78 Tradewind on ebay.......

Bill_in_Texas · 01-08-2004, 10:46 PM

I just came back from inspecting the 78 Tradewind currently on ebay. Two words come to mind: MONEY PIT.

Water damage, soft floor front, bad floor under bath, missing eqpt, wore out refer, non-working cabinet tambours, trim pieces loose, the list goes on.

The outside, however is shiny on sides, oxidized top, no dings I saw. Still, I pass this one. Still looking.

Bill_in_Texas · 01-11-2004, 09:27 AM

The 78 Tradewind I inspected earlier this week is now over 11k. This is the second time offered. First run brought over 10k bids, but was relisted without explanation. Bet I know what happened. Bidder got a look and said "No Way". Please don't tell me this is the price for one in the shape this one is in! I'll never be able to afford one if good shape!

**CanoeStream** · 01-11-2004, 09:39 AM

It stood at $11,101 for a long time. With only a couple minutes left somebody with 168 eBay transactions raised it to $11,600. With under a minute ironfisttrader -- 45 "successful" eBay transactions -- coughed up $12,400 to "win." Neither of these folks had done any previous bidding -- a sometimes strategy to avoid pushing up the price on yourself.

'Round these parts your property tax goes up when somebody pays too much for nearby lakeshore. Hike up your pants! Oh wait, I don't pay property tax on my Argosy. Never mind!

Bill_in_Texas · 01-14-2004, 11:01 AM

After the winning bidder turns it down (12k, good grief), I'm going to contact the seller and offer $2000 for it as a restoration project. The seller knows the condition, but has twice failed to give an accurate description on his listing. Just as I suspected the December winning bidder turned it down as not accurately described.

In my search for an airstream, I've discovered sellers have an unfortunate tendacy to think they are offering gold when in fact they are offering clay. Forum members, however, do not seem to share this personality flaw. They also have been offering excellent advice that has kept me out of trouble! Thanks, and I'm not giving up yet.

Bill in (the great state of) Texas

Discouraged, but not unreasonably so.