Or best offer on ebay. First time.

[sammyg2]

Just used the "best offer" option on e-bay and gotta say, I'm happy about it.

Back story:
The exhaust fan in the front bathroom works OK but it's kinda noisy.
It has a light, fan, and heater all built in. I don't really want the heater, never used it in 15 years, but it's there.

So I wanted to replace the noisy fan but didn't feel like doing all sorts of dry-wall patching or modifications. After all it's hot in the attic.
And of course, wanted to be careful with the $$$.

I found an updated version of my fan that is close in size to the existing fan, just slightly larger. Easy peazy.
It's rated at 110 CFM, the existing is 70.
It's also rated at 2 somes, the existing was rated at 4 when it was new, and gradually got worse over the years.
Apparently somes is a rating scale for noise. Lower is better.

The home despot website had it listed for $200 plus tax (in California I estimate sales tax at around $one million dollars, maybe a bit less).
Total cost to have it delivered would be close to $220.
I ain't gonna spend $$$ fer shipping so I head to home depot to pick one up.

Nope. Line of people all the way across the front of store, social distancing.
So I went back home and started searching the inter-webs.

Low and behold, there's a new one on e-bay.
The "buy it now" price was $135 w/free shipping, pretty good deal. Then I notice it, the option of "make an offer".
I'm no haggler, never wanted to play that game like a street vendor selling gum.
But sometimes ya gotta say what the heck.

I made a $110 offer, what's the worst that could happen?
Bam, it was accepted. Half price.
I'm thinking I might use that best offer thing again.
Weird how I made close to 2% on the market today, but I'm all excited about saving a hundred bux. No wonder the wife looks at me funny.



Now I just hope all the fiddly bits are still in the box.

[stevej37]

Today was the first time I've sold anything on Ebay in a few years.
They now use a selling method that helps the buyer who waits.
If an item doesn't sell in a week, it auto decreases in cost until a certain point.
In other words....don't jump at a newly listed item...be patient.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I made a $110 offer, what's the worst that could happen?
Bam, it was accepted. Half price.
I'm thinking I might use that best offer thing again.
Weird how I made close to 2% on the market today, but I'm all excited about saving a hundred bux. No wonder the wife looks at me funny.

I do it all the time.

Latest was a tractor seat for one of my smaller MF's. Dealer quoted $250 American. Same seat was listed on Ebay for $180...I offer $150 and shipping is $5.00 since I always go the slowest route.

NIB, all the bits. Looks great.

[Bugsinrugs]

Won’t you have to go into the attic to connect to the vent? I just did a new exhaust fan and going into the attic was miserable.

[fastfredracing]

I do it all the time also . Works out really well, usually. Even if they do not accept my offer, they usually come back with a decent counter offer.
I figure that they would not put it there, if they did not want you to use it .

[RWebb]

sones

'n'

[JackDidley]

I try to make a fair offer, not a lowball offer. Normally saves a few dollars. I just started selling a couple of things after taking years off. I always set up an offer that cuts my buy it now about $5. Just selling stuff to get it out of the way. Made about $200 so far. Not much but it is better than a sharp stick in the eye.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Won’t you have to go into the attic to connect to the vent? I just did a new exhaust fan and going into the attic was miserable.

Yep, hafta go up in the attic for removal of existing, mounting new, wiring, and connecting duck work ( ).
But don't want to doddle or spend any more time up there than necessary.
Accessibility isn't too bad on this one.
Less than a year ago I replaced the fan in master bath during a remodel, that one was a real pain. Almost no headroom. Hate having roofing nails in the scalp.
Ironically, right after installing that new fan in the master is when I noticed how loud this one is.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by RWebb

sones

'n'

Tank you

[Neilk]

Speaking of bathroom fans, ours has a metal exhaust tube to the outside and the noise coming through the vent is louder than I like. When we take walks in our neighborhood, we like to explore the new homes being built and notice that some use flexible AC ducting

Would changing that hard metal tube with flexible ducting reduce the noise? Any gotchas in making the change?

Thanks!

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Tank you

sho

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Speaking of bathroom fans, ours has a metal exhaust tube to the outside and the noise coming through the vent is louder than I like. When we take walks in our neighborhood, we like to explore the new homes being built and notice that some use flexible AC ducting

Would changing that hard metal tube with flexible ducting reduce the noise? Any gotchas in making the change?

Thanks!

You talking about the noise coming out the end of the vent pipe where it goes outside, or radiating from the actual ductwork inside the house?

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Speaking of bathroom fans, ours has a metal exhaust tube to the outside and the noise coming through the vent is louder than I like. When we take walks in our neighborhood, we like to explore the new homes being built and notice that some use flexible AC ducting

Would changing that hard metal tube with flexible ducting reduce the noise? Any gotchas in making the change?

Thanks!

what kind of noise is it making?

the flex tube will slightly reduce flow w.r.t. a flat tubing wall profile, but that will be nil if the tube dia is large enough

fluids don't like to turn corners* so do you have a straight run? if there is a 90o bend see if you can subst. in 2 bends of 45o each


* from Fluid Dynamics 101

[RWebb]

and remenber...

1 sone is 40 phons

[sammyg2]

I miss my flip phon

[porsche930dude]

buy it now with best offer is the easiest way to sell things aswell. Alot of people dont like to wait and bid. and when they see they can get a deal on it they go for that first! I find majority of the time they dont even make an offer they just go for the buy it now because i price my stuff low anyway

[tabs]

hey make me an offer on my Dragon azz jeans you need them when you do the shimmy shammy in West Hollywood or Laguna Beach. or Long Beach or Santa Monica..

[asphaltgambler]

I do it all the time, but asking politely with a short note. At the end I say if they agree - I'll purchase asap. It's all about the tone, asking, say please & thank you. Instead of a specific number, I'll ask can they do better on price AND shipping cost combined, they can choose however they want to ship it, I don't need it in 2 days.

[Arizona_928]

I use it all the time.
I even message sellers with reasonable offers. Usually works. I try not to get into bidding. Not worth it.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Speaking of bathroom fans, ours has a metal exhaust tube to the outside and the noise coming through the vent is louder than I like. When we take walks in our neighborhood, we like to explore the new homes being built and notice that some use flexible AC ducting

Would changing that hard metal tube with flexible ducting reduce the noise? Any gotchas in making the change?

Thanks!

Huge help. We tape and clamp and real gentle bends if possible