Wonky prices for 914 parts/cars, driven by greed, What can we do about it? Options

[JeffBowlsby]

I know its all about supply and demand and what some are willing to pay, but sometimes we see pricing on 914s and 914 parts that are completely beyond reason. Some are taken by these scams. Most will recognize these ploys, but a greedy seller needs only one sucker and the whole hobby for our cars suffers.

Would it be useful if we as a club developed pricing guideline for parts/cars, based on recent sales of similar, condition, rarity, and listing other options, like available repro sources for those that are not aware?

Post your horror stories! Lets out these low-lifes.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif)

[hwgunner]

Well, what I think is you might get into a problem with the pricing thing. Isn't it just the opposite of the guys that are price fixen, I mean just the same?? I do everything I can to make sure that I am competitive (read "lower than the compition"). Should I raise my prices? (well some of them, anyway?)

I hate used parts because they are so hard to put a price on. I hate it because I never want to cheat someone. (I have tossed stuff because I felt like asking any$$ would be asking too much) I have seen things that were out of line and I have seen things that I bought because I knew I could double my $$. If you are going to try and price guide one side you have to do it to the other too.

As for NOS- it is what it is. Certain items are just not available all the time and so the prices tend to fluctuate more. I have to admit that I listed a couple NOS items recently at prices that I thought were high but they sold quickly. The thing about the lenses on ebay is that the seller is going to pay 11% in fees if not a little more and eventually they will be worth more if the buyer keeps them new.

On the other hand, just a few days ago, I had some one post on one of my threads, where I was selling a new item at $95.00 LESS THAN the list price and what the manufacturer sells it for, saying that people could get them for less if they went to the manufacturer and asked nicely becuase the manufacturer was actually a nice guy. What, i'm not a nice guy?? Do I need to lower my price more?? This is a business for me and quite frankly, I need to make more or I am not going to last much longer. Don't get me wrong, I love the cars but I also need to make money on them or I will have to go get a job at Costco or the local mini-mart. Anyone want to buy a business???

What do we do?? If it is a used part being sold on this site and you think it is over priced and you have one to sell or know someone who has one then post it. On the otherhand, if it off this site then buyer beware. I think we could start by not deleting the old FS/WTB adds. Then you could go back and see what items sold for or ask the people who sold or bought.

BTW, when talking about ebay, please note that I never pay less than 11% in fees, even on items upt $1000 (ebay and PP combined) but rutinely pay 15%+ on items between $0 and $100. Ebay aint cheap.

Mark-- you can flame me now for doing what you think I said you could not do!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)


Last, do you all remember what happend when good used targa seals started going for $500-$1000......................









Porsche saw the oppertunity to make some $$ and made them again, irreguardless of what the aftermarket was doing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)