How do you price items that are so rarely available that there are no "comparable sales"? I've run into this issue a few times recently in the process of trying to clean out stuff that otherwise is going in the inevitable estate sale.

Just looking to hear peoples thoughts on this subject. It's a quandary for me because I don't want to be "that guy" who is trying to gouge fellow enthusiasts but the flip side is a) just like everyone else I have bills to pay, family to feed, cars to fix, etc., b) I really don't want to repeat selling items cheap, trying to be nice, and seeing them being "flipped" for a profit (this has never happened with 914world, BTW).

Hit me up if you need an early 911 power window motor LOL.

Just send them to me...I have no problem being "That guy"

You just outlined it.

Start high, be honest, be willing to adjust downward if there aren’t takers.

Generally (on this site) if you’re out of your mind on pricing someone will say something or point toward a comp. If you’re out of your mind on EBay, then your normal and it will just sit there for years and years waiting for just the right sucker.

spoken like a true capitalist. hard not to admire such straightforward approaches.

the seller and the buyer meet somewhere in the middle.

obviously the rarer it is the harder it is for the buyer to wander down to the next market aisle and find what they are looking for. so the seller simply has to wait for them to return.

of course many sellers think otherwise and die with whatever it is they think its worth!

Superhawk is about right. If you want to feel better about it find the comps and knock 10% off.

If it’s just a couple items post details and clear photos here for opinions, to be sent to you by email if PM for confidentiality. Tag the parts supplier members who are up to date on current market trends. In no specific order:

914sixer
Dr914
Bdstone
Bontempi
Who else?

If it’s more than an item or two, offer to pay 1 or more of them for a confidential appraisal. These are specialists and their time/expertise is valuable. Then decide if you truly want to sell for a reasonable price today or pass them to your heirs to probably give them away.

So true about ebay (and also thesamba). Certain sellers have stuff that just sits there for ridiculous amounts of time, hoping for a sucker.

Thanks Rich. That can be be my backup plan...LOLZ

+1 and really appreciate the mindful question.

For 914 parts, this is the best place to sell because all of the owners are here, regardless of price point. If you have 911 (or other variants) parts then Pelican, where you can go to the marketplace discussion form and ask members what is a fair price., and then list. If you have something super rare then BAT, those fellows will sell anything!

My friend has an impressive stash of old 911 stuff, and someone knew he had an early NOS MFI pump that he bought in the late 70’s. The person told my friend that the pump was for a concours restoration so he sold it for $1500, a week later it sold on Craig’s list for 12k. My friend did not keep the part for 40+ years to make money, he was stewarding it until finding the right car, but failed when trying to do the right thing.

all part of my plan.
I deviously got my son into 914s.
Now I don't even need to remember what the part is....it will be his problem.

Rich

I guess I was a little vague. I do not have a "lost warehouse" full of super rare parts. It's just the odd item that has been sitting on the shelf so long that it has become NLA. To clarify, here's an example. NOS 2.0 fuel injectors. I'm pretty sure none have been publicly offered for sale in the past year, or longer, other than by ebay gougers trying to get $900 for a set of 4 (none of which have sold in whatever time period ebay displays sold items).

This should not be a big question to get a reasonable answer to. Contact the parts sellers as above for input.

This is just sad.

I know it is the real world but I hate when people only motivated by profit mess up any hobby/interest whether it be old cars, old watches, art, guns, whatever. It sucks to be an enthusiast in an area that becomes popular with the speculator.

I ran into that problem when I found a 4 cam distributor in the parts stash. Sort of winged it, buyer made an offer and we agreed on a price. All within 24 hours.

I had thought it was an early VW dizzy until my friend gave me a heads up.

Example: They sold quickly at that price.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=...D2h9DCfNimcCoIb

One More: Although these are 2 diff. part numbers:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=331800

If you are looking to sell specifically 2.0 injectors, based upon these sales, it looks like the sweet spot is somewhere between $150 and $225 EA. Just my two cents.

Feel free to contact me and I will be glad to help.

Which long term owner does not have a shed or garage full of parts? Part of the hobby. Consequence of ownership. Old school days. Buying parts cars 3 at a time for a couple of grand. Perhaps less.

I must be the exception..
I bought 1, 914 in 1973 and never bought
a parts car or a collection of parts .
I bought parts as needed, but never
collected or hoarded parts..
Guess i’m a failure ….

Thanks everyone for your insights and suggestions.

The question was really a general "what is your approach". I do not have a huge stash of rare 914 parts. I have only had the pricing quandary a few times and rarely regarding 914 parts.

Here's an example. It's an early 911 roll bar mounting plate. I only have the right side. I communicated with a couple people on early911sregistry about it because I would rather have it go on someones build than sit on ebay for 3 years.

Click to view attachment

Porsche and VW guys are generally easier to deal with than some other enthusiast groups. I've never quibbled on super rare items and simple negotiations for Porsche NOS parts have always been direct. Vintage BMW guys aren't like that. I've had two unicorn E9 items for sale, a NOS 3.0CSL alloy door priced very fairly, and a 5mm lightweight Glaverbel windshield posted with "make an offer", simply because such a thing has no BMW comps. So far, nothing on the door, and several "so what do you want for it" on the windshield. I guess the concept of an offer isn't clearly understood.

Part number for the Glaverbel is the same as for a '73 911RS lightweight. Guess how much those change hands for?

You will find out pretty quickly one way or the other. I was looking for an NLA bracket on the other forum. Someone posted they had one for 85 plus shipping, I said no thanks, it was not that important for me. Someone else posted I was being stupid for not buying it. I would have paid half that, but I have no bracket and someone else has one still. Choices all around. Be flexible and make changes if you really want them gone.

if it is a porsche part, ask me and I will tell you what we would sell it for and where to sell it. I have been in the Porsche parts business for 45 years now and know parts prices and popularity and where to advertise to get the most money for those rare nos parts

The 914parts page at FB is ridiculous. Trash at stupid prices. So to me, somewhere between the rock bottom prices here and sky high there. When parts $ bottomed out here, I quit selling. Not worth my time. I have never saved trash.

Side question: how many PMs have you gotten asking what ya got??? Lol

I think it's a valid approach with our cars. The availability of parts and the reach of social media means you don't have to have a parts stash to maintain your 914.
I have a parts stash but I enjoy that part of the hobby.

Not sure if I would agree, it's very possible I'm the failure. I have been a P car guy for 50+ years, recently (2020) bit by the 914 bug. 2 running cars, 3 decent resto candidates, 2 parts cars and tons of engines, trannys, ........

Being 70 y/o at some point soon I need to sort this crap out, so my wife/ kids do not be burdened.

It is a good idea to sort it out and make notes for how to handle the parts. I’ve seen quite a few families have to deal with it. It becomes a burden when it doesn’t have to be. One good way to handle it is to go through it with a friend so they can help sort things out if needed.

That sounds like an option for some sellers: trying to find the buyer most likely to use a part for a worthy project car, not necessarily the highest bidder--and not likely to be a flipper.

Really becomes how much effect you want to put into the effort. If you catalogue and research each part, you can accurately find comps, and price accordingly. Or you can eBay, hopefully the bidding works for you. If you have a lot of parts, it will take a lot of time. Bulk sales move part’s quickly and at a discount. The idea is that someone has to take the time to accurately identify and market them, as well as take payment, and ship.

With PayPal you get a 1099 so…….. It really matters how much time and effort you want to put into it.