cars and bids.com

[FRUNKenstein]

Doug Demuro just started a new auction site that is a competitor to BaT. I just registered, placed a bid and made my first comment:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3LnZgG ... nniversary

It appears that they analyzed what BaT does, identified BaT’s weaknesses and fixed them. I’m sure Demuro is just lending his name to it rather than taking an active role, but it appears to be run by car guys. I really like what they have done. The only thing I don’t like is that they limited it to 1980 and newer cars. So, it’s no good for my 914 search. I think they should expand to 1960 or 1970 and newer.

One seemingly minor but important fix is that they don’t make you submit a full blown listing package before they tell you whether they are accepting your car for auction. TBH, that’s what pissed me off about BaT rejecting the X1/9 last fall. BaT requires a ton of pics, including undercarriage photos, plus a detailed write-up on the car when you submit it. I spent several hours putting it all together, only to have the car rejected in a matter of minutes. That’s frustrating as a seller. Cars and bids just asks for a couple of pics and basic info, and then they make the decision on whether to accept the car.

[Einsteiger]

I think once they get into the groove, they will expand the range of years. They'll need to. Good news that someone finally came up with an alternative to BAT. Maybe those arrogant pricks will fix some of their own shortcomings.

The bad news is that half the Porsche world seems to be on a 914 quest now. May you find The Grail and choose....wisely.

[FRUNKenstein]

I think once they get into the groove, they will expand the range of years. They'll need to. Good news that someone finally came up with an alternative to BAT. Maybe those arrogant pricks will fix some of their own shortcomings.

The bad news is that half the Porsche world seems to be on a 914 quest now. May you find The Grail and choose....wisely.

Yeah, but it seems that 914s with a reasonable list of needs can still be had for under $10,000. There's a yellow one down in Arkansas that's not half bad that the owner seems desperate to unload (which makes me nervous). He's asking $8,500, but I'm pretty sure I could get it for some number that starts with a 6. There's another guy up in Nebraska that has a blue one that needs quite a bit more work, but I believe it is a '73 2.0 (best year & engine other than a 914/6) and he's asking $5,000. I'm waiting to see how the color change on the X1/9 comes out. If I can get a decent color change done for $4,000, then both of those cars become candidates because I can do the color change to Ravenna Green, fix up some other stuff and still be in them for well under $15,000. I'm convinced that it's going to take close to $20k to buy an original Ravenna Green car in decent shape. Plus, the $4,000 or $6,000 buy-in cost is a LOT easier to sell to the Bride of FRUNKenstein than $20,000. Sort of the frog in the pot situation - easier to sell her on a low buy-in cost with additional money spent over time later. I just don't want it to be too much of a project. The yellow car down in Arkansas seems to be a pretty good candidate for this approach. It's presentable and supposedly in decent driving shape as it was brought back from the dead over the past 12 months mechanically. A color change ($4,000) and new interior (I don't know, but I assume $2,000 or so) and a few other baubles would give me a great looking car, albeit a color changed car, for around $12,000 or $13,000.

[32wildbilly]

Doug Demuro just started a new auction site that is a competitor to BaT. I just registered, placed a bid and made my first comment:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3LnZgG ... nniversary

It appears that they analyzed what BaT does, identified BaT’s weaknesses and fixed them. I’m sure Demuro is just lending his name to it rather than taking an active role, but it appears to be run by car guys. I really like what they have done. The only thing I don’t like is that they limited it to 1980 and newer cars. So, it’s no good for my 914 search. I think they should expand to 1960 or 1970 and newer.

One seemingly minor but important fix is that they don’t make you submit a full blown listing package before they tell you whether they are accepting your car for auction. TBH, that’s what pissed me off about BaT rejecting the X1/9 last fall. BaT requires a ton of pics, including undercarriage photos, plus a detailed write-up on the car when you submit it. I spent several hours putting it all together, only to have the car rejected in a matter of minutes. That’s frustrating as a seller. Cars and bids just asks for a couple of pics and basic info, and then they make the decision on whether to accept the car.

Frunk: Are serious about the 40th Anniversary or just playing the bid game? That is NOT a 914.

[Kalashnikov]

Seems like those sites are popping up every day. I am not a fan of them. They are pushing prices up on a lot of cars, as people see one or two unicorns sell online and choose to mark their regular cars up the same way. 90s and early 2000 fast Honda/Acura cars are now heading into stratosphere due to this.

[FRUNKenstein]

Frunk: Are serious about the 40th Anniversary or just playing the bid game? That is NOT a 914.

Just helping out by bidding. And I wanted to give it a shot to see how their system works. So far, pretty similar to BaT. I noticed a hold on my credit card right away for 5% of the bid price. That's fine - that's exactly what I expected.

If I get that car for $12,996, I'll gladly take it and pay the $584.82 buyer's commission.

[FRUNKenstein]

Seems like those sites are popping up every day. I am not a fan of them. They are pushing prices up on a lot of cars, as people see one or two unicorns sell online and choose to mark their regular cars up the same way. 90s and early 2000 fast Honda/Acura cars are now heading into stratosphere due to this.

There was another one started by a guy on Rennlist a couple of years ago called "Second Daily". It appears to have folded. Too bad because the guy who started seemed like a good guy and their "hook" was that a pretty significant portion of the buyer's commission was going to charity. They had agreed to make the auto museum one of their charities.

[32wildbilly]

Frunk: Are serious about the 40th Anniversary or just playing the bid game? That is NOT a 914.

Just helping out by bidding. And I wanted to give it a shot to see how their system works. So far, pretty similar to BaT. I noticed a hold on my credit card right away for 5% of the bid price. That's fine - that's exactly what I expected.

If I get that car for $12,996, I'll gladly take it and pay the $584.82 buyer's commission.

True

[FRUNKenstein]

Just helping out by bidding. And I wanted to give it a shot to see how their system works. So far, pretty similar to BaT. I noticed a hold on my credit card right away for 5% of the bid price. That's fine - that's exactly what I expected.

If I get that car for $12,996, I'll gladly take it and pay the $584.82 buyer's commission.

True

And just like that, I'm out of the pool. It's now at $13,500. I wonder if they will release the hold on my credit card for the 4.5% commission immediately?

EDIT: Well, the bid that was higher than mine was placed 30+ minutes ago, and the hold is still showing on my credit card. I'll keep an eye on it and let you guys know how long the hold stays on my card.

[32wildbilly]

True

And just like that, I'm out of the pool. It's now at $13,500. I wonder if they will release the hold on my credit card for the 4.5% commission immediately?

EDIT: Well, the bid that was higher than mine was placed 30+ minutes ago, and the hold is still showing on my credit card. I'll keep an eye on it and let you guys know how long the hold stays on my card.

Could an additional income source for the website. Please do advise us