Done over 128 transactions on e-bay and only had one problem for less than $25 It is a wonderful resource if you don't let your emotions get the better of you , and bid more than something is really worth. I only bid on the things that I know well, are priced very low, and that cannot be obtained easily. The deals are there if you are patient. Many legitimate sellers will give you their home numbers for questions about the items.

Hi

I have done 60 deals as buyer on ebay including my 3.2l 914 conversion and a top of the line orchestra clarinet. Of all those deals there was only one misrepresentation and I got refunded after a bit of hassle.

Most of the sellers have been honest and reasonable.

One reson to use Ebay is if you live in a signifigantly isolated area. Here in Hawaii there are probably less that 15 914s in the state, and no used parts to speak of, no wreckers with porsches older that say 1980 that haven't completely rusted away. Still
using Ebay I have been able to complete a six conversion even though the one porsche dealer on Oahu has no employee that has ever seen a 914.

It is clear that to achieve success at ebay purchases one needs to be as or more knowledgable than the seller about the item.

I think that the feedback is useful. If you actually check the items bought and sold by the seller and the associated feedback quite a bit of information is available. If a seller is offereing a rare and expensive porsche part and most of the positive feedback are for
porsche pens and wall clocks I think that justifies restraint. On the other hand if the guy has 500 sales of vintage stereo gear with the majority of buyers happy than buying a great old marantz at a very reasonable price seems sane. Likewise if the negative feedback is from buyers that when you check their own feedback shows a pattern of disfunction, then I discount the neg feedback appropriately. I agree however that the feedback content tends to be cartoonish +++++!

I think ebay is like any big market place. Deals can be had regularly by the person who knows what they are looking for, and this big market place is available in your bedroom 24H.

best Mark

I've been lucky with some fairly high ticket items:
7 & 8" polished Fuchs, S/S Muffler, Carrera tail on lid. The funny thing is they were all written up simply and briefly with no "as new" type of comments.

When I was looking for wheels, I was amazed at how many said "very good condition, just a little curb rash", an oxymoron in my opinion.

Ebay
 

I've bought and sold several items on ebay. Generally I'll bid on new items that are hard to find locally. I bid what I'm willing to pay and don't play last minute snipe games. My experience with used items, especially p-car parts is that they were always in worse condition than described. So, now I tend to avoid them unless they are strictly unobtainable any other way. I always engage the seller in a dialog if the item is more than a few dollars and won't bid if I detect any bad vibes.

Ebay models the flea market and as such pretty much anything goes. I've been burned a few times, but now I'm more careful and discriminating. Buyer beware. When I sell I try to honestly describe the item and not go on and on about how great it is. I've never sold a high dollar item on ebay.

I have about a dozen purchase of small, non-moving items from eBay...well except my first one, the '86 Black Targa. Been lucky and haved saved a considerable lump of money. White faces gauges (nice ones) $28, SS sills with small P crest $60 (als nice), HD deck lid shocks $18 pr. Obviously stay away from any negative feedback, sloopily written ads and high risk items.
Ted in SoFla
'86 Carrera Targa Blk/Blk

Hmmmm seems i spoke too soon!
Won the auction for a rear wing on ebay, seller said he would get me a shipping quote and then after 3 emails replied saying:
Ive sold it now.
NO8 HEAD.

Most of the items I have purchased on ebay have been for the bike....a couple for the P-car...most transactions have been good.
A couple of items were long in the delivery time....and one item never did arrive...even though paid for and acknowledged.
In retrospect I like Ebay....caution is the watchword....something too good to be true is exactly that.
I agree on the idea of bidding for what you believe the item is worth to you.....leave the sniping and bumping of prices to the idiots.
I usually bid early and wait to see if I'm overbid.....if so...I look at the item again to check if I have bid enough....I probably have....and I do not bid more than a bargain price in any case.
The other thing to watch out for is the shipping and handling (seller likes to make profit here).
Bob