Topic: INPUT NEEDED; ebay cross-reference suicide?

[Uncle Ernie]

Some parts are on Ebay, and some folks are checking in with each other. Some people- bdboyle for instance- don't have private messaging as an option on this site.  This was started to keep bids reasonable, but now everybody is afraid to bid at all. ?  Ebay seems to be the main/only place to get some things anymore.  Any suggestions on how to do this?

[upperlake04]

Ditto Uncle - I've been thinking the same thing. Bidding early and first  seems to be the way to "claim" an auction but that isn't always the best strategy on eBay. The cross reference is a fine idea but maybe works best among a few friends not 1830..   and what happens when the seller is also a SOHC member?

[6pkrunner]

One is always weighing off on desireability of needed part with fellow SOHCer. Not an easy thing when its an excellent part that doesn't show often. But eBay is really the only game in town for most of the unobtainium stuff.

[Vatch]

What about having a for sale section on this site?  Put an item up on here for a limited amount of time, say 1 week, with the sellers desired price and then bidding goes on as usual.  That way SOHCers get first crack at stuff and the seller can get what they want for it.  If the part doesn't sell, list it on ebay.  Sure, there is the potential that you could get more money for a part on ebay, but from an altruistic standpoint it could help out fellow forums members.

Not sure about all the logistics for this, but it's worth discussing.

[eldar]

We do have a classified section where you can sell things. Not an auction but you can still sell.
I think it is still ok to bid against each other. I think the main idea is to communicate with each other and maybe someone can stay out of bidding. I think it is mainly to help keep things civil on the site. So we do not have someone bashing someone else cause they got out bid.