[DeTomaso] Front mounted A/C

[Larry Finch]

Jack,

I am sorry to be the bearer of this news, but the item you bought was not "made a couple hundred miles from me in California".

But as long as you are okay with paying $105.00 instead of $73.00 for the exact same Made-In-China product, so be it. It is only $32. 

However, $32 buys a lot of milkshakes on a multi-state Pantera journey. Right, Chris? :-)

As an eBay buyer and seller for well over ten years and with well over 800 transactions,
I would like to share some thoughts that some might find of value.

Many (actually most) sellers of new items only use stock, manufacturer-supplied photos in their auctions.
Their one, search-displayed photo may be different from another seller's, but often a review of ALL the photos in their auctions will
reveal both items are using the same stock photos, proving them to be exactly the same item.

Also, study the photos and auction text for product numbers. A Google search using those numbers, and maybe one
keyword, will often provide additional sellers of the same item.

And while on the issue of auction photos, another thing to look out for is the use of an item-generic photo instead
of an item-specific photo. If you look close enough, you will usually see some disclaimer like "Actual item may vary from photo".
You'll find this on everything from rubber grommets to starter motors to clutch discs. 

And this applies to Amazon sellers, Google search results, etc. 

...... Study the photos. Ask questions.

Inflated shipping charges (and $40 to ship that item is at least twice the seller's actual cost) is one
very common "trick" used by sellers. Their business plan is based on believing enough buyers will
only see the low selling price and hit the "Buy Now" button before understanding the low price is offset by a higher shipping fee. 

And the seller who has an auction that contains conflicting charges for shipping and handling....
either FREE or $40 ... is most assuredly NOT being "up front about it". 

...... Study the auction description. Ask questions.

When a seller says an item is ... located ... at a specific location, that in no way implies the item is ... made ... at that location.

...... Read closely. Ask questions.

Cheap China-made stuff on eBay.

Let's face it, a LOT of the products we buy are made in China. Like many on this forum, I do not like that reality. I console myself
with the realization I offset a lot of my Made-In-China purchases by always buying a Big Three-branded vehicle. I like knowing I can at least pronounce the city where the Big Three got their start. And if more Americans had exhibited that philosophy, Detroit would not be the ghost town it has become. (Close mild rant.)

Back to eBay.

If you find an item 'located' in the USA through one seller, and the same item is 'located' in China by another seller, 
logic dictates the item is ... made in China. It is just impossible for an item selling at the lower price to be made in the USA, then be shipped to China, and then be shipped back (often for free) to the USA.

China shipping time is now ridiculously short. Seldom more than about two weeks, often a little less.

...... Don't rule out a purchase from China if its receipt is not time-sensitive.

If the seller does not have any brick-and-mortar presence in your state, they most likely will not charge any state sales tax on your purchase. This can save you very little, or a quite a lot if buying an expensive item. 

...... Don't overlook the impact a sales tax will have on your purchase.

Always click on the "Shipping and payments" section of the auction.

Some eBay sellers clearly offer a discounted combined-shipping charge if buying multiple items at the same time. This may only be for multiples of the same item, or be offered for multiple mixed items. Whether their auction mentions this or not, it never hurts to ask the seller if they will discount their shipping. 

You can ask prior to your purchase. Or, on your check-out and payment page you should be able to locate a blue?? link to open a window to "Ask seller for shipping cost" or "Ask seller a question"... something like that.

I've made purchases of multiple identical items where I bought the higher priced auction items but the total cost was lower due to better discounted combined-shipping fees.

..... Don't overlook options to save on your total purchase through lowered shipping fees.

Just a final little note about Amazon.

Yes, they are known for selling books, and also inflating prices and delaying some publishers' books shipping times, as they battle with publishers over pricing of books versus e-books. But that is another story.

Amazon now sells EVERYTHING. Really. Everything. Their system is simple and works well. If you get one of their credit cards for purchases you'll even get a percentage of your purchase as "reward points" to use on future purchases.

...... Always check Amazon before making any eBay or online purchase.

When it comes to online buying, remember .....

"Let's be careful out there."

Larry









-------------- next part --------------
   Jack,
   I am sorry to be the bearer of this news, but the item you bought was
   not "made a couple hundred miles from me in California".
   But as long as you are okay with paying $105.00 instead of $73.00 for
   the exact same Made-In-China product, so be it. It is only $32.
   However, $32 buys a lot of milkshakes on a multi-state Pantera journey.
   Right, Chris? :-)
   As an eBay buyer and seller for well over ten years and with well over
   800 transactions,
   I would like to share some thoughts that some might find of value.
   Many (actually most) sellers of new items only use stock,
   manufacturer-supplied photos in their auctions.
   Their one, search-displayed photo may be different from another
   seller's, but often a review of ALL the photos in their auctions will
   reveal both items are using the same stock photos, proving them to be
   exactly the same item.
   Also, study the photos and auction text for product numbers. A Google
   search using those numbers, and maybe one
   keyword, will often provide additional sellers of the same item.
   And while on the issue of auction photos, another thing to look out for
   is the use of an item-generic photo instead
   of an item-specific photo. If you look close enough, you will usually
   see some disclaimer like "Actual item may vary from photo".
   You'll find this on everything from rubber grommets to starter motors
   to clutch discs.
   And this applies to Amazon sellers, Google search results, etc.
   ...... Study the photos. Ask questions.
   Inflated shipping charges (and $40 to ship that item is at least twice
   the seller's actual cost) is one
   very common "trick" used by sellers. Their business plan is based on
   believing enough buyers will
   only see the low selling price and hit the "Buy Now" button before
   understanding the low price is offset by a higher shipping fee.
   And the seller who has an auction that contains conflicting charges for
   shipping and handling....
   either FREE or $40 ... is most assuredly NOT being "up front about it".
   ...... Study the auction description. Ask questions.
   When a seller says an item is ... located ... at a specific location,
   that in no way implies the item is ... made ... at that location.
   ...... Read closely. Ask questions.
   Cheap China-made stuff on eBay.
   Let's face it, a LOT of the products we buy are made in China. Like
   many on this forum, I do not like that reality. I console myself
   with the realization I offset a lot of my Made-In-China purchases by
   always buying a Big Three-branded vehicle. I like knowing I can at
   least pronounce the city where the Big Three got their start. And if
   more Americans had exhibited that philosophy, Detroit would not be the
   ghost town it has become. (Close mild rant.)
   Back to eBay.
   If you find an item 'located' in the USA through one seller, and the
   same item is 'located' in China by another seller,
   logic dictates the item is ... made in China. It is just impossible for
   an item selling at the lower price to be made in the USA, then be
   shipped to China, and then be shipped back (often for free) to the USA.
   China shipping time is now ridiculously short. Seldom more than about
   two weeks, often a little less.
   ...... Don't rule out a purchase from China if its receipt is not
   time-sensitive.
   If the seller does not have any brick-and-mortar presence in your
   state, they most likely will not charge any state sales tax on your
   purchase. This can save you very little, or a quite a lot if buying an
   expensive item.
   ...... Don't overlook the impact a sales tax will have on your
   purchase.
   Always click on the "Shipping and payments" section of the auction.
   Some eBay sellers clearly offer a discounted combined-shipping charge
   if buying multiple items at the same time. This may only be for
   multiples of the same item, or be offered for multiple mixed items.
   Whether their auction mentions this or not, it never hurts to ask the
   seller if they will discount their shipping.
   You can ask prior to your purchase. Or, on your check-out and payment
   page you should be able to locate a blue?? link to open a window to
   "Ask seller for shipping cost" or "Ask seller a question"... something
   like that.
   I've made purchases of multiple identical items where I bought the
   higher priced auction items but the total cost was lower due to better
   discounted combined-shipping fees.
   ..... Don't overlook options to save on your total purchase through
   lowered shipping fees.
   Just a final little note about Amazon.
   Yes, they are known for selling books, and also inflating prices and
   delaying some publishers' books shipping times, as they battle with
   publishers over pricing of books versus e-books. But that is another
   story.
   Amazon now sells EVERYTHING. Really. Everything. Their system is simple
   and works well. If you get one of their credit cards for purchases
   you'll even get a percentage of your purchase as "reward points" to use
   on future purchases.
   ...... Always check Amazon before making any eBay or online purchase.
   When it comes to online buying, remember .....
   "Let's be careful out there."
   Larry