Contemplating parts prices

[BairleaFarm 340]

You know you take apart, build, wreck, rebuild etc you end up with some extra parts.   I was poking around and seems some of this stuff is worth more than I think it is.   Guess im still stuck in 1990 prices.   I wish I had the room to store this stuff but unfortunately im extremely limited on space.   No real point to this post other than stuff cost more than it used to.   That hydro pump caught my eye as it used to be I had to practically give away hydro units. 

 

 

[ri702bill 8,316]

It is what the market will bear..... In my opinion, if it has been properly listed and has been for 3 or more months, it IS overpriced......

[Pullstart 62,838]

Shipping isn’t cheap, it’s nice of the seller to offer that for free 

[squonk 41,072]

Just because it's listed for XXX doesn't mean it's worth XXX. It's all a matter of opinion. Do I think a shower head muffler is worth $400?  Nope! 

[BairleaFarm 340]

7 minutes ago, squonk said:

Just because it's listed for XXX doesn't mean it's worth XXX

 

Yes that's why I look at sold auctions.  I want to know hat people payed not what stuffs listed for.

[kpinnc 12,007]

I'm opening a completely different can here, but oh well.

 

Online pricing has massively inflated the cost of these parts and tractors in general. Every time I've spoke with a seller, they reference a completely different item of the same brand and say "these things go for alot of money on Ebay" or whatever platform. 

 

As far as I'm concerned, Ebay and American Pickers almost destroyed the hobby. I see rusty broken down machines listed for more than I've paid for all of mine combined. I know inflation is a variable, but not to this extent.

 

 

[JoeM 7,873]

My problem is i have a bunch of stuff and can't seem to sell it. (is that hording?) Nope just collecting. 

 

You can't forget the seller pays a premium on Ebay. So there is an additional 10%. 

Plus to a guy that is not knee deep in the horse hobby those prices might seem fair. The guys that "collect" know how to look out there and get parts on the cheap. 

 

Don't buy much tractor stuff on the bay, just maybe tires or a much needed part. sometimes carb kits etc. 

[BairleaFarm 340]

9 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Online pricing has massively inflated the cost of these parts and tractors in general. Every time I've spoke with a seller, they reference a completely different item of the same brand and say "these things go for alot of money on Ebay" or whatever platform. 

 

As far as I'm concerned, Ebay and American Pickers almost destroyed the hobby. I see rusty broken down machines listed for more than I've paid for all of mine combined. I know inflation is a variable, but not to this extent.

 

I always correct them.  Nope here's the sold of that model over the 90 days.  Some people are so far off I don't even bother.   Internet in general has hurt the hobby just like its hurt everything else in life.   I still run up on a local deal from time to time but it isn't often these days.

[BairleaFarm 340]

Just now, JoeM said:

Don't buy much tractor stuff on the bay, just maybe tires or a much needed part. sometimes carb kits etc. 

 

Ive sold thousands of items on eBay over its existence but they have really started to screw the sellers.   Been a few since I sold anything there.  I prefer group specific forums or fb groups.

[Achto 27,565]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

Shipping isn’t cheap, it’s nice of the seller to offer that for free

 

This was one of my thoughts. Shipping is never free, you are paying for it one way or another so there is that price adjustment. Then tack on Ebays cut of the sale and $55 dollar dip stick tube nets the seller $35 or so.

 

Internet is not always the cheapest any more, the cost of shipping is starting to take it's toll. I find plenty of items at a brick & mortar store for the same or less cost.

Edited November 16, 2023 by Achto

[Lagersolut 652]

The cost of parts and tractors here has gone through the roof on all of the platforms - I cruise FB marketplace - will run with a new battery - so it's up to me to bring a battery or I'm supposed to trust a strangers word and pay 4-800 for a unit - nope not this guy - I see stuff sitting outside behind a shed flat tires hasn't been moved in years they think its a goldmine - 6-800  - E-bay was my go to for filters plugs parts gasket material etc etc for years - prices are through the roof a lot of the sellers are gone - the hit and miss guys I was getting gasket material from - gone - maybe I'm still living in 1999 too but I look at these adds and think the price is nuts .

[JoeM 7,873]

3 hours ago, Achto said:

Shipping is never free, you are paying for it one way or another so there is that price adjustment

I wonder if the shipping is included does the seller pay the percent on the whole price? Seems like it would be better for the seller to offer separate shipping and negate that sellers premium on the shipping. 

It had been a while for me selling on the bay maybe someone here has that answer. 

[23 Reo 229]

Many of the hobbies are ruined. I have been wrenching and driving old cars and trucks since the 70's. Average working people can not buy and fix up old cars. The hobby is filled with wealthy people who see buying a car as adding to their investment portfolio.

[mrc 812]

first off i agree with JoeM that us wheelhorse guys know how to get parts as cheap as possible.

 

now two different angles to consider:

 

1---- recently i have offered a couple guys looking for parts a package deal for smallish money.  they could easily take what they want from the package and sell the rest, recouping their costs AND geting the parts they wanted.  one guy said  "I don't want crap laying around".     we all know you pay more piece by piece.

 

2--- the dollar is worth so little these days.  would any of us pay $1000-$1200 for a new big box store riding lawnmower.  NOPE!!!   but, plenty of folks do because that is cheap money today.  and if you think it is bad now wait till the dollar is no longer the world standard for currency.

[BairleaFarm 340]

11 hours ago, JoeM said:

I wonder if the shipping is included does the seller pay the percent on the whole price?

 

Yes seller pays fees on shipping and sale price.   The started this years ago when people were selling items for $1 with $50 shipping.

 

21 minutes ago, mrc said:

1---- recently i have offered a couple guys looking for parts a package deal for smallish money.  they could easily take what they want from the package and sell the rest, recouping their costs AND geting the parts they wanted.  one guy said  "I don't want crap laying around".     we all know you pay more piece by piece.

 

Ive bought many a lot.   Usually end up getting the part i need for free after selling the rest. 

[Treepep 564]

1 hour ago, BairleaFarm said:

 

Yes seller pays fees on shipping and sale price.   The started this years ago when people were selling items for $1 with $50 shipping.

 

 

Ive bought many a lot.   Usually end up getting the part i need for free after selling the rest. 

 

I would have to agree about prices and well availability here.  Few and far between doesn't mean I am paying through the roof.  The last lot I bought was for the one thing I wanted.  1 oil bath air cleaner for my 2 wheel tractor.  I offered stupid money for just that (125 bucks).  No dice, bought the medium sized room for 150.  Sold what I could not use/store and got my air cleaner.  Tripled my money and got my part.  Pretty common with me.  Not what I want but works out I guess?  

 

Usually horse wise here its "bring a battery, motor not locked up but these are highly collectible, parked 20 years but rolls free. " " I know what I got! They don't make em anymore!"

 

All have heard these things just a little tired of it to be honest.  

 

Happy Horsing either way folks!

[rmaynard 15,436]

As most of you know, I produce and sell brake linings. When I first started selling them on eBay, First class postage for 6 ounces was around $2.00. Now it's anywhere from $3.99 to $5.00. And what's worse, eBay charges sellers a fee based on the total of the product plus the postage. That's not fair since I have no profit in my postage. But that is a result of sellers trying to beat the system when eBay didn't factor postage into their fee calculations. For example, a seller with a $100 item with $5.00 postage, would charge $1.00 for the item and $104.00 for postage to avoid the fee. Didn't take long for eBay to figure that out. I think that the greed of eBay in their fee structure is the biggest problem causing the increase in parts prices. 

[JoeM 7,873]

3 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

I think that the greed of eBay in their fee structure is the biggest problem causing the increase in parts prices.

And the availability of those low cost small parts. Just wipes them out of the market.

 

A local auction company started putting a $20 sellers fee on smalls. And raised their buyer premium to 12.5% In the beginning only fee was a 10% buyers fee. Seems like they only want the big buck sales. You can really see that the size of the auction has shrunk. Now I see the sellers fee is gone. 

I guess they figured you have to take the big and small stuff. 

Ebay needs to figure this out. But I know they are dealing with a lot of small scammers.  

[23 Reo 229]

I've been lucky enough to find a couple of free tractors and a couple for $100. If I can't get them running I use them for parts.

[BairleaFarm 340]

1 hour ago, Treepep said:

"bring a battery, motor not locked up but these are highly collectible, parked 20 years but rolls free.

 

At least yours roll that's more than the ones in my area lol

 

1 hour ago, rmaynard said:

That's not fair since I have no profit in my postage.

 

On a side note - as a business you should.  Your freight account should always be ahead to account for returns or miscalculations in shipping.

 

48 minutes ago, JoeM said:

Ebay needs to figure this out. 

 

The last several years I've switched to Amazon on new stuff.   No hassle returns if its complete junk and amazons customer service is 10x better.  

 

47 minutes ago, 23 Reo said:

I've been lucky enough to find a couple of free tractors and a couple for $100. If I can't get them running I use them for parts.

 

I think ive only come across a free mower once or twice in my life and it wasn't a WH.  If i can find anything less that $100 that's complete I usually get it. 

[rmaynard 15,436]

1 hour ago, BairleaFarm said:

On a side note - as a business you should.  Your freight account should always be ahead to account for returns or miscalculations in shipping.

Nope.

I have always been amazed at those who try to profit on shipping. I never have, and I never will. I don't have returns, and there is never a miscalculation in the postage. I've been doing the same thing for years. 

[BairleaFarm 340]

1 hour ago, rmaynard said:

I have always been amazed at those who try to profit on shipping.

 

A successful (big) business doesn't try they do.  My store does on average $1.3 million a month in sales.   There's nothing wrong with profiting 5-10% on shipping.   The profits come from shipping discounts from UPS not from over charging customer.  Month to date shipping cost for us.  

[rmaynard 15,436]

2 hours ago, BairleaFarm said:

 

A successful (big) business doesn't try they do.  My store does on average $1.3 million a month in sales.   There's nothing wrong with profiting 5-10% on shipping.   The profits come from shipping discounts from UPS not from over charging customer.  Month to date shipping cost for us.  

 

You can do as you wish, however when I'm shopping online, I will always look for the vendor that offers either free shipping or a lower shipping price than his competition. I'm on a fixed income, and I treat everyone that buys from me as if they too are on a fixed income. I'm not out to make a big profit off of my fellow Wheel Horse owners. 

[953 nut 55,194]

4 hours ago, rmaynard said:

I will always look for the vendor that offers either free shipping or a lower shipping price

Pay me now or pay me later.        I just bought four tires for the A-60 from a tire dealer and the shipping cost was more than the price of the tires. I checked out similar tires on  where the seller offered "FREE SHIPPING" and the total delivered price was a bit more than the tire dealer & shipping.