[DeTomaso] Front mounted A/C

[John Donahue]

Wow, thank you for the education, I certainly appreciate it. A world I didn't know existed. I'll PRETEND it was made "down the street".
Jack
4348

> On Jun 6, 2014, at 11:46 PM, Larry Finch <fresnofinches at aol.com> wrote:
> 
>   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
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