Anonymous vendor question.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,279
Likes: 8,555
From: Rochester, NY
It would be interesting if you point this out to the vendor and post their response, then I think we could all judge the situation more objectively. On the surface I would intend to agree with you.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,402
Likes: 5
From: Long Island NY
Again, please don't misunderstand my intention here. It is for discussion only and nothing more. I am not looking for sympathy and I am not complaining. In fact, shame on me for not "researching" a little further but the difference is about $5 on this item. I stated in an earlier post that I could simply ask that the vendor donate the difference to a charity of his choice. This is a matter of a supporting vendor offering an item here at the CF for a higher price than to the general public and I was curious what other forum members thought.
To clarify:
Item on their website was 44.95 plus 5.95 shipping minus a 10% discount
Item on Ebay (Buy It Now) was 39.95 plus 3.00 shipping. There was also a "Best Offer"
button where you can make a lower offer subject to the seller accepting it. Had I made
a reasonable offer of $37 plus shipping, it would have ended up to be $40 total.
Total was $6.00 difference. Again, this is only for discussion and $6.00 is not changing my life but it could help a charity.
What if it was a hood that was $1200 here and was offered for 10% less on that same auction site? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for the group hug!
To clarify:
Item on their website was 44.95 plus 5.95 shipping minus a 10% discount
Item on Ebay (Buy It Now) was 39.95 plus 3.00 shipping. There was also a "Best Offer"
button where you can make a lower offer subject to the seller accepting it. Had I made
a reasonable offer of $37 plus shipping, it would have ended up to be $40 total.
Total was $6.00 difference. Again, this is only for discussion and $6.00 is not changing my life but it could help a charity.
What if it was a hood that was $1200 here and was offered for 10% less on that same auction site? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for the group hug!
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest IL
Again, please don't misunderstand my intention here. It is for discussion only and nothing more. I am not looking for sympathy and I am not complaining. In fact, shame on me for not "researching" a little further but the difference is about $5 on this item. I stated in an earlier post that I could simply ask that the vendor donate the difference to a charity of his choice. This is a matter of a supporting vendor offering an item here at the CF for a higher price than to the general public and I was curious what other forum members thought.
To clarify:
Item on their website was 44.95 plus 5.95 shipping minus a 10% discount
Item on Ebay (Buy It Now) was 39.95 plus 3.00 shipping. There was also a "Best Offer"
button where you can make a lower offer subject to the seller accepting it. Had I made
a reasonable offer of $37 plus shipping, it would have ended up to be $40 total.
Total was $6.00 difference. Again, this is only for discussion and $6.00 is not changing my life but it could help a charity.
What if it was a hood that was $1200 here and was offered for 10% less on that same auction site? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for the group hug!
To clarify:
Item on their website was 44.95 plus 5.95 shipping minus a 10% discount
Item on Ebay (Buy It Now) was 39.95 plus 3.00 shipping. There was also a "Best Offer"
button where you can make a lower offer subject to the seller accepting it. Had I made
a reasonable offer of $37 plus shipping, it would have ended up to be $40 total.
Total was $6.00 difference. Again, this is only for discussion and $6.00 is not changing my life but it could help a charity.
What if it was a hood that was $1200 here and was offered for 10% less on that same auction site? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for the group hug!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,402
Likes: 5
From: Long Island NY
Not to diminish this importance of your effort to get the best of what there is in life, but there must be a time when such a matter over an inch here or there and to quibble over it on principle must be put to the side, or you may find yourself someday an old man looking back at the yard’s worth of time you lost from enjoying other and much better things of life than getting a good deal. Don't research yourself to death.
You obviously missed my point made above. Thanks for your input.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 162
From: Coralville Iowa
I'll try to sneak my simplistic view / opinion in on this before it is closed (which looks soon).
I think we all may be lead to assume we are "taken care of" here on the forum and that vendors will always give us their best shot. That may not be true. In reality, our purchase volume here is likely much lower than what online auction sites generate. In the end it's all business - you can be a friend or foe of the vendor but it's all about $$ in the end.
I think we all may be lead to assume we are "taken care of" here on the forum and that vendors will always give us their best shot. That may not be true. In reality, our purchase volume here is likely much lower than what online auction sites generate. In the end it's all business - you can be a friend or foe of the vendor but it's all about $$ in the end.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 1
From: Beech Mountain North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '09
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Jonesborough TN
I have yet to advertise/promote MAGDANA products on ebay although I am seriously considering that move. Your concerns on the pricing are noted so that I don't make that mistake. I'm doing my best to offer Corvette Forum members the best deals on products I carry. Watch the postings on January 1st for a new product announcement and special deals.
Joe Johnson
www.MAGDANA.com
Joe Johnson
www.MAGDANA.com
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I don't know if I'm right, but I used to regularly see in one of the biggest Corvette catalogs, frequent ads for almost the same car's exhaust system and mfr (and sometimes, slightly different prices). Finally, one day I called them and they said, well, we try, but we keep coming out with new catalogs and the exhaust mfr. keeps coming out with new numbers. I haven't looked closely, but I suspect they still have multiple systems for the same car with different parts numbers and pictures.
Not exactly the same thing as you're describing, but it could also be a case of "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware)---not everyone will even think to look elsewhere. And some won't care if it is advertised elsewhere by the same company.
Good thought on it tho!
Last edited by AORoads; Dec 30, 2008 at 08:04 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 92
From: Florida
2026 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2025 Restomod of the Year Finalist
Something to consider... Vendors pay to advertise/sell here and it costs them nothing to sell on most auction sites. I would not assume that all the vendors here are huge Corvette enthusiast who want to pass the best deals on to their "buddies" at the forum.
Last edited by C6Tim; Dec 30, 2008 at 08:33 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 885
Likes: 7
From: Fort Rucker Area Alabama
I totally agree with you! it's a principal thing. I'm wondering if the vendor you are talking about is C.M? I had a problem with them on this particular auction site too... just terrible customer service and they treated me like do-do. They get no more of my $'s.....
Good Luck!
it's a principal thing. I'm wondering if the vendor you are talking about is C.M? I had a problem with them on this particular auction site too... just terrible customer service and they treated me like do-do. They get no more of my $'s.....Good Luck!
Again, please don't misunderstand my intention here. It is for discussion only and nothing more. I am not looking for sympathy and I am not complaining. In fact, shame on me for not "researching" a little further but the difference is about $5 on this item. I stated in an earlier post that I could simply ask that the vendor donate the difference to a charity of his choice. This is a matter of a supporting vendor offering an item here at the CF for a higher price than to the general public and I was curious what other forum members thought.
To clarify:
Item on their website was 44.95 plus 5.95 shipping minus a 10% discount
Item on Ebay (Buy It Now) was 39.95 plus 3.00 shipping. There was also a "Best Offer"
button where you can make a lower offer subject to the seller accepting it. Had I made
a reasonable offer of $37 plus shipping, it would have ended up to be $40 total.
Total was $6.00 difference. Again, this is only for discussion and $6.00 is not changing my life but it could help a charity.
What if it was a hood that was $1200 here and was offered for 10% less on that same auction site? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for the group hug!
To clarify:
Item on their website was 44.95 plus 5.95 shipping minus a 10% discount
Item on Ebay (Buy It Now) was 39.95 plus 3.00 shipping. There was also a "Best Offer"
button where you can make a lower offer subject to the seller accepting it. Had I made
a reasonable offer of $37 plus shipping, it would have ended up to be $40 total.
Total was $6.00 difference. Again, this is only for discussion and $6.00 is not changing my life but it could help a charity.
What if it was a hood that was $1200 here and was offered for 10% less on that same auction site? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for the group hug!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 5
From: Nevada
I'll try to sneak my simplistic view / opinion in on this before it is closed (which looks soon).
I think we all may be lead to assume we are "taken care of" here on the forum and that vendors will always give us their best shot. That may not be true. In reality, our purchase volume here is likely much lower than what online auction sites generate. In the end it's all business - you can be a friend or foe of the vendor but it's all about $$ in the end.
I think we all may be lead to assume we are "taken care of" here on the forum and that vendors will always give us their best shot. That may not be true. In reality, our purchase volume here is likely much lower than what online auction sites generate. In the end it's all business - you can be a friend or foe of the vendor but it's all about $$ in the end.
It is not true. This forum exists to make money off the vendors. And the issue extends beyond price. If a vendor misrepresents his product and you speak the truth about it in a business like manner, your post will likely be deleted. You cannot rely on everything that you read here. It's often about concealing poor products and poor vendors or schills pumpng them up their credibility false and misleading praise, all to make money off forum members.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 13,007
Likes: 0
From: Happiness is Busch in Victory Lane!
St. Jude Donor '09 & '12, '14
I'm glad you brought this up.
I was forum delusional and always assumed CF was cheapest. I dont like to shop around. If its reasonable I do it.
Now I'm re-thinking my strategy. A little shopping around might be in order.
Reminds me of when I bought something here and the sellers invoice showed up with it.
I paid $90 and he was charged $55 from his source. I thought this would just cause him grief in the future and I love to see the on sale threads as I know how much room he has to work with.
I was happy with the product - Guess thats what matters
I was forum delusional and always assumed CF was cheapest. I dont like to shop around. If its reasonable I do it.
Now I'm re-thinking my strategy. A little shopping around might be in order.
Reminds me of when I bought something here and the sellers invoice showed up with it.
I paid $90 and he was charged $55 from his source. I thought this would just cause him grief in the future and I love to see the on sale threads as I know how much room he has to work with.
I was happy with the product - Guess thats what matters
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 30,317
Likes: 165
From: Reading PA
Well, I'm not involved, but I would like to make a point or two.
As far as GM Parts are concerned, I simply cannot match eBay pricing. Sometimes you have people who have gotten items unlawfully and are trying to make a quick buck. Other times you have someone who purchased a ton of close-out stuff from someone and are trying to blow it out and make some cash.
I know that a lot of the stuff on my specials list is less expensive than eBay, but still there is always the exception.
Also, when I sell parts, they are on a GM dealer receipt, and you get the GM backed warranty on the item.
When you purchase the GM part on eBay, you are not receiving the full manufacturer warranty... so there are several things to keep in mind here.
As far as GM Parts are concerned, I simply cannot match eBay pricing. Sometimes you have people who have gotten items unlawfully and are trying to make a quick buck. Other times you have someone who purchased a ton of close-out stuff from someone and are trying to blow it out and make some cash.
I know that a lot of the stuff on my specials list is less expensive than eBay, but still there is always the exception.
Also, when I sell parts, they are on a GM dealer receipt, and you get the GM backed warranty on the item.
When you purchase the GM part on eBay, you are not receiving the full manufacturer warranty... so there are several things to keep in mind here.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land Tx
Several times over the last few years I found things on Ebay which appeared to be from the same vendor who was posting them on-line on their own site. Only to find out later it was NOT the same vendor but someone who was attempted to make themselves look like the vendor and they were very good at this. While this may not apply in this case you need to look very carefully before you can be sure they are the same.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 767
From: Lindenhurst, IL
Ok, so I'm an eBay addict.
I almost always check there before I buy elsewhere.
Very often, vendors sell their products "slightly" cheaper on the auction site than on their website.
Rarely are they "drastically" discounted there, unless they are trying to move a product that they may have an overstock of.
Usually, it amounts to saving an amount comparable to the shipping cost.
Franky, I don't have a problem with it.
On the other hand, I have contacted vendors directly & they have been willing to match the eBay price.
If the price is the same, I prefer to buy it directly from a vendor that I know.
But let's face it, eBay is probably the largest online "store" on Earth.
IMO, it's not the vendor's fault that you didn't find the best deal out there.
I almost always check there before I buy elsewhere.
Very often, vendors sell their products "slightly" cheaper on the auction site than on their website.
Rarely are they "drastically" discounted there, unless they are trying to move a product that they may have an overstock of.
Usually, it amounts to saving an amount comparable to the shipping cost.
Franky, I don't have a problem with it.
On the other hand, I have contacted vendors directly & they have been willing to match the eBay price.
If the price is the same, I prefer to buy it directly from a vendor that I know.
But let's face it, eBay is probably the largest online "store" on Earth.
IMO, it's not the vendor's fault that you didn't find the best deal out there.