Well, it was mine for just a short while. I gave it to my daughter to sell. She's in a bit of a financial pinch and I really didn't have time to tinker with this one.
Finishing the refurb on my Caravel and doing some camping are my priorities right now.
If I didn't already have the Caravel, the Argosy would definitely have been a "keeper".
If anyone is interested, here's the EBAY LINK and here's a LINK TO THE PHOTOS
__________________ Rog
May you camp where wind won’t hit you, where snakes won’t bite and bears won’t git you.
1) I'm keeping an eye on a supposed '58 Flying Cloud that's for sale. It's the first day & only 6 bids so far, but the high bid amount keeps changing, with no additional bid notations, either from the high bidder or anybody else. There doesn't appear to be a reserve price, so no one's bidding just to try to find that out. What am I missing here?
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?
I've only bought one thing off eBay and that was a very simple little item, so I watch some of these big-ticket auctions with confusion.
Last edited by summerkid; 04-25-2004 at 07:44 PM..
Reason: add info
hi, I haven't checked out the bid thread on the item you are watching but invisible bids can happen when a person has posted with ebay a maximum amount they are willing to pay, and ebay bids on their behalf when they are outbid. There is usually a preset increment of $100. Hope this helps.
Next question, sometimes if a seller sees no interest in their item, they stop the auction early to avoid a low sale price - but in that case they could always have a reserve. More likely bad scenario of waiting to bid is that someone could come up their driveway, or call/connect with them outside of ebay, and give them what appears to be a good offer compared to the 'lack of interest' they are seeing on ebay. But anyone who is familiar with these auctions knows the price climbs significantly on the last day, especially during the last hour, or even the last minute.
Most experienced bidders have a set maximum they are willing to pay, and you won't prod them into bidding higher by bidding early. On the other hand, a mental maximum could go upward if you have time to think about it...
I have bid on two auctions in ebay for airstreams so far. One ended early before I had a chance to get to my highest bid (he sold it to someone who came up the driveway), and one I was happy to be outbid because 3 hrs before the auction was over, I was high bidder and the seller contacted me to inform me that the cabinets weren't original, there had been a fridge fire, etc. etc. Interesting that she didn't mention any of that in the description, though it was lengthy and glowing. I also waited to bid on one other, and nobody was bidding. The seller took it off the market and I have tried to buy it since but he does not really seem interested in selling anymore, but won't say yay or nay. Quite frustrating.
... i get the proxy stuff still don't understand why, IF no one else is bidding AND there's no reserve price, why this one bid keeps rising--there are still only 6 bids, like earlier in the day, but that 6th bid went from $810 to $850 to $898 (i think).
The bidding history does not show how much each of the 6 bids were for, so it's hard to see what is going on. Maybe bidder number 6 keeps outbidding himself, doesn't know about proxy voting or something, and ebay doesn't show it as a new bid because it is the same person? Hmmm.
.... i'm rummaging around for more spex on shari's & other sites, but i do NOT think there was a whaletail after '57. some overlap possible, i suppose.
Summerkid, this is RaChelle, in Rockford... I use Ebay quite a bit in my business.. and it often does not make sense. I have a feedback rating of 3131 and I also bid on an Airstream last summer. That was one of the most HORRIBLE experiences we have ever had.. it was advertised in excellent shape but the belly was split open and insulation was hanging everywhere; plus the rear bathroom had fallen out. ***** It would REALLY be worth it to go see this thing before you bid.
**********
That said, I DO wait until the end of an auction.. I have a fast computer and I launch my bid after I have followed the action.
*******
Good luck... I'll be watching your progress!!! Be sure to read the feedback VERY crefully.. sometimes there are hints in neutrals, and even positive comments.
I guess it might be time to call on Windspill, who has volunteered to look at trailers in that area for forum members. But I hesitate to ask such a huge favor of ANYBODY, much less a stranger, even if I pay for gas & all. I'll probably quiz the seller a bit first, but wonder how well versed he/she is in Airstreams. If anybody sees this thread & has any thoughts to offer, please do. I REALLY want a '57 Flying Cloud, even if it's billed as a '58 and has some weird kind of flat wheel cut-outs rather than the slanted ones.
Flamingo-kid: I can't for the life of me figure out why somebody would be less than forthright in the description of such a big-ticket item, given the amount of money involved. I would FREAK if I were selling something & the buyer was disappointed because i'd glossed over some defects. Who could cope with that kind of hassle?
I buy and sell lots of items on Ebay, mostly in conjunction with my son who has a business selling just about anything and everything, including travel trailers and motor vehicles. We have 80-some items listed for sale on Ebay right at this moment.
Personally, I don't think there is a problem bidding on an item anytime you might wish to do so. As already pointed out, the seller might end the auction early for a variety of reasons, such as getting a bid that he considers adequate.
Two weeks ago I had a fellow from Spain that was interested in bidding on an item I was selling, and after the auction ended he sent me an email telling me had stayed up until 5:00 am to place a last minute bid, but he had a communication problem with Ebay and couldn't get his bid placed on time -- I felt as bad as he did because his bid would have been 150% of the final selling price. But, unforseen things happen!
Just make sure you establish in advance what the maximum amount you're willing to pay, place your bid at that price, and forget it. For example, on the trailer you're interested in, even if you put in a bid at $10,000 today, the bid price is only going to go as high as the incremental amount establised by Ebay above the next highest bidder's maximum bid amount. For example, if the trailer is presently bid at $900, and you see that the next bid must be a minimum of $920. if no one else has already placed a bid above $920, you'd be the high bidder at $920 even if you put in a maximum bid at $10,000. Make sense?
However, I would never consider buying an item (for say above $25) from a person with a zero user rating, like the person selling the Airstream you're looking at, much less buying something like a trailer sight unseen.
I looked at the "bids" it seem there are 5 differt people looking at the item. The first 3 when back and fourth but the last 2 are other people. The only question I have is "It is in process of being restored" and why did they stop? Also pic # 4 if you count from the top corner and then go from left to right . What that spot to the left of the wheel?
... like a big old tear. I, too, am wondering why he didn't mention it. Lots of questions but I tell ya, I haven't seen a '57 FC in decent shape in my entire 5 months of looking. They seem to have attracted the 1957 buyers who beat them all to hell.
I noted Flyfisher's comments with great interest. So maybe I exercise patience & let this one pass, too.
Quick Links
Linear Mode
