FYI Hoarding Behavior: The New Bane of the 500E Community.

[gerryvz]

Moderator's Note: This discussion was cleaved off of an existing thread.

I was tempted to hoard at this price, but you changed my mind.

My wife thanks you!

You know, @Trae, I wasn't going to say anything about this, but I think I will. This is NOT directed to you or at anyone else individually, by the way.

This whole "hoarding" thing has completely gotten out of hand on this forum. There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between having spares of something — particularly if you are a long-term owner, or intend to be — and buying up multiples of an item that has either just gone NLA, or soon will be, or will be NLA on the aftermarket, with intent to sit on them to secure maximum profit in the future.

Spare parts are fine. Having three or four extras of a part that you will either NEVER replace during your ownership of the vehicle, or may replace one time only, is just wrong-headed. I mean, is someone REALLY going to go through three or four "500E" tunk badges, or sets of Yurro headlamps, during their lifetime? Probably not. I would venture to say that I have had my car for 17 years, and have yet to go through a SINGLE pair of headlamps or tunk badge (given, I have an E500, but you get the picture).

I realize that I can't tell anyone what to do. It's a free country. People can buy whatever they want, whenever they want. But all "€5,000 EUR" jokes aside, as more and more parts have gone NLA, the "hoarding" behavior has increasingly gotten out of hand with many of these things. Now it's Beru caps and rotors. People are acting like we will never see "proper" caps and rotors ever again. That is simply not the case.

We've reached a point of hoarding "zealousness," and in my opinion it is unbecoming of who we are as a 500E community. One of the primary goals of this site is to help each other out. And that is not only advice and information, but also with parts, ideas, and workarounds. If that means selling one of your rare parts (particularly if you have a couple or three of them), why not share with a member who has a genuine need for it.

Just today I had a member approach me via PM, asking if I have an LH unit with WOT. I have one WOT unit, and two non-WOT units. The WOT unit I am keeping for myself as a spare, simply becuase these DO wear out. I told the member I would be HAPPY to sell him one of the non-WOT units (I've advertised them in the past, too). I also have a couple or three spare 5.0-liter and 5.6-liter M117 EZLs. I try to keep ONE as a working spare, but the others -- I'm happy to see them go to good homes, and I'm happy to let them go for a good price. I'm personally not the one out there selling $200-250 sets of aluminum cam oiler tubes, or $400+ .034 valve bodies to our members. It's not really about the money-making aspect to me -- it's far more about helping folks out.

I talk a lot about my "deep parts" stash and things I've collected over the past 20 years. I am happy to say that the vast bulk of my parts stock is actually used parts, with perhaps 50% new stuff. But I cannot think of a single item that I deliberately went out and purchased multiple examples of, particularly with intent to "hoard" it for future financial gain. Much if not most of what I have, actually is for sale (and you see me offer items for sale with regularity). There is very very little that I have sitting in my garage or basement, that I would not be happy to sell. Heck, I even GIVE more than a few parts away, even some "NLA" stuff. Ask @szvook with regard to the lower fan shroud bottom he got. And yes, I do not have a lower fan shroud in my parts "hoard" -- I gave it to the Vookster.

I have had a couple of other members of the forum come to me privately in recent days and weeks, calling this behavior out and decrying it. In one case, the individual said it has almost completely turned him off of the site, and he is logging in far less in recent weeks and months because of it. That is very sad.

This over-zealous "hoarding" behavior is sick, and it's gotten out of hand.

I'll end my rant now.

 

[JC220]

My hoarding condition definitely deteriorated rapidly as a direct result of being a 500E board member. It is widely practiced and even encouraged on the board for many years so this is not a new issue.

It is being compounded by a select few who wish to re sell their wares for gross profit which yes that is wrong and frustrating for genuine and inexperienced members who are in need of a part.

However I won't apologise for having ridiculous quantities of w124 parts which I have collected since I was 18 years old. Indeed rather than sell these parts I am keeping them for future years of maintaining my own cars and helping others out.

For example I sent a mint w124 rear view mirror free to a board member in USA last year when his exploded. (Seen these advertised for sale on here for 80 bucks or so recently) and in turn some members have done me great deals too. So keep it on the board and trade / barter parts around fairly and there should be no issues.

 

[a777fan]

Other than the individuals that sail in and out of this site under the cover/safety of darkness to 'greed bomb' those in need with exorbitant pricing on NLA items, does any active participant in this community really think that the hoarding behavior we like to joke (and maybe not joke but divulge seriously in a safe environment) about here is based in malicious-ness?

I'd certainly hope that if I ever had extras of something NLA on my shelf that an active member on this site needed, I'd happily offer it up to them at whatever price was last asked by the good 'ole MB itself. My personal opinion (and experience) leads me to believe that a majority of others here would do the same.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems a little over the top to get bent out of shape about this enough to discount EVERYTHING else this site provides the V8 V124 enthusiast with, and not want to come back. My $0.02.

 

[gerryvz]

JC, there is definitely a difference between hoarding for pure profit (speculation) and hoarding for future-proofing your fleet. And in your case, you have a fleet, so you are a little different than most all of us. You have a lot of challenging cars to keep on the road

(I have joked about this a lot, but only joked) ... but I'm talking about the parts speculators who tend to treat spare parts stocks as the basis for their retirement, or at minimum a profit center to be had.

Sure, I scored the very last front late W124 LCA in the US from a local MB dealer recently. But with nearly 150K miles on my E500, I also am not too far off from a day when I will need to replace both of my LCAs, and it makes sense to have a spare. I will say very definitively, that if MB would have had only THREE or FOUR front LCAs in their stock in the US, I still would only have gotten ONE of them, because that is all that I will ever need in the future. I would NOT have bought all of them up, and then doubled or tripled the $300 price paid per, in a few years, to take advantage of others.

That's the kind of behavior I'm talking about. It's become too common. Same thing with going to the wrecking yard, spending 20 minutes removing a 400E valve body and intermediate plate, paying $60 bucks for it, and then offering it for sale here for $450.

@Triple_Trouble ... I don't think the behavior is malicious. It's just predatory, and essentially snowballing zealousness.



I can see getting bent out of shape at such behavior. I mean, there's nothing you can do about it, but I'm calling it out as what I believe to be an issue with the community here. I mean, am I going to sell a $60 M119 EZL from my basement to someone who just joined the forum yesterday and posts lame ads all over Facebook W124 group? Probably not. But would I sell said EZL (or give it away) to someone like you, who directly inspired me to do my Top-End Refresh? Of course.

 

[gerryvz]

I'd certainly hope that if I ever had extras of something NLA on my shelf that an active member on this site needed, I'd happily offer it up to them at whatever price was last asked by the good 'ole MB itself.

Like @sheward just did with the NLA W124 rubber side window seals.

 

[sheward]

A good and noble rant. Most all of the regular contributors here have been very fair with pricing and surrender of items. There will always be those that will "sail in" and go after every last dime and as you said there is not much we can do about them except shame them a bit. I occasionally find some of the items to be worth a bit more than the accepted ask but I consider the difference to be compensation to the folks that give so much of their time here. I find removing and storing some particular items to be a PITA but surely that's my 64 yo body talking. Your thoughts have reinforced a decision I've recently made to sell some of the things I've been collecting thinking I was going to acquire more 124 cars. I have more than enough presently. Thanks for your generosity and for leading by example.

drew

 

[gerryvz]

I, too, have decided to break more off of my basement shelves and sell it.

The big batch of parts that I had left over from my Top-End job was just the beginning, and tipped the scales of doing that. Basically I took all of the factory prices for all the parts in the lot, added them up, subtracted about 10%, and that was my price. Everything I listed sold in under 10 hours. Not bad.

FOR SALE - @gerryvz's Garage Sale | Parts for Sale

I have a plethora of parts that are left over from the Top-End job that I recently did. Mainly some extras of parts, extra lengths of hose, and so forth. All either actual MB OE parts, or quality OEM / aftermarket products. I will list each part individually, with photographs, and a price...

www.500eboard.co

 

[kwontumspeed]

You can't control a community board.

People come in here for their own reasons. New and old alike, motivations and intentions change over time. Are there flippers and nefarious casts among us? Of course. "Speculation" on intentions are futile. "I have joked about this...only joked" is just as futile given the source.

This place is an abyss of knowledge. Let's be grateful that it exists for this passion we all share. Hoarding, collateral sidestep - at most.

I'm still not letting go of my 3 pairs of late LCAs, and a mint set of 2pc SLs, under my bed. Literally. They will go with the 124 I sell, if I do, because that's where they belong.

 

[alabbasi]

dammed if you do, dammed if you don't

 

[maw1124]

I personally like this thread... more because I'm sure I have been both buyer and seller of coveted parts to and from members of this thread for zero profit aggregate. I do other things for money, but never this. This I do for love. I think @sheward brought a front bumper blanking plate for whatever he wanted to pay... I can't count how much I've bought from @gerryvz for whatever I wanted to pay... and I can't remember if I bought or sold euro headlights from @JC220 ... but I do recall selling them at zero profit once I decided not to do the switch.

I'm happy members here have extra parts. I'm happy to sell parts I don't need. Some mirror boots are on my sell list when I get around to it, and probably some others I haven't thought about in years. Sure, the extra WOT LH Unit with RENNtech chip will hang along with the amber corners, red tails and 8 hole wheels, because originality matters. But @Jlaa will be happy to know I gave away the vintage stereo bits from my Jan'92 car to some hobbyist who was intent on restoring such. "It's yours. Thanks for taking it off my hands." And I won't even discuss the 500E badge that came with my car in plastic wrapping.

In the end, regardless of motive the parts get where they belong. This market works, mainly because (drum roll) most people who are keeping and maintaining rare 30 year old MBs that most of the world doesn't know existed, don't really need to make money off the parts. Seriously. And that's a lot of the charm of this forum.

Stay [parts] thirsty, my friends.

maw

 

[195910]

As with Covid, the hoarding virus has spread all over the world.

New addition:

3 sets (4each) of W208 upgrade Locking eyes (Now NLA)

1 Rare Becker Mexico wood edition (period correct for facelift 124036), completely refurbished and tested. IMO these are better than the M-B Exquisit, as you can simply plug in an aux cable to the CD changer terminal, no need for Board wiring. And it looks classy.

 

[JC220]

Since my post above I have hoarded another pair of 036 lenses and countless other rare parts. #justbecause

Tend to hoard a couple more m119s next year all being well

 

[195910]

Since my post above I have hoarded another pair of 036 lenses and countless other rare parts. #justbecause

Tend to hoard a couple more m119s next year all being well

Facelift or pre ?

 

[JC220]

Facelift or pre ?

I have a pair of both now. 036 pre and post facelift lenses.

 

[195910]

I have a pair of both now. 036 pre and post facelift lenses.

Hmm, I will trade you 2 lambs for 1 pair of lenses.
Seriously though if anyone is considering trading parts, we could starts a trade thread. But reasonable prices no 1000 euro wheels bolts.

 

[gerryvz]

Folks should start hoarding the following:

• OE MB neutral safety switches for M119 V-8 models 722.3 transmissions
• 400E tunk emblems

 

[JC220]

Folks should start hoarding the following:

• OE MB neutral safety switches for M119 V-8 models 722.3 transmissions
• 400E tunk emblems

Does hoarding a complete 500E transmission count? Or are we talking exclusively new MB genuine switches?

 

[gerryvz]

I believe that the definition of "hoarding" in terms of this thread, would be more govered by the following tenets. Of course, @xfadmin should chime in here for more insight and advice.

• The part is known and confirmed to be of NLA and "never to be produced again by MB" status
• Large/significant of the part were deliberately and knowingly purchased by individuals
• The express intent of the hoarder is to sell the parts at many multiples at a future point in time
• The part is an important (even vital) element to the proper operation and/or appearance of a motorcar
• The hoarder has no personal need for the part(s), beyond perhaps a single example for replacement purposes
• The hoarder may not even own the vehicle for which said part(s) fit and/or have an application
• The part may have aftermarket equivalents, but they are of solidly inferior quality and thus not realistic to use

 

[gsxr]

@JC220 has transmissions on the shelf like the rest of us keep 1 spare oil filter.

 

[JC220]

The express intent of the hoarder is to sell the parts at many multiples at a future point in time

I don't think the majority of members here fit this criteria.

Sure - a couple of individuals have asked silly prices for certain coveted parts but that doesn't mean EVERYONE therefore has Ill intentions.

Most hoarders of 036 parts do it because they fear a headlamp or similar getting smashed on their prized automobile in the future and not being able to replace it - or worse having to fit pedestrian parts. Just sayin

 

[gerryvz]

I don't think the majority of members here fit this criteria.

Sure - a couple of individuals have asked silly prices for certain coveted parts but that doesn't mean EVERYONE therefore has Ill intentions.

Most hoarders of 036 parts do it because they fear a headlamp or similar getting smashed on their prized automobile in the future and not being able to replace it - or worse having to fit pedestrian parts. Just sayin

Having an extra one or two of a consumable part (like the recently NLA NSSes, or an extra pair of Yurro headlight lenses) is NOT hoarding.

Hoarding is having three or five pairs of lenses, or 5 NSSes, with the intent to sell them for 5x what you paid for them in a few years, when all of the stock out in the channel and at retailers is exhausted.

 

[xfadmin]

I believe that the definition of "hoarding" in terms of this thread, would be more govered by the following tenets. Of course, @xfadmin should chime in here for more insight and advice.

• The part is known and confirmed to be of NLA and "never to be produced again by MB" status
• Large/significant of the part were deliberately and knowingly purchased by individuals
• The express intent of the hoarder is to sell the parts at many multiples at a future point in time
• The part is an important (even vital) element to the proper operation and/or appearance of a motorcar
• The hoarder has no personal need for the part(s), beyond perhaps a single example for replacement purposes
• The hoarder may not even own the vehicle for which said part(s) fit and/or have an application
• The part may have aftermarket equivalents, but they are of solidly inferior quality and thus not realistic to use

I'm not sure what all of this gobbledygook is.

The last post really stated it more succinctly. Simpler is better.

"Hoarding is the excessive acquisition of rare or NLA parts, with speculative motive and eventual profiteering intent."

 

[JoeB]

There's certainly a healthy population of "parts entrepaneurs" on this forum - has been that way for years.

It's no different on 190Rev or Ozbenz, or the slut of all marketplaces benzworld.

All I can simply say is to buyers: Be MORE DISCERNING and don't pay an unreasonable price.
If you must, follow this mantra:

Go look for the price for the new part (genuine) and regardless if it is nla or not, look for the discounted price.

now, take 60% OFF that price.

That is the absolute MOST MONEY you should pay for a perfectly serviceable USED part.

for NOS genuine parts that do have rubber or plastic in them, then the most you should pay is 70% of the new part, and be prepared for it to fail within 2 years of purchase, because those rubber and plastic parts are just as old as what you have, and AGE not use is the overriding factor in failure.

Also bear in mind sellers - if you have a used part which needs reconditioning and you're not going to pay for that yourself, don't be a complete dipwad and expect a buyer to pay a premium price for your junk... because the cost of a genuine new part in many cases will still be less than your POS part plus reconditioning costs.

Normality is not something that low volume production vehicle owners are experiencing right now. Because the world is still full of idiots.

The flipside is simple.... If you don't like it, sell all your stuff and get out of this game. Make your covid-enhanced markup on your junk, be happy that you're a sellout and go find another sandpit to mess around in. The zombie apocalypse sandpit is just down the road from covid. I hear there is more money to be made down there

 

[gerryvz]

A jolly good rant, but I don’t know where it came from.

I generally list the part numbers of most items I sell, as well as the MB list and MB discounted prices. As well as a breakdown of the part price I am selling for, and the shipping component. Can’t be more transparent than that, and I am more transparent than most sellers here in my listings.

The prior post seems a bit harsh in some of the rhetoric.

On the matter of selling parts that need refurbishing, let’s take the ASR-specific ETAs for the E500E.

I sell the raw units for $150 and ONLY units with post-biodegradable wiring. I also give people the option to sell them a professionally refurbished (by Don Roden) unit for $400 more, which is basically Don’s price ($375-400).

I don’t think that is unreasonable. Don will buy cores of crap units on occasion for $100+ apiece.

For the most part, I have not seen people on this forum ripping people off with exhorbitant parts prices. Occasionally if I see something that is out of whack (say a valve body that typically goes for $200-250 having $400-500 asked for it) I will say something.

But for a valve body that costs $1,500-2,000 new, and costs $75-80 used at a wrecking yard, I see zero issue with asking $200-250 for it.

Same for a relay that costs $500 new from MB (if still available at all) being asked $40-60 for used.

Heck, I just last week advertised turn signal and wiper interval relays foe $40 each shipped, and before I even sold one I dropped the price to $30. Both of those prices include $9.00 US Priority Mail shipping.

FOR SALE - Turn Signal & Intermittent Wiper Relay, $40 shipped | Parts for Sale

I have for sale EIGHT of the relays that control intermittent wipers and turn signals. This relay is a common failure and every owner should have one of these as a spare. Location is in the relay box behind the main fuse box underhood. Applies to most W124 models and Gen 2 W126 models, and...

www.500eboard.co

So you are complaining about me selling a relay that is NLA from MB, and that cost me $11 + tax + my time and gas, for $21 + shipping cost? Really ?!?

Whatever, man.

So I’m not sure if your is directed to me (as I was selling MANY parts recently), but if it was, you are quite off the mark. And in fact I even sold some new MB parts for ~50% of what they cost me from MB(yea, that is a 50% loss) and others (such as the battery hold-down bracket) to a member for free, slipping it into the shipping box with other purchased parts.

You can also cite my selling of genuine Lamin-X headlight protection film with E500E or 126 headlamp templates for about one-half of what Lamin-X sells its own product for. Is selling an identical product new for one-half of what it’s own manufacturer sells it for, “parts entrepreneuring” … i.e. with inference of taking advantage of people here?

Or the customized MB factory data card reproductions that I used to sell people, for $30-35 shipped anywhere in the world? Cards that I would spend anywhere from 1-2 hours making in a custom bespoke way. Is charging $15-20 per hour for my time to create a unique product considered “parts entrepreneurship” that is taking advantage of people here?

I dunno … you tell me. Yes, be blunt about it. You tell me.

So if you are complaining about someone and their parts pricing, you should kindly cite examples and call out the so-called perpetrators. If you're talking about me, I can handle your criticism, but based on my long track record of selling parts to members here, I'm going to throw it right back in your face.

 

[Jimbo]

Interesting discussion...

"Hoarding is the excessive acquisition of rare or NLA parts, with speculative motive and eventual profiteering intent."

A quick Google for the definition of hoarding is below...who made up the above qoute?

"Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. The behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members"

and this one:

"Hoarding, the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a ..."

 

[outrbnks]

I just don't know what to make of this thread. I don't believe that anyone will change their personal behavior one way or another in regards to acquiring and selling spare E500E parts. In many ways I'm happy the E500E owners DO acquire and Hoard. It's one forum to search for that NLA part, and since the E500E market seems to be rising, the need for parts will naturally rise as well. No one seems particularly upset over an E500E going for really high $$$$$, but asking a high price for a hard to find part results in an appointment for public stoning. (OK, the 5K headlights are too much...lol, so don't buy them)

The practices of the more wealthy folks on this planet are not about to change. I could site many cases where wealthy individuals decided they wanted something, and many times they get it, simply by opening up their pocketbook. Housing tracts of uncontrolled-rent low income families have been bought out, demolished to make way for the Trumps of the world wanting more profits, and who really cares where all those low income folks go...

This classic car thing may even have a finite end to it when the new Gen "whatevers" decide no more gasoline or such.. It's even possible to hoard too long and it all becomes worthless.... So sell out now....

Seriously, I can't take this thread seriously at all, if you put a dollar value on anything it will be hunted down and exploited by someone, and if some individuals don't care about profit on selling parts that much, it's a blessing,

Please don't tell certain cultural groups that ground E500E dust is more powerful of an aphrodisiac than Rhino horn powder, they will hunt us all down and take away our pride and joys. No siree, it's not E500E powder that gives you a week-end stiffy, (well maybe a little), it's Porsche 911's that you want, really good chit.....

 

[AMG5PT4]

NOS and especially NOS NLA parts that are highly valued are where the high prices generally come from. Let's face it, headlights are one of the big ticket items - they take a beating, are highly visible on the front of the car, are unique to the .036 and have been NLA for a good while. How many nice .036's have been up for sale with generic W124 headlights? I plan on posting a pair of 500E Euro headlights made from NOS 1995 Bosch Euro bodies with correct 500E MB lenses for a sizeable price. Won't be $5k, but won't be $1,500 either, and I won't feel at all bad about it. Used parts are a totally different animal.

 

[maw1124]

Interesting discussion...


A quick Google for the definition of hoarding is below...who made up the above qoute?

"Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. The behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members"

and this one:

"Hoarding, the compulsion to continually accumulate a variety of items that are often considered useless or worthless by others accompanied by an inability to discard the items without great distress Hoarding is marked by an overwhelming desire to collect items and an inability to discard things that may seem useless, to such a ..."

Ergo, NLA and NOS E5E parts are of great value and utility, and are thereby excluded from the definition... they produce overwhelming emotional, economic and social goodwill and therefore cannot be "hoarded"... prove me wrong.



maw

 

[gerryvz]

How many pairs of €5.000– headlamps have actually been sold? I venture to say not that many. If any.

What I’ve realized as I’ve been going through all of my parts is that I’ve accumulated far more than I need. Not with intent of “hoarding” them for future price increase anticipation, but because I bought and saved a lot of parts over the years that otherwise would have gone to the crusher.

my next project is going to be MAFs. I have six or seven used MAFS for the M119. I need one, at most two working spares for myself. It’s a part where I need to test it to ensure proper operation before I sell if. I plan to do this when the weather gets slightly warmer, including a live data test via STAR C3. So I will have likely at least 3 or 4 MAFs coming up for sale for reasonable prices.

Same with all the relays I just sold. I really only need 1 spare for each. The rest are just extras that others can benefit from. I literally sold like 95% of my spare relays, and I think for generally reasonable prices, so that others can have spares as I do.

I’m looking to do this with more of my parts. I have a lot of creme beige SEC parts, including lower external cladding and door cards, trunk side linings and rear seat side cards. I likely won’t need them. Perhaps others will.

black leather E500E front door cards. Sun visors. The list goes on and on. It’s just stuff I’m not going to use, that I e saved from the crusher, that perhaps others can use.

 

[Stevester 500E]

Gerry,
Thats great that you are able to rid yourself of some of the parts and help others who need the parts or who still have the addiction of hoarding.

 

[500AMM]

I'm staying at home with Corona this week but I'm not good at laying in the bed for restitution, so as the fever finally subsides I get some energy to catch up on unread posts.

It was interesting reading here. Hoarding with speculative motivation is driven by greed, but I recall seeing just one advertizing in that category from a member here. I don't know if it sold, although I'm sure there is people here capable to pay that asking price. But IMHO it was pretty rude to fish around for big profit in this community. The common attitude is that we try to stretch out and help members to keep their cars running, sometimes with low asking prices and even parts for free, while the inflated eBay attitude belongs elsewhere.

The hard fact is that fossile fuel driven cars are not in the future plans at MB. The global green politics put pressure on the entire car industry and to comply with increasing emission restrictions, a rapid reduction of spare parts production for fossile fuel driven cars get them earlier off the street. The situation automatically trigger people to snag up spares, and for some it may be an excessive behaviour. Gerry explained it very well and to extract one of the main points - be honest with yourself about your needs.

And with reference to a statement posted by another - that most of the NLA and rare items showing up for sale are shared and linked up to this site, is VERY important!! I really hope members continue doing that. At last; the time for upgrading regular W124 cars with 500E optics is over, so be restrictive when selling specific 124.036 parts - they belong to this particular model, our cars!

 

[Stevester 500E]

Gerry makes great points and I may follow suit.

We all know the cash is king, but I would wish there was bartering. Bartering is an antiquated mode of exchange, I know, and it doesn't make sense to some.

I have quite a few semi-rare parts that were horded in part because I couldn't see them being sent to the crusher and also hoping that I could maybe help a member out, or use them as leverage to trade with someone who has a part I need-never really had greed enter the equation.

But really, people prefer cash. Here is an example of a part I need, but hesitant to buy: mirror boots.
I don't cruise the yards much anymore, but when I did, I never found a near mint or great condition set on mirror boots. I would do a cash + trade for a part I have. Gerry has sold many of good boots, but I was always hesitant to buy because I was hoping one day I would find a good pair at a pick n pull.

While there has been criticism of what part sellers sell there parts for, I believe over 95 percent are very fair.

I have been DM'd on this very site, that I was using this site as a platform for my business. I have sold, bought, and given parts away on this site. So, that particular accusatory DM came from a biased and uninformed individual. I have also been burned on this site, people returning things after they were used. Parts return, but stripped of they valuable portion of it, etc. Not on this site, but on flea-bay, someone claimed what I sent was an empty box.

Friends, we live in a dishonest world. My hope is that on this site, we can help each other out, without being accused of overinflating prices, and the such.

Hey, there are parts sold here that I wouldn't buy at the listed price. In my opinion, its fair to say, "that part is still available at the dealer at this price", or "That car is priced aggressively", etc. But its pretty clear when someone is coming at you with ill intent.

I am really not all that proud of this fact, but I own six MB's. So when you go to the boneyard, its tempting to hoard, its almost an automatic instinct. Howvere, it's' time to let some of these parts go. I mean, how many oiler tubes does a guy need.

That being said, I am more that willing to help someone out who really, really needs a part cause they can't find it, or find it at a reasonable price.

That said, parts coming to a town near you.....

 

[gerryvz]

It irritates me when I see parts being sold here like cam oiler tube sets for $250+ and valve bodies for $400-500 when the real prices for these things should be closer to half that. I personally have sold plenty of sets of oiler tubes for $130-150 with new o-rings, and valve bodies for the $200-250 range.

The cam oiler tubes are essentially free for me except the 20-35 minutes required to harvest them. (Prototype square tubes are not included in this due to rarity).

The valve bodies cost me $80 to buy + the 20 minutes or so to harvest them.

Door mirror boots? $15-20 per set + 15-20 minutes to harvest them without ripping them. Nice ones sell $80-100 a set shipped.

So I have no problem with folks making decent money on parts, but just don’t overdo it.

I still have all the MAFs and never did test them, but I will sell all good MAFs I have for $125 each, shipped. That is reasonable given the $40 cost each plus my time to harvest and test them. If I saw someone here selling a MAF for much over $250, I’d probably have a word with them privately about greed.

It’s a service to folks here, not about making money. If you are looking to make significant money selling used parts to this community, you will not succeed and should stick to your day job.

I have seen a MAJOR MAJOR slowdown of 124 and 126 cars in the wrecking yards over the past 12 months. Seeing probably 1/3 of the numbers I was seeing 2-3 years ago.

The sweet spot for cars in the yards now is 2001-2010.

Thus, the 124 used parts supply is also going to slow down accordingly. Making the price of good used parts (especially NLA stuff) higher.

 

[gsxr]

FWIW. When I sell FGS valvebodies, the price is unapologetically $500+. It costs me $120 to get the VB, plus ~10 hours of my time. Why? Because I install it in my personal car for testing, and I guarantee it is good. Some junkyard VB's are junk. You can't know until you install it. There is no way to bench test a VB. I've encountered more than one VB that shifted unacceptably and was not usable, at all. After the 2-hour round trip to the junkyard, it takes me nearly an hour to remove at the yard (making a holy mess in the process, lying on my back in the dirt). Then, it is multiple hours of work to swap the VB on my car - TWICE, because I have to re-install the original. And, an hour or so of test driving time. I also ship my VB's in a heavy-duty plastic tub that is sealed and liquid-proof; and I ship for free within USA. Oh, and I install a new K1 piston and upgraded spring train as well. For an unknown VB with no testing? Sure, ±$200 is reasonable. Otherwise, IMNSHO, you get what you pay for.

Ditto with MAF's, I not only test them in my car, I also drive my car 500+ miles with the MAF to verify it's not on the verge of failure. This may take weeks over multiple cold starts. I view live data via HHT-Win and make sure the readings are in the expected range at various RPM's. On at least one occasion, the MAF died in <100 miles. Saved me from selling a dud.

That said, I generally offer these items on eBay, worldwide. I sell a fair amount overseas because those folx don't often have access to wrecking yards and have no issues paying a premium for a tested, guaranteed-good item they can't obtain anywhere else. Although with eBay now reporting gross sales to the IRS, I don't know if I'll be selling on eBay beyond 2022 (will see what it's like filing taxes in spring 2023).

The low pricing was likely due to the flood of 124's that showed up in salvage yards during roughly 2010-2020. With the drastic reduction in donor cars over the past 1-3 years, it will become much more difficult to obtain this stuff, and I expect prices will start to increase further. As Gerry noted above, the low price gravy train may be over soon, if it isn't already.

I don't make much selling parts, and what I do make supports my 124 habit. Any profits go back into buying parts I need for my own cars.

 

[smilecenterlab]

hi Gerry,i will take one of the MAF when you are ready,no urgency.
Thanks,
Andy

 

[Stevester 500E]

A lot of good points here, very, very valid, especially GSXR no apologies required, and gravy train may be over.

I haven't disclosed my costs on everything, but have absolutely zero problem doing so. I stated my case on oiler tubes-even the prototypes! Hey Gerry, can someone get an inadvertent Chain Yank award, a Stevesterian Award, something, help a brother out, I havn't received an award since my J.R. First Place Ribbon in The Duncan Yo-Yo contest.

Anyways, I dont get those oilers for free. Gerry you are lucky that yards give them to you. Once, long ago, a yard gave me a couple misc bolts. They charge for lug nuts too, not much, but they do.

I have disclosed that the pick and pulls charge me as if each oiler tube is a lifter, the cleaned ones I pay to get cleaned, and there is an over eight buck shipping charge. Sometimes I drive really far to buy parts, and that sometimes goes into the equation.

Valve bodies, they are worth their $200- $500+ asking prices, as most yards don't sell these separatly, at least here on the West Coast. Here, most places require you to buy the entire transmission. I know of a couple, non-chain yards that sell them separately, but at close to the same price a chain-yard sells a transmission for.

Rough price for a Becker radio, $30. People sell for $200 ...my opinion, fair due to scarcity, etc.

...the list goes on.

And hate to admit it, I am still a hoader.
You should see my stash of 17" Aero I wheels. ....

In the end, its what the market will bear....