SOLD 1993 500E RENNtech, Pearl Black/Gray, 89kmi, $50k (Cherry Hill, NJ)

[ace10]

I would really love to know Ebay'$ justification for creating the ability for sellers to conceal bidders' identities.

From my perspective, the only thing it does is prevent bidders/potential bidders from detecting shill bidding or other suspicious bidding activity.

 

[ace10]

Shant let that soggy A124 on BaT overshadow this oh-so-very submersible W124.

One day to go.

High bid sitting just $100 shy of previous "No Reserve" auction.

 

[ace10]

$28600 was the "winning" high bid.

 

[2phast]

$28600 was the "winning" high bid.

Already relisted.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333236208882 <-- Auction ended June-26, 2019. Sold for $29,200.

 

[gsxr]

Already relisted

Ouch.

 

[ace10]

Already relisted

So a deal fell through less than an hour after the hammer?

Yeah right.

Two explanations..
Either he's refusing to sell to the high bidders each time. Which happens A LOT on ebay.

OR

He's shill bidding against suckers and keeps getting a little too greedy.

 

[gsxr]

Two explanations..
Either he's refusing to sell to the high bidders each time. Which happens A LOT on ebay.

Wait. What? How can sellers do this? eBay is massively skewed in favor of buyers, how does the seller not get dinged on his account if a buyer actually pays the $500 deposit "immediately"?

Note the weasel wording in the fine print does not exclude the seller from eBay's policies:

"Terms of sale: $500 good-faith non-refundable PayPal deposit is due immediately after the end of the auction. ..."

"Immediately" apparently means less than 1 hour, eh? Maybe he can re-list if the buyer doesn't pay the $500 within 1 minute.

 

[ace10]

Wait. What? How can sellers do this? eBay is massively skewed in favor of buyers, how does the seller not get dinged on his account if a buyer actually pays the $500 deposit "immediately"?

Note the weasel wording in the fine print does not exclude the seller from eBay's policies:

"Terms of sale: $500 good-faith non-refundable PayPal deposit is due immediately after the end of the auction. ..."

"Immediately" apparently means less than 1 hour, eh? Maybe he can re-list if the buyer doesn't pay the $500 within 1 minute.

There was a guy in NY who used to sell 993s and 997s. Would list them all at NR.
I was curious, so I bid and "won" one. He sent me a message informing me of the price I would have to pay in order to complete the transaction. He did this for at least 18 months. Relisting the same cars over and over and over.
At one point he moved his inventory to another gem of a seller... Abreu Motors in Indiana.
Last I saw he was wholesaling used-up black town cars.

 

[Bogeyman]

He's shill bidding hoping for a fish.
That's why it's a "private sale".

 

[TimL]

He's shill bidding hoping for a fish.
That's why it's a "private sale".

“Hoping for a fish“

Considering this thing stood in three feet of water, fish might be the right target audience for his „almost sold“ auctions

 

[Dunnik]

If at first you don't succeed, scam, scam again?

 

[ace10]

Two days remaining on this auction.
Bidding has exceeded the two previous "No Reserve" "Sold to the Highest Bidder" auctions. Sitting at $29100.

Your bidding identity will be protected thanks to the thoughtfulness of the seller.

 

[gsxr]

It "sold" for $29k almost 5 days ago. Wonder if a deal is in the works.

 

[gsxr]

It's baaaaack.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333260352288 <-- No reserve auction ended Sunday, July-14, 2019. Sold for $28,800.

 

[Dunnik]

Almost everything is a Perfect 10 out of a perfect 10.

Those areas that are a not a perfect 10 out of a perfect 10 are 9.9999999999999999999999999999999999 out of a perfect 10, so, pretty much perfect.

 

[JeffSpicoli]

Does copart not have the same obligation to inform buyers of flood damage?

 

[2phast]

I didn't notice this before, but he has screen shots of the Brabus parts list and he has highlighted the Brabus parts supposedly installed on the car. Anyone else notice the highlighted 6.0l conversion at 41k? Yet, no mention of a 6.0l motor in the auction listing.

 

[gsxr]

That's just a copy of their catalog with stuff highlighted... not an invoice, or even a build sheet. I can see some of the stuff in the photos, but without more legitimate documentation, it's tough to say what's really in there. I'm sure the seller has no clue, especially since it was a salvage auction, not purchased from the PO who would share that kind of info.

The bidding sure jumps up in a hurry every time, but with 'private auction', you can't tell how many are shills.

 

[2phast]

That's just a copy of their catalog with stuff highlighted... not an invoice, or even a build sheet. I can see some of the stuff in the photos, but without more legitimate documentation, it's tough to say what's really in there. The bidding sure jumps up in a hurry every time, but with 'private auction', you can't tell how many are shills.

Yes I know that, the point I was making is that he is trying to indicate the car has the 6.0l motor, as he highlighted all the Renntech items on the car. Just pointing out he is implying that the car has a 6.0l motor without saying it does.

 

[gsxr]

Yes I know that, the point I was making is that he is trying to indicate the car has the 6.0l motor, as he highlighted all the Renntech items on the car. Just pointing out he is implying that the car has a 6.0l motor without saying it does.

AH, got it. Yeah - the whole thing is weird. Did I mention that I really, really don't like private auctions?

 

[2phast]

AH, got it. Yeah - the whole thing is weird. Did I mention that I really, really don't like private auctions?

I sent the seller a question asking if he highlighted the Renntech options that are installed on the car. His specific reply;

"Correct. Cheers!"

 

[gerryvz]

I sent the seller a question asking if he highlighted the Renntech options that are installed on the car. His specific reply;

"Correct. Cheers!"

 

[ace10]

I sent the seller a question asking if he highlighted the Renntech options that are installed on the car. His specific reply;

"Correct. Cheers!"

By keeping answers brief and/or indirect and/or non existent, I suspect he thinks that he can squirm away from any of the serious shit he's trying to conceal.

Do recall that he knows that this is a flood damaged vehicle, but is playing games with mandatory disclosures.

 

[Bogeyman]

Anyone know if this person frequents this site?

 

[gerryvz]

Don't know, but often they do once they Google and discover this site. Occasionally they get butt-hurt and order me to take down their "proprietary" information about their car for sale (that's posted publicly on the Internet). I've been threatened with lawsuits more than a couple of times.

The PM conversations are interesting (I don't share them with anyone as I don't want anyone else involved) but I always enjoy a big, loud laugh in their face when they try to tell me that information they've posted all over the Internet is somehow theirs and "private" and I am infringing their privacy/rights. Or that the commentary that is posted in threads here on this forum about their car is somehow libel, and I could be subjected to a lawsuit for libel.

Generally, the ones with the most to hide, make the biggest/grandest threats.

 

[2phast]

Anyone know if this person frequents this site?

I doubt it. My Ebay store is 2phast, I am sure he would remember that and pen his responses as to not paint himself into a corner.

Don't know, but often they do once they Google and discover this site. Occasionally they get butt-hurt and order me to take down their "proprietary" information about their car for sale (that's posted publicly on the Internet). I've been threatened with lawsuits more than a couple of times.

The PM conversations are interesting (I don't share them with anyone as I don't want anyone else involved) but I always enjoy a big, loud laugh in their face when they try to tell me that information they've posted all over the Internet is somehow theirs and "private" and I am infringing their privacy/rights. Or that the commentary that is posted in threads here on this forum about their car is somehow libel, and I could be subjected to a lawsuit for libel.

Generally, the ones with the most to hide, make the biggest/grandest threats.

Talk is cheap, if they were to actually follow through with their threats, they would need to hire an attorney local to you and pay upfront. 99% of the time, once they investigate the costs and chances of winning, they dissapear.

 

[gerryvz]

I doubt if their actions have ever even gotten that far. It's just empty threats/talk/bluster to try to get me to do what they want. Fortunately it only happens every year or two. But this site has definitely hurt some sellers' butts !!!

 

[Dunnik]

I'm not a lawyer, but pretty sure libel is when you disparage me. You can't be held liable for disparaging my car.

 

[gerryvz]

I'm not a lawyer, but pretty sure libel is when you disparage me. You can't be held liable for disparaging my car.

No one said these sellers are logical....or knowledgeable about libel law.

Between the implied death/bodily harm threats I've gotten in the past from McLiar, szvook and 400Eric, and the lawsuit threats I've received from random flipper-dealer-sellers, no one said that owning and operating a forum is 100% fun all the time

 

[Bogeyman]

Well, it "sold" again, this time for $28,800.

Reminds me of the old story about a hooker:

Ya got it, ya sell it, ya still got it....

 

[gsxr]

Anyone else find it odd that every auction has ended ±$300 from $28,900...?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333214384100 <-- Auction ended June-4, 2019. Sold for $28,700.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333224439083 <-- Auction ended June-16, 2019. Sold for $28,600.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333236208882 <-- Auction ended June-26, 2019. Sold for $29,200.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333260352288 <-- Auction ended , July-14, 2019. Sold for $28,800.

 

[panthercity]

Some dealers use ebay auctions for advertising purposes only. If you want the car you generally need to call them directly and negotiate a deal. Maybe this is the case here.

 

[2phast]

Anyone else find it odd that every auction has ended ±$300 from $28,900...?

That would make sense if there were shill bidders, as they wouldn't want to hit the reserve. Couple that with the fact that the bidders identities are hidden and we might have our answer.

 

[gsxr]

That would make sense if there were shill bidders, as they wouldn't want to hit the reserve. Couple that with the fact that the bidders identities are hidden and we might have our answer.

That's the weird part. It's been a no-reserve auction every time. And none of the sales have completed.

Does the seller just pay the fee every time? Or is he filing non-paying-bidder complaints to get the sale fee refunded? Ah, this may answer the question... a "high volume seller" doesn't pay any sale fees! Only a $50 listing fee, every time:
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/f...ling-vehicles-ebay-motors?id=4127&st=12&pos=1

 

[2phast]

Hmm, don't know, looks like the current auction has a reserve. I think the shill bidding would still be in play to get the price up to where he wants it, would require two shill accounts or one shill and one buyer.

 

[gsxr]

It's not currently listed... waiting to see if the 7/14 sale completes, or if it comes back on the market. If you click the link it displays "We found something similar" and shows a different 500E. The one discussed here is in the fine print at the top of the page and says "This listing has ended."

And yes, one shill account is all that's needed if there is a real buyer bidding high enough.

 

[2phast]

Ooops, I was clicking on your links and EBay pops up a similar 500e, wasn't paying that much attention, I just looked at the price and reserve.

 

[ace10]

The totally honest, transparent and above-board* flipper who is trying to sell this moss-infested gem has apparently given up on playing shill games on ebay and has moved on to Hemmings.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz/500e/2291364.html

VIN has been omitted from the listing. Surely to protect the identities of possible buyers.



*sarcasm

 

[gsxr]

$50k? After several (non) sales at $28k on eBay?

 

[JC220]

It really is eye opening what our flipper detectives find on the interwebs

 

[Bogeyman]

Just proves that all the "private" bids on Ebay were just shills lookin' for a fish.

 

[2phast]

Just proves that all the "private" bids on Ebay were just shills lookin' for a fish.

Since EBay hides the identities of bidders, there is NO reason to have a private auction, unless of course your using shill bidding accounts to inflate your own auction. Even with hidden identities, you can see what accounts are bidding. Really easy to spot shills.

 

[gsxr]

Since EBay hides the identities of bidders, there is NO reason to have a private auction...

Yep. ^^^

Here's another eBay seller that carries a lot of older MB parts, and almost all the listings are "private":

mb-vintage-world | eBay Stores

Mb-vintage-world Roseville , California USA PH: 916-380-8746 call or text Welcome to mb-vintage-world. We are a highly rated eBay parts Store since 2004. We have over 40 years experience in vintage Mercedes-Benz vehicles from 1950s till 2000s & other fine European makes. Genuine factory QUALITY...

www.ebay.com

Some of the stuff he sells used, is available brand new for less. One example:

Mercedes W124, R129 SL,W140 AMG AUTOMATIC Metal BLACK Genuine 1 set of 3 Peddles | eBay

These are used parts with imperfections, wear, age and light scratches as seen in the pictures. International handling fees may apply. We want your item to arrive promptly and safely. Our goal is to provide you with exceptional service & an easy & hassle free experience.

www.ebay.com

Those 3 peddle pedal covers are <$95 MSRP brand new from MB, and ~$70 for all 3 from online dealers. Or you can get the used ones above for $165 plus sales tax, plus $7 for "economy" shipping... $175-$190 delivered.

 

[Dunnik]

Buy with confidence, this is a GREAT CAR!

Studies show cars sell 24% faster and for 38% more WHEN THE SELLER USES CAPS AND EXCLAMATION POINTS IN THE ADS!

 

[gsxr]

Looks like this car may have finally sold, and was registered in Cranston, RI, less than a month ago...