I won the greed / darwin award

[PandaBear]

Bought an oil filter wrench for my friend who complained that he couldn't find a cheap one that doesn't snap off his IS250 filter housing (paper only, no metal casing filter). He said the Lexus dealers try to gouge him for $60-70 ea.

I found one in the Toyota dealer made by 3rd party for $11, bought one for him to realized that he already got one. So I decided to sell it on an owner club website and all of a sudden 8 people are fighting for it.

Then I realized I could start trying out my luck/skill in online business. I found the distributor, bought 100 to get a slight discount and free shipping (but they only shipped 14 due to back order), and try to sell it.

BAD IDEA.

Now I have 11 left and 86 on back order. I called the distributor and they are willing to withdraw the discount and cancel the order without restocking fee, otherwise I would have left with 95 or so filters unsold.

I should have learn from the marketing department's coworkers before I commit to such a foolish act.

 

[eljefino]

I read on a eurotrash forum that obsolete, no longer made bosch copper W9DC spark plugs are impossible to find and sometimes sell for $60 ea because nothing else works right. I keyed them into rockauto having them for $.99 after rebate and got myself ten.

They're on ebay and have about 8 views after a week and no bids.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I read on a eurotrash forum that obsolete, no longer made bosch copper W9DC spark plugs are impossible to find and sometimes sell for $60 ea because nothing else works right. I keyed them into rockauto having them for $.99 after rebate and got myself ten.

They're on ebay and have about 8 views after a week and no bids.


Of course you put a note on that forum "Hey guys, look what I found on Ebay" with a link to your own auction?

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Bought an oil filter wrench for my friend who complained that he couldn't find a cheap one that doesn't snap off his IS250 filter housing (paper only, no metal casing filter). He said the Lexus dealers try to gouge him for $60-70 ea.

I found one in the Toyota dealer made by 3rd party for $11, bought one for him to realized that he already got one. So I decided to sell it on an owner club website and all of a sudden 8 people are fighting for it.

Then I realized I could start trying out my luck/skill in online business. I found the distributor, bought 100 to get a slight discount and free shipping (but they only shipped 14 due to back order), and try to sell it.

BAD IDEA.

Now I have 11 left and 86 on back order. I called the distributor and they are willing to withdraw the discount and cancel the order without restocking fee, otherwise I would have left with 95 or so filters unsold.

I should have learn from the marketing department's coworkers before I commit to such a foolish act.


My Dad would have said you let your bulldog mouth overload your pekinese a$$.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I read on a eurotrash forum that obsolete, no longer made bosch copper W9DC spark plugs are impossible to find and sometimes sell for $60 ea because nothing else works right. I keyed them into rockauto having them for $.99 after rebate and got myself ten.

They're on ebay and have about 8 views after a week and no bids.


Of course you put a note on that forum "Hey guys, look what I found on Ebay" with a link to your own auction?


Nah, that's not how I roll. It took pages of arguing that I really found some old stock plugs and wasn't getting a substitute part number. So I finally got some for myself.

RA did not have that plug listed in their database for any motor/app, so they languished on the shelf. I found it with a part # search.

 

[HTSS_TR]

My experience is a little difference. I need a battery for Dell Vostro 1000, saw an add in local Craiglist a guy has 3 brand new 85WH batteries, he wants $50 ea. I offered him $80 for all 3 and he accepted. I sold 1 on eBay for $59 + $10 shipping+handling. I have 2 85WH Dell batteries left for less than $20. If I sell the second battery for the same price, I would have a free battery and pocket more than $40 after eBay fees.

 

[mechtech2]

Panda - I don't quite get how this is foolish.
Can't this still work out OK?

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Panda - I don't quite get how this is foolish.
Can't this still work out OK?


On average I sold 1 every 2 weeks, that'll be a long time before I can sell all of them. I still have 10 of them that I can sell without much risk.

Imagine if you are just a mobile mechanic and you have 400 tires of the same size in your garage that you want to unload, and your cost is identical to what Sears is selling for. That's the problem I was facing.

Simply put, took on more risk than I should have, although the worst case is just $600 if I couldn't sell everything.

 

[mechtech2]

PandaBear - Well, just keep your car for 300 years, and you'll use them yourself!

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
PandaBear - Well, just keep your car for 300 years, and you'll use them yourself!


Oil filters? Sure, but oil filter wrenches? I only need 1 for 300 years.