Off Topic What did you expect?

[trrdster2000]

Hi all
I've been selling and giving away some parts that have been laying around for years. I have reached a point of sending it all to the dump. It's very frustrating to take pictures, send Emails and then never hear back. Is asking, in most cases, less than a quarter of the price of new for a perfectly good part that needs paint, (a new one also will need painting and knocking out a few small dings).
Marvin, I don't know how you do it on a daily basis.
Sorry, just had a last straw situation on a really good MG front valence. Most guys on the Forum let you know they found one closer or it wasn't as good as they thought it should be for a driver. Folks, we are talking about 40 year old parts at best, 60 on some. Lets face it, without a couple of parts cars laying around, (who has room), you can't restore to good driving condition one of these cars on a budget. If you really really want one of these cars and have a desire to drive and fix at the same time, please get the best one you can afford at the beginning, then you can just fix what's broken and enjoy the wind and smell of all things British, resisting the temptation to start taking apart for a restoration is the most difficult part.

Wayne

 

[Geo Hahn]

Well, I guess I'm glad you got that off your chest.

We had a couple of auto-jumble tables at a recent garage day and I took the opportunity to unload some unneeded stuff. Marked everything 'free' and only had one thing that was unclaimed by the end of the day.

As your subject line suggests -- dealing with others (esp strangers) at long distance is not easy.

 

[Marvin Gruber]

Most Car guys are pretty good to deal with. Sure I have an occasional guy that acts up and is not happy with something, guess that's part of it. I didn't start selling parts as a business but its been pretty active the last couple of years. Sure couldn't live on it, I pretty much end up putting all the money right back into another car. Its fun and hopefully help folks get their car back on the road.

Marv

 

[trrdster2000]

Thanks Geo and Marvin. A little encouragement goes a long way. The money has never been the deal with me, like most of us, just getting some help to those who need it.

I'm in a better mood now and thanks again.
Wayne

 

[TR3driver]

less than a quarter of the price of new for a perfectly good part that needs paint,

I understand your frustration; but being on the other side of the table is no walk in the park either. I've been working on one of those "just needs paint" parts. Looked OK in the photos, but when it got here I discovered at least a dozen cracks in the steel underneath the bondo; plus missing captive nuts and one place where the mounting flange it is rusted completely away from the main piece!

Tried to make an offer on another piece that might have been in better condition, but that seller completely ignored my request for more photos. Yet another seller wants almost as much as I paid for the entire car, just for one piece.

 

[PeterK]

Seems like each time I clean some out, I find myself needing a part from the trashed items. I had a bunch of 3 parts that came with my 4A and said, "I'll never have a 3" so I sold them only to buy the same parts in worse condition now that I DO have a 3. So maybe you should just keep them?

 

[trrdster2000]

PeterK, In most cases this would be good advise, but, and there is always a but, I'm going strong at 73 and hope to just keep my fleet in good shape, plus helping a few fiends do the same. Just facing reality, don 't expect my son and wife to clean up 50 years of saving all the good stuff. It's not like I can throw away a good part even now I'm keeping more than I should.
Randell, so sorry you have had a bad experience, I too have been there over the years and like you the time involved was worth more than the bad part. I do realize finding a rust free part now days is hard to believe.

Wayne