Buying Off Ebay

["DoubleAction"]

I've had the good forune of meeting some very good sources from doing business on ebay. One source was a holster maker who crafted a holster for one of my Sig 229 Sport pistols. I outlined the the pistol on paper, with all the dimentions, and he had my custom made holster in the mail withinn a few days. The cost of the holster was one third that which most manufacturers charge with a two month wait.

Another source was that of an Ivory grip maker from Hartford, CT. This man crafted aged elephant ivory grips for most Colts, using the same tools that were once used in the original Colt factory by his family of grip makers. After recieving grips for my 1911, I had never seen grips which fit so perfect. Again; I obtained these grips for far less than I would have if I had done business elsewhere.

The one thing I have to keep an eye out for on ebay is someone selling the correct size holster that they have listed. Another is whether the holster is lined or re-died.

Alot of collectable or discontinued holsters are offered up on ebay, especially Bianchi Leather. These holsters can be bought for a fraction of what you would expect to buy new ones for.

Vintage holsters from by gone eras can also by found but the competition among bidders are brutal; much like the same with a particular seller's Ivory grips.

I once tried to order a Dlask trigger from Brownell's, only to find they were out of stock; I then went to ebay the same day and found a brand new in the pack Dlask trigger for half the cost.

I have bought a couple of holsters which I didn't like after they arrived but I was able to sell them later for twice the amount I paid for them on ebay.

I've noticed lately that good gun leather don't last very long on ebay.

[MLB]

I've been looking into leather for the new BHP (on ebay too). Not sure if I'm looking for an IWB or OWB. I'd like to try out one of those famed Versa Max II's but the $100 price tag gives me pause.

I love my Galco Fletch OWB for my P99. I might go that way too.

["DoubleAction"]

MLB; I've also bought off the Gun Broker auction and found exactly what I was looking for, but holsters have always been harder to find than ebay.

[5ontarget]

I had been looking for some clips for 7.62x54 just to make loading a little more fun while at the range. The general consesus on some of the surplus boards was to go only with original clips, and they are fairly hard to find. Ebay has a bunch. There is a guy making some new ones out of brass that have received good reviews, and he's on ebay as well.
Even with the original clips, there is a little bit of technique involved in loading them.

Other than that, I've not bought any gun related stuff off of ebay.

[TMan]

5ontarget said:

...Even with the original clips, there is a little bit of technique involved in loading them.

I've not had great success with clips. Sometimes it takes excessive force and can result in finger damage.

Back to the topic: I'm not one who really enjoys buying via an auction. I have bought a couple of guns that way, where there wasn't any way to get them otherwise.

My technique was to wait until a few minutes prior to closing time and then bit. However, this is is not fool proof, and automatic bits can drive you crazy.

["DoubleAction"]

Buying on ebay during the last few minutes is called "Sniping". If I have a bid on an item and see someone jumping in I usually look up his profile. In a profile you can see how he bids, whether during the last few seconds or what. I spot the snipers through this method and bid on top of my own current bid in order to create walls for them to jump over. These walls will have higher than the minimal bids, which makes it difficult to jump, using bids in lower increments. My walls have usually been as high as fifty to a hundred dollars each.

Another is the new guy who lives on his bid all week, to out bid anyone who comes in. He usually jumps over a new bid with a minimal bid, about $2.50 to $5.00. One week I was watching a set of original factory mint condition Corvett rims for a mid '70 vette. These go for as much as $150. per outer rim, and $100 per center cap. The price had gotten up to $220., and this guy was leap frogging bids all week, within a matter of minutes.
I had the item listed in my favorites for shortcuts. One night I was on the gun forum and noticed the time was within a few minutes of running out on the rims. I quickly went in and stabbed a bid on the auction with a $300. bid, and and the next thing appeared was my name as the winner. I made the winning bid within 48 seconds of the end of the auction. I immediately recieved an email from the leap frogger regarding my bidding tactics. I told him I had been watching his leap frogging tactics all week and he should have put up a wall up before the end of the auction. I bet it was upsetting for him to be watching his item all week, and all of a sudden it brings a stranger in as the winning bidder at the end.
Auctions are fun when you watch the snipers coming in during the last few seconds. I've had some who managed to jump pver one wall and come within $3.50 of jumping over my second wall. Time is everything toward the end.

["DoubleAction"]

Another method of buying off ebay is to receive email notifications when certain items of interest arrive on the auctions. If the price is set right, many of the hard to find items can be purchase as "Buy Now", without going through the auction process. I've purchased many items, using "Buy Now". I pay through the immediate tranfer of funds through "Pay Pal". Due to the fact that the main post office, is located very close to Atlanta's International Airport, I can recieve my item within three to four days if shipped from anywhere in the U.S. from another such facility like Los Angeles.

[MLB]

Doesn't gunbroker have a 15 minute rule that eliminates sniping? I thought that after the end time, if there are no more bids within 15 minutes of the last, you win the auction. Seemed like a very good solution.

[TMan]

So a "wall" is a bid that is higher than the minimum bid?

What are the most successful methods for winning on auctions?

["DoubleAction"]

MLB; Your right about the 15 minute rule at Gun Broker. I reckon with so many guns on the site, it's much like sitting down at a poker table in the old west. Somebody gets sniped on ebay and they just get pissed and send an irrate email.

TMan; The most successful method for winning auctions on ebay is what I already mentioned. The wall will only reflect the next highest bid, not the maximum. I'm sitting on a holster now, with a showing bid of $14. dollars but I think it's worth $34. My wall is up to a maximum of $34. dollars. If anyone comes in to snipe the holster, they will have to bid no less than the next bid over that of $34. dollars to win. I had one snipe come in on my H.H. Heiser Holster to make ten bids within the last few minutes of the Auction. He sucessfully made it over one wall and came within $3.50. of jumping over the second wall. The only thing he did was raise the price of the holster in doing this. I always set the maximum limit based on how much I really want an item. Many times I use the "Buy Now" option if I think the item is a bargain or rarity.

["DoubleAction"]

MLB; With the 15 minute rule on Gun Broker, an item can still be sniped up to the 15 minutes. A good example would be within 16 minutes of the ending of the auction. Another reason why we maintain an anonymity on the internet.
I can not begin to tell you how upset some people become.

[MLB]

I think the most effective "anti-sniping" rule would be to award the auction 15 minutes after the last bid, however many times it takes.

["DoubleAction"]

One anti-sniping method is to use auto generated bids. The only problem with that is when two or more bidders are using the auto bid method. That is why I cap the bid off with my highest bid.

["DoubleAction"]

There are certain bidders who insists on outbidding to the point to where the item is in reality not worth but half the price in the end. These kind of bidders are either unaware of the new price of such an item, they don't like to lose, or they want something they see so bad that they are willing to pay any price for it. I saw one older beat up unlined holster go from $30. to $61. dollars in the last 15 minutes of the auction; I've bought similar holsters in better condition for $10. at the Gun Shows. These kind of bidders are the reason why few holsters are offered up as "Buy Now". There are those hidden gems which might be found outside that of gun related searches in ebay. I've found a few great deals in the Antiques and Collectables area.

[MLB]

I've seen that too. I think the competition gets to people. I don't see any good reason to pay even the prevailing local price on ebay. Easier to just go out and pick it up. Another thing folks don't consider is the cost of shipping. Some auctions have that cost jacked up unreasonalby high.

["DoubleAction"]

Right now most of the gun leather for S&W revolvers seems competitive on ebay, especially the four and six inch barrel lengths. Same holds true for grips to fit the most popular revolver and semi-autos. Only a few years ago I was buying Bianchi Gun Leather, still new in the packaging for anywhere from $15. to $25 per rig. Although some of those holsters were discontinued, they were brand new. One holster which seems to switch hands between my brother and myself is a new condition Bianchi Phantom shoulder rig for a Six inch Double Action Revolver. This particular holster don't have the metal buttoned thumb snap release, which drags on the cylinder of the S&Ws. Seems to work fine with Colt's Python without posing a threathening cylinder scratch. The older Phantom only has the external buttoned strap.
Gun Shows have always offered up the better deals on Gun Leather, but during the last few years the supply and such dealers have dried up around here. We once had gun show dealers who did alot of business in buying up quality Gun Leather and selling at very low prices.

[MLB]

This has nothining to do with ebay, but since the discussion has taken a tack towards holsters;

I stopped by the local gun shop to pick up a cheap IWB nylon holster for the Hi-Power. Just something to carry it in while I look for the right one. So I pick up a size 15 Uncle Mikes holster with a plastic belt clip for $12. I don't plan on using it. The BHP is simply too slim to stay put in a generic holster. The length is fine, but it has way too much play inside. I've spoiled myself with good holsters.

You get what you pay for...

[TA]

Getting upset and emailing a winning bidder for sniping is ridiculous. It happens all the time on Ebay. The guy was just burned because his method didn't work. Everybody is trying to get the deal. He should have set his maximum bid higher if he really wanted the item. If I say I will pay a maximum of $25 for an item and you come in and decide you are willing to pay $27 for the item, what right do I have to be upset? I have lost plenty more auctions than I have won. He must have been a new guy DA, or one of these people with a sense of entitlement.

[TA]

mlb said:

This has nothining to do with ebay, but since the discussion has taken a tack towards holsters;

I stopped by the local gun shop to pick up a cheap IWB nylon holster for the Hi-Power. Just something to carry it in while I look for the right one. So I pick up a size 15 Uncle Mikes holster with a plastic belt clip for $12. I don't plan on using it. The BHP is simply too slim to stay put in a generic holster. The length is fine, but it has way too much play inside. I've spoiled myself with good holsters.

You get what you pay for...

MLB,

With the slim profile of the High Power, I would think it would really shine with IWB carry. You should get Milt Sparks, Josh Bulman or one of the other quality leather shops to make you one. It will take anywhere from 12-20 weeks to get one, so the sooner the better.

["DoubleAction"]

ta said:

Getting upset and emailing a winning bidder for sniping is ridiculous. It happens all the time on Ebay. The guy was just burned because his method didn't work. Everybody is trying to get the deal. He should have set his maximum bid higher if he really wanted the item. If I say I will pay a maximum of $25 for an item and you come in and decide you are willing to pay $27 for the item, what right do I have to be upset? I have lost plenty more auctions than I have won. He must have been a new guy DA, or one of these people with a sense of entitlement.

TA; He was a new guy, never won an auction. His method of setting up camp on the Auction and leap frogging incoming bids with the minimum showed me very early on that I would have to throw a high bid in during the last remaining minutes of the Auction. I'm referring to the Corvette rims on this particular instance. When I get sniped, I expect it to happen due to my lack of enthusiasm for paying far more than an item is worth. I am sometimes relieved to get out of some auctions, by being outbidded, after finding the item listed elsewhere for far less as a Buy Now.