Ebay millionaire

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 8:57 pm

If this board was busier I wouldn't clutter it up with posts only remotely connected to boats (Tim, feel free to delete) but I have no one else to share my puzzlement with.

I recently removed an Edson steering pedestal from my Triton and listed it on Ebay. I checked in tonight and the bidding has gone up to $560! I did a quick check at the Edson site and I can buy a new one for about the same price. (price varies by model some cheaper and some slightly more expensive) Is someone really going to pay me that much or can I expect it to go unclaimed after the auction? I feel a little guilty about taking that much money for it. I expected to sell it for $100-200.

Of course, from another viewpoint, maybe I should buy a truckload of new Edson steering pedestals and list them...

-Britton

P.S. If anyone wants to bid it up even higher just search for "Edson steering pedestal" on Ebay. I can just smell my wealthy retirement approaching.

Post by **Tim** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 11:07 pm

Ebay is amazing. There's a "gotta have it" mentality among many bidders that often causes bids to ramp upwards far further than logic dictates. I am amazed, in looking at your listing, to see that you started the bidding at a mere $25. Wow!

Don't knock it. No one told the bidders to go so high; instead, just enjoy reaping the profits. I have been in a similar position, marveling with amazement at how the uninformed, unwashed masses bid at some pile of junk that I was selling. (Of course, my junk is always of the highest quality...hehe)

I once sold an outdated Class I EPIRB that contained a battery that, while still having several years of life, was unobtainable anymore and which, when it finally died, would eventually render the EPIRB useless. My listing was extremely clear in indicating that the battery had limited life remaining, and was irreplaceable. New class I EPIRBs sell for under $1000. Nonetheless, some person from Hawaii ended up paying me over $300 for the thing, plus a very significant shipping cost to get it to him, all for an EPIRB that would be useless in a couple years.

There's a very small risk that you'll be stiffed. Most people take their Ebay ratings very seriously, and I imagine you'll receive payment properly with no problem.

PS: This is exactly why the "ramblings" category exists.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:18 pm

Final price $758 plus shipping. Absolutely ludicrous but who am I to complain. I am still trying to figure out how Ebay works. I set a low start bid but a higher reserve to figure out how much interest there was. Apparently quite a bit.

At this rate I can retire soon.

-Britton

Post by **Tim** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:07 pm

Wow! What else can you sell...?

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:47 pm

I am thinking of stripping the boat, listing all the bits separately, and then selling the empty hull! Then I can buy a brand new Hinckley.

But then again, my Triton has a lot more character than any Hinckley I have seen. Why have quality when you can have character? I don't fit in with that crowd anyway, so maybe I will hold off a bit on that plan...

-B.

Post by **Tim** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 5:12 am

Of course, the way things usually go, as soon as you use Ebay trying specifically to make money. the bids fade away and nothing sells--or so Murphy would say, I'm sure.

It's those unexpected windfalls that are the most satisfying, anyway!