If you download the e-bay photo and enlarge it - you can plainly see a really huge gash and also a questionable spot a little higher up. I woudn't buy anything from a seller who failed to disclose this.
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77 Argosy Minuet, 6 metre
77 Argosy 24, Rear door
AIR 3181, WBCCI/VAC # 5575
Assume that the trailer is junk, that it needs a floor, and a frame-off restoration plus needing at least one body panel. Decide what you'd be willing to pay for it sitting that way in a yard somewhere and don't bid more than that. If you win it, and it's in better condition than you'd expected, you're better off than expected. Otherwise, you're no worse. And if it goes for a ridiculous amount of money, it's an SEP. (That's Somebody Else's Problem) that they probably paid too much for!
I'm also leery of high-ticket items being sold by someone with no feedback rating. And by the way, that's an '80s vintage stove/oven unit pictured... so it's not all original anyway, and who knows what was done to the cabinetry in the updating?
Rog
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AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
.... that I have a happy-ending story to report once I've picked up my Bambi, because that was sight unseen & well, you all know how much I shelled out for THAT piece of vintage vanity. It wasn't an eBay auction, though.
Well, thanks for talking me out of this, though, folks. One of these days I hope to watch an auction for TWO days before being shot down!
And by the way, happy spring greetings from Chicago on a GORGEOUS sunny morning after a little rain ... everything lush-green, the crab apple blooming, 2 mourning doves nesting on the balconies, their cooing drowned out only by the rumbling of construction trucks & backhoes. It IS Chicago, after all ...
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2) Is there a rationale to bidding right off the bat? I don't see any point to possibly creating interest in an item so, logically, wouldn't plan to bid till the last minute. Am I missing something here too?
Sniping is the best way for buyers to reduce bidding wars and to ultimately result in a lower final price. On the flip side, though, sniping doesn't guarantee you will win the auction!
What is sniping? Sniping is simply waiting until the last minute, literally, to bid on an auction. I usually bid in the last 10 seconds -- sometimes I win, sometimes I lose -- but I never bid higher than my preset limit. There is never time to change your mind to bid higher nor is there enough time for other buyers to be notified that they have been outbid -- hence reducing bidding wars. BTW, it is very exciting too! My adrenaline is always pumping in those last 10 seconds!
... the bid is up $20, and there HAS been a 7th bid, but the single bid by Shmosslandingecx is still on top. The new bid is dated the 26th but Shmoss' is dated the 25th so it must be a time zone thing. The proxy thing must just keep updating the proxy bidder's initial bid rather than entering a new one for that person.
... the bid is up $20, and there HAS been a 7th bid, but the single bid by Shmosslandingecx is still on top. The new bid is dated the 26th but Shmoss' is dated the 25th so it must be a time zone thing. The proxy thing must just keep updating the proxy bidder's initial bid rather than entering a new one for that person.
No, it is not a "time zone thing" -- it is proxy bidding (see the link Jim8860 posted above for more information)! Shmosslandingecx name, and original bid date, will continue to remain "on top" until someone exceeds Shmosslandingecx's hidden high bid.
There are several programs that "snipe" for you. Some are free some are pay per bid. These programs track auctions you are interested in and will bid on your behalf up until the last minute. No need to stay up til 5am only to be outbid in the last 8secs. http://www.snipeswipe.com/http://www.bidnapper.com/ etc etc.. Google auction sniper You will find plenty out there. hope that saves you a few winks of sleep at nite!
... the bid is up $20, and there HAS been a 7th bid, but the single bid by Shmosslandingecx is still on top. The new bid is dated the 26th but Shmoss' is dated the 25th so it must be a time zone thing. The proxy thing must just keep updating the proxy bidder's initial bid rather than entering a new one for that person.
Those $20 nudges on a high-ticket item are someone testing to see if the high bidder had a proxy in or not. That bidder may be waiting to 'snipe' at the end as well. Yukionna's right, 'sniping' has become sort of a sport for a bunch of folks. It can be entertaining to watch as well.
Roger
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AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ towed by a 2001 Born Free 23RK moho
I do a lot of ebaying also, and I've noticed that with trailers there is a lot of relisting on items that should have been sold - as in the winning bidder gets a look at it in person, refuse to pay for it, and the owner puts it back up on ebay. I wouldn't bid on a trailer sight unseen, there's too much you can't see in the pictures, and we are talking about a lot of money here.
I certainly would watch the feedback ratings, but they don't count for as much anymore because a lot of people hesitate to give bad feedback because you would be almost guarenteed to get bad feedback back from the unscrupulous seller. I know we don't do bad feedback ourselves, a nutral is the worst we would do, and even then we wouldn't say anything too harsh. It's not worth it to ruin our own feedback record!
If you're really interested, take advantage of the nearest forum member to get it looked at. That's why they volunteered. I can't imagine any ASer that wouldn't like to go poke around another old AS for you!
Well there are the pics. And you could always ask Q's of the seller. And could ask the seller to send better pics. Finally there is the rating of the seller.
Based on those 3 things I feel comfortable on buying on line. With enough communication (visual and email) I have been able to get a feel of what is going on. If I feel uncomfortable then I do not play. (bid) If the seller misrepresents ebay and you have some recourse. Same as in person.
My Overlander was bought on ebay for less than $2K. I could part it out or resell it for that. And I like what I got. It's no where near perfect, and that's just fine with me.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
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1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - towing a - 1966 Overlander International Twin Bed
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond Anniversary 4.6L (275hp), 4R70W - 1990 Ford E 150 5.7L, AOD, 3.73 ____________________________________
Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
I just bought one sight unseen (except for pics) off Ebay and am quite pleased. Drove halfway across the country and back to get it. As Action mentioned in the prior post, you get a feel for things, especially if you communicate with the buyer via email. The main thing in my opinion is to be pretty specific in questions and hold the seller accountable for those replies as well as the statements made in the posting. A lot of pictures helps the process, also.
I would have no problem forfeiting a $500 Paypal deposit and walking away from something that was clearly mis-represented and would cost me a lot of pain. In my case the shell was stated to be good, all glass present, solid floors, no pets/smoking, original fabrics and no leaks. I took the latter with a healthy dose of scepticism and still felt the trailer was probably worth the price I paid, even needing new tires and a fridge.
Turned out to be as described. Have had a few minor annoyances but that is to be expected with a 33 year old trailer, and overall I'm very happy with my new toy/summer cabin.
We bought our MH on Ebay. It was in Vancouver WA, We live in Florida.
Had a forum member check it out for us, and took all of the descriptions on ebay with a grain of salt. There was not a deposit required, and the seller held the unit without funds for 2 weeks so we could complete the deal once we arrived. That in itself told me the seller was confident that we would not be disappointed when we arrived. The unit was as described, and we had an eventful trip home. If we had not had another set of eyes give it a look I don't think I would have been willing to bid, but it all worked out in the end.
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Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
I was browsing eBay the other night with a search on Welsh History. An out of print rare book came up with an 8 day listing and one bidder. I didn't check the time left but decided to throw a bid I was willing to pay in and forget about it. When I placed the bid I noticed there was just 15 seconds left and I won. That was a stroke of pure luck. The other bidder placed his/her bid on the first day and probably thought it was in the bag because there is not a lot of demand for Welsh history books. I felt kind of bad for the other person because sniping a win was not even my intent.
Another time I was actually trying hard to win with a last second bid but got beat by a proxy bidder. I've won and purchased six items eBay with total satisfaction but nothing of great value like an Airstream.
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