

Any how, I have attached the pix of his cars if anyone is interested...what I'd still like to know is why he wants these valve covers? They will not work on the cars pictured.

[texasz]

Here's the other pic.

And oh yes, here's his reply:

The Zcar, which I own, is a "70'PS30-Z432" type.

The photograph of my car is sent together.

"Type L engine 2400HC" to purchase from you and other Americans doesn't

conform to my car.

But, Many Zcar fools are equal to my friend.

They aren't good at using English.

I take my place of them, and a bid is being done.

Could your understanding get it?

[HS30-H]

texasz,

ebay username "navyzero" should be a clue to you. He's Japanese alright, and that's the Japanese navy ( Kaigun ) and not the US Navy, British Navy or indeed the Swiss Navy. I think you know what a Zero sen is too?.........

The answer is that he's buying the "2400 OHC" valve covers and selling them in Japan. They are fairly collectable over there, and some of the Factory race cars used them - so they have a small following. I sourced a pair for a Japanese friend of mine a couple of years ago. He kept one and sold the other.

Alan T.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by HS30-H

I'm noticing that more and more of the items I'm interested in on ebay are being listed as "United States Only" and "No International Bids".

What's that all about?

Hi Alan:

I sell very little on eBay, but I am one who specifies US Sales only. I hate to cut some people out of the opportunity to bid, but the reasons that I do so are three fold. First, some international bidders flip out when they find out what our Postal system charges for international shipping and then complain that the seller is ripping them off. I've had that happen twice. Second, for someone who isn't savvy to the requirements in filling out the forms for international shipments, my local post office has required me to step out of the queue to complete new paperwork and then start at the back of the queue again. I ended up spending over an hour and a half at the Post Office trying to ship an item to Australia one time, last year. Lastly, payment can be a problem. I had one person repeatedly send a Money Order in Canadian funds to me. Then he wanted me to declare that the item was a gift so that he wouldn't have to pay taxes on the importation of the "gift". That one really ticked me off.

If a potential bidder from another country would contact me prior to bidding and give me the impression that they were not a flakey person and were knowledgable of the extra pitfalls I face to ship internationally and be willing and able to coooperate; I would certainly work with them.

Just one guy's opinion.

Carl

[sblake01]

Originally posted by texasz

And oh yes, here's his reply:

My understanding could get it! He does the same thing over there in Japan that ebay sellers do over here. Prey on the uninformed, the unsuspecting, the unknowlegeable, etc.

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by sblake01

My understanding could get it! He does the same thing over there in Japan that ebay sellers do over here. Prey on the uninformed, the unsuspecting, the unknowlegeable, etc.

Ah, The joys of Capitalism and the free market! (heavy sarcasm intended)

[HS30-H]

Originally posted by Bambikiller240

If a potential bidder from another country would contact me prior to bidding and give me the impression that they were not a flakey person and were knowledgable of the extra pitfalls I face to ship internationally and be willing and able to coooperate; I would certainly work with them.

Just one guy's opinion.

Carl

Hi Carl,

Unfortunately, people like you seem to be something of an exception on ebay.

Very often my enquiries have gone unanswered, despite my efforts to let the vendor know that I understand about international shipping and what it costs ( its part of my job ). I have 100% good feedback - 95% of which is from sellers outside my home country. Does this count for anything with these vendors? Does it hell!............

However, I do understand that there are a fair amount of idiots on ebay ( both buyers AND sellers ) - so I really should not be so surprised.

Its just a microcosm of the World, after all................

Alan T.

[MikeW]

I sense a business opportunity here for someone. An agent in the US could receive the eBay shipment and turn around and ship it out of the country for the cost of shipping plus enough to cover the hassle of international shipments. Multiple products could be combined into a single box to reduce the costs involved.

[spudz]

I have sold well over 100 items on Ebay in the past . I no longer do it , because of the way their system is currently working .

I have had sellers steal images of my car to sale theirs and it took three dayd and a

threat of a law suit to have Ebay take it down.

I had many inquiries for shipping elsewhere , and ended up not having to ship to Canada several times. I ended up refusing to ship to Canada , becuase of the huge hassle with getting the package

to them. I would send the darn thing air at my cost and it would still take weeks for them to get the darn package , and I would have to answer at least 4 or 5 emails on where it was. The Canadian postal system is horrible .

Mike

[texasz]

Originally posted by spudz

...and I would have to answer at least 4 or 5 emails on where it was...

My solution to this is shipping everything either via UPS or FedEx and as soon as the item is shipped email the buyer their tracking number. If they have questions as to where it is check the tracking and/or call the carrier.

[texasz]

Originally posted by mdbrandy

Were you just bidding on that sandblasted one? It went pretty cheap ($41 ?). If you aren't going to snipe, you just need to enter your highest bid and hope it's more than anyone else is willing to pay. If he paid more than you were willing to pay, then it doesn't matter if he sniped you or not. (And no it wasn't me). Probably a reseller if he's bought 3 recently. I got sniped on a series I parts car fairly close to me recently by someone that was obviously a reseller. But he paid more than I was willing to, so...

Sorry I never answered your question. Yes, that was the one I was bidding on...I was trying to get it for a little coin and allowed it to go very cheap. The winning bidder got a good deal on this for eBay.