The Ford Barn

35fordtn · 12-15-2014, 06:52 PM

Marv,
I was the seller of the cap on eBay and I can assure you we had no "friends" bid it up. The cap has been paid for by the winner whom is a regular customer at our business. He is very happy with his purchase. To some people its not about the $$ as much as getting what they want.

BrianCT,

Our eBay prices naturally are higher on some items due to the fees from ebay. Not all of our products are the same as other vendors. As you said some buyers dont want the hassle of a catalog. Another note, go buy a set of exhaust gaskets or any small item from Mac's or Drake and tell me what the shipping charges are compared to what we charge. Also see how fast or slow it may arrive. I will admit our prices are higher on some items, but we ship same day and strive for customer service on eBay and phone orders. You will find this same principal at many of the "smaller" vendors. Sometimes it's worth the extra $2.00.

Bored&Stroked · 12-15-2014, 07:04 PM

What the hell - the value is in the eye of the beholder! As an accomplished seller once told me in reference to a rare 34 car:

"It really isn't about what it is worth - it is about how bad do YOU want it!"

B&S

KiWinUS · 12-15-2014, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marv

Did any Barners stop to think that maybe the seller had several of these caps some friends run it up, so he could sell moprfe at high dollar and return the $2000 to his friend.I am not saying it happened that way, but it could.

Marv , obviously you do not know this seller !!!
He is a pure asset to our hobby !!!
Too bad !!! Your loss !

TJ · 12-15-2014, 09:09 PM

I have bought items from Michael on e-bay and he has many NOS items. I've always found that his descriptions are accurate. He ships quickly and the shipping is very reasonable. I've got some good buys because no one else bid. It all comes down to how bad someone wants an item when it comes to the bid price.
It's fine to be thrifty in this hobby, but there a lot of old fords in garages that will never get built because the owner is too thrifty to buy a needed part. they figure they might find it cheaper somewhere down the road. These same people don't realize "there ain't no pockets on a casket".

Fe26 · 12-15-2014, 10:38 PM

"there ain't no pockets on a casket". Priceless ;-)

hotrodA · 12-15-2014, 11:03 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Marv

Did any Barners stop to think that maybe the seller had several of these caps some friends run it up, so he could sell moprfe at high dollar and return the $2000 to his friend.I am not saying it happened that way, but it could.

IF you knew Michael, you wouldn't think this, much less suggest it!
I've bought parts and two cars from him, and if anything, his word is his bond, and he would rather see a customer pleased than make a dollar.

A fine young man, and a example of how business SHOULD be done today.

35fordtn · 12-15-2014, 11:28 PM

On another note if anyone has legit original literature on these caps, I would love to see. I have always wondered the story on them.

jimvette59 · 12-16-2014, 12:37 AM

Just saw an other one on ebay starting for 300.00. Go figure.

Kube · 12-16-2014, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marv

Did any Barners stop to think that maybe the seller had several of these caps some friends run it up, so he could sell moprfe at high dollar and return the $2000 to his friend.I am not saying it happened that way, but it could.

Marv, This particular seller is about as straight a shooter as they come. It would be difficult (impossible?) to find a more ethical guy.

Fordors · 12-16-2014, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

On another note if anyone has legit original literature on these caps, I would love to see. I have always wondered the story on them.

I looked through my set of Ford Life magazines last night as I thought I might find something regarding the V8 design gas cap, but came up empty. The only reference to locking caps was a Stant article that mentioned that the key cover door was redesigned for 1940. You will recall that originally the cover door had Ford embossed in script, with that cap being asked for by Ford for accessory sales in 1935. Assigned p/n 48-18416-A the cap sold for $1.25 in 1936 and will fit Fords from 1932 through 1948. I believe Ford asked for the 1940 re-design because it is shown on top of a Ford Accessory box.
There was another reference to Bob Drake introducing his 48-18416-A repro, must have been 1970-1971?; he was still in California and I think that cap was what got him into the business.

scicala · 12-16-2014, 04:59 PM

"It really isn't about what it is worth - it is about how bad do YOU want it!"

And I look at it as how bad do you want to screw up the hobby for the working class hero's that aren't loaded ? I would list it at a realistic "Buy it now" price, since I know I'm not going to get rich on one sale. Plus I'm an oddball and wasn't born with the "greed" gene.

Sal

Sal

37fatfender · 12-16-2014, 06:46 PM

At that kind of price, they'll probably being reproduced somewhere in China right now!They'll soon be for sale, be patient there coming.

tiger.1000 · 12-17-2014, 06:23 AM

Well done Michael. What you got is what it's worth ! No point bitching about auctions.
Highest bidder takes the goods !

Bored&Stroked · 12-17-2014, 08:31 AM

Michael is a totally stand up dude and has found and brought a LOT of parts up for sale that one just can't find. I only wish I was the guy that had that darn gas cap and sold it for $2000 (cause it is not worth that to me) . . . as it would help finance some other 32 parts that are worth that to me.

barnfind · 12-17-2014, 04:22 PM

An interesting thread to say the least.
I seem to sit on both sides of the debate aisle - sometimes pay too much on eBay but sometimes just to cheap to pull the trigger.

I suspect most folks swing both ways depending on where you stand with your project or "want list".

Marv · 12-17-2014, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

Marv , obviously you do not know this seller !!!
He is a pure asset to our hobby !!!
Too bad !!! Your loss !

I do not know the buyer or seller and it was no loss to me, i was not interested, i just could not believe anyone would pay $2000 for a gas cap.

and like i said it may not have happened that way and it evidently did not. I weas not accusing just wandering.

CarlG · 12-17-2014, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marv

...I was ... just wandering.

I do that a lot

(so says my wife, anyway)

39topless · 12-17-2014, 07:40 PM

Marv was just stating what a lot of us were thinking. He does not know either party and has no "agenda" here. Now give him a brake.
Phil

JSeery · 12-17-2014, 07:47 PM

I have noticed that a lot of people do not seem to understand ebay very well. It seems to shock a lot of people when a lot of bids appear out of no where at the last second! Or how some of the bidding appears. Ebay is a world unto it self, some like it (I'm among that group) and some do not. Either way, there are a lot of items that come up on ebay that are hard to find anywhere else.

12-15-2014, 06:52 PM	#41
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: $2000 gas cap Marv, I was the seller of the cap on eBay and I can assure you we had no "friends" bid it up. The cap has been paid for by the winner whom is a regular customer at our business. He is very happy with his purchase. To some people its not about the $$ as much as getting what they want. BrianCT, Our eBay prices naturally are higher on some items due to the fees from ebay. Not all of our products are the same as other vendors. As you said some buyers dont want the hassle of a catalog. Another note, go buy a set of exhaust gaskets or any small item from Mac's or Drake and tell me what the shipping charges are compared to what we charge. Also see how fast or slow it may arrive. I will admit our prices are higher on some items, but we ship same day and strive for customer service on eBay and phone orders. You will find this same principal at many of the "smaller" vendors. Sometimes it's worth the extra $2.00.

12-15-2014, 07:04 PM	#42
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,067	Re: $2000 gas cap What the hell - the value is in the eye of the beholder! As an accomplished seller once told me in reference to a rare 34 car: "It really isn't about what it is worth - it is about how bad do YOU want it!" B&S

12-15-2014, 09:09 PM	#44
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,037	Re: $2000 gas cap I have bought items from Michael on e-bay and he has many NOS items. I've always found that his descriptions are accurate. He ships quickly and the shipping is very reasonable. I've got some good buys because no one else bid. It all comes down to how bad someone wants an item when it comes to the bid price. It's fine to be thrifty in this hobby, but there a lot of old fords in garages that will never get built because the owner is too thrifty to buy a needed part. they figure they might find it cheaper somewhere down the road. These same people don't realize "there ain't no pockets on a casket".

12-15-2014, 10:38 PM	#45
Fe26 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 949	Re: $2000 gas cap "there ain't no pockets on a casket". Priceless ;-)

12-15-2014, 11:28 PM	#47
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: $2000 gas cap On another note if anyone has legit original literature on these caps, I would love to see. I have always wondered the story on them.

12-16-2014, 12:37 AM	#48
jimvette59 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perry OH Posts: 1,330	Re: $2000 gas cap Just saw an other one on ebay starting for 300.00. Go figure.

12-16-2014, 04:59 PM	#51
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,706	Re: $2000 gas cap "It really isn't about what it is worth - it is about how bad do YOU want it!" And I look at it as how bad do you want to screw up the hobby for the working class hero's that aren't loaded ? I would list it at a realistic "Buy it now" price, since I know I'm not going to get rich on one sale. Plus I'm an oddball and wasn't born with the "greed" gene. Sal Sal

12-16-2014, 06:46 PM	#52
37fatfender Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mesquite, NV / Gurnee, IL Posts: 298	Re: $2000 gas cap At that kind of price, they'll probably being reproduced somewhere in China right now!They'll soon be for sale, be patient there coming.

12-17-2014, 06:23 AM	#53
tiger.1000 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hertford (UK) Posts: 905	Re: $2000 gas cap Well done Michael. What you got is what it's worth ! No point bitching about auctions. Highest bidder takes the goods !

12-17-2014, 08:31 AM	#54
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,067	Re: $2000 gas cap Michael is a totally stand up dude and has found and brought a LOT of parts up for sale that one just can't find. I only wish I was the guy that had that darn gas cap and sold it for $2000 (cause it is not worth that to me) . . . as it would help finance some other 32 parts that are worth that to me.

12-17-2014, 04:22 PM	#55
barnfind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 426	Re: $2000 gas cap An interesting thread to say the least. I seem to sit on both sides of the debate aisle - sometimes pay too much on eBay but sometimes just to cheap to pull the trigger. I suspect most folks swing both ways depending on where you stand with your project or "want list".

12-17-2014, 07:40 PM	#58
39topless Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,027	Re: $2000 gas cap Marv was just stating what a lot of us were thinking. He does not know either party and has no "agenda" here. Now give him a brake. Phil

12-17-2014, 07:47 PM	#59
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: $2000 gas cap I have noticed that a lot of people do not seem to understand ebay very well. It seems to shock a lot of people when a lot of bids appear out of no where at the last second! Or how some of the bidding appears. Ebay is a world unto it self, some like it (I'm among that group) and some do not. Either way, there are a lot of items that come up on ebay that are hard to find anywhere else.