freakin ebay motors......

[Mark42]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

If you don't know a lot about outboard motors then I suggest buying from a rebuilder with a good warrentee or buy new. Not having outboard motor experience I chose to buy from a rebuilder with a 1 year warrentee. The motor has held up well, was half the price of new, and runs well. It worked for me. I was afraid of buying used in an area I was not experienced in and did not know what to look out for. Now I would buy used knowing what the problem areas are on O/B motors.<br /><br />Maybe you could ship one of your motors off for a complete overhaul?

 

[SeaJayacas]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

I see an opportunity. Go to the junk yard or in the weeds behind any marina. Pull a couple of junkers out of there and sell them on e-bay for thousands.<br /><br />Eventually bad ratings will force the seller to change his name and start anew, but it looks like a good career opportunity for an enterprising fellow.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

I have done chargebacks. It works just fine, and I have had no problems. Of course, mine were due to the item never being shipped, so that could be a factor. I think the only Ebay motor I would ever buy would be from Clams Canino or the other pros on this site, I just don't trust a lot of those things on Ebay....

 

[rodbolt]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

seajayacas<br /> from what I have seen your idea is being used. its sad but true.

 

[swist]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

Ebay feedback is next to useless. Virtually every transaction gets positive feedback, and you can't rate sellers when they all have 97-98-99-100 pct positives.<br /><br />The whole system is screwed up. Positive feedback should be reserved for outstanding transactions, with neutral being used in most cases. And negative should be used a lot more than it is.<br /><br />But the way it is, the sellers hold the buyers hostage - if they get bad feedback, they give the seller bad feedback and everyone is so afraid of that they just cave in.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

I've been buying and selling all sorts of stuff on eBay for years. Not once have I had a bad experience, and neither have those who have purchased from me.<br /><br />Just do your research. Read the descriptions carefully. Ask questions of the seller. Don't bid until you're satisfied.<br /><br />As a couple of people have said here, they've purchased good outboards on eBay. There's no reason you can't do the same.<br /><br />On another note, there are a bunch of sellers stripping down broken outboards and selling the parts. It's a pig-in-a-poke, of course, but sometimes that's where to find an impossible to get part. You have to read between the lines.<br /><br />If you see a corroded, junky-looking part and the seller describes it as in good condition, you know the seller is blowing smoke. On the other hand, if you see someone parting out a motor and that person explains why, then the parts you buy that aren't what broke may be just fine. You have to ask questions.<br /><br />You can't see the motor in person. You can't run it. So...you read the description, ask questions, and make a decision. As-is is As-is. If the description doesn't tell you enough, ask.<br /><br />There are some sellers of outboards who sell them a dozen at a time. Read their feedback. Their customers are happy. Obviously they're people who are gathering old outboards, putting them back in running condition, and selling them.<br /><br />If some Joe Blow is selling one outboard and you look at their other auctions and find they're selling all sorts of garage sale junk, then take another look and think again.<br /><br />OTOH, if you see the outboard in a photo, running in a tank, then it runs. The reputable outboard sellers do that. The Joe Blows don't. They say things like "I didn't try to start it." Warning sign! Or "It should run with a little work." Warning sign.<br /><br />Photo of the thing in a tank, running. Good sign!

 

[luvsfishing]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

One other option for using eBay to purchase an outboard, is to limit your search to your local area, or that which is drivable for you. This accomplishes a few things: 1. you get to see what you are buying before you bid. 2. you can avoid the high cost of having your engine shipped to you. 3. You might meet a fellow boater and make a new friend. <br /><br />I purchased my motor on eBay, and limited my search to where I live. I found a motor that didn't run for $200. I spent about $300 more for parts, including accessories like cables and a shifter. I spent several afternoons or evenings with a friend that has worked on outboards, and I now have a nice running engine.

 

[jvb]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

i have just listed my old merc with problems on ebay. after getting tired of misleading information, i tried to be as fair, honest, and informative as possible. the ebay item is here: ebay <br /><br />check it out and let me know what you think about the listing. anything else that should have been considered?

 

[SeaJayacas]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

"Photo of the thing in a tank, running. Good sign!"<br /><br />I guess that none of these sellers will be posting a picture of another similar engine and using that to convince bidders that the engine with the blown power head they are trying to sell runs.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

Your opinion of the folks who sell on eBay is pretty low, it seems. Yes, I suppose someone might do what you say, but I haven't heard of it. Reading the feedback on these regular outboard sellers seems to indicate that their buyers are pretty happy with their deals.<br /><br />Sure, there are some bad eggs out there, but I sure haven't encountered one of them on eBay, and I've bought a lot of stuff there.<br /><br />I've also sold a lot of items...all exactly as described.<br /><br />My suggestion is that people who don't trust eBay sellers should probably not buy things on eBay. Seems simple enough, and cuts down on the number of people bidding against me. A win-win situation, I'd say.

 

[jvb]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

i have bought a ton of stuff on ebay without any problem. just never had any luck with outboards. here is the best example: seller had 100% feedback rating. auction stated the motor was "engine runs good as new" "The motor is in very good condition and everything works right" in reality, there was a lot of oil leaking from the lower unit. it would make a bad grinding sound when starting. in the first couple minutes of use, it would slam in and out of gear, and soon the lower unit seized up.<br /><br />what i have learned is not to buy a motor from somebody who doesnt regularly sell motors. both cases of headaches came from previous owners who really didnt know anything about motors, and this was their first one sold on ebay. they probably thought, 'this thing is not on fire so it must be prefect condition.' there certainly are better sellers to deal with on ebay. CA, i am sure you know a heck of a lot more than most of the others on ebay and you would be more honest in the auction, and have a better sense of the 'real' condition of the motor. anyways, i may buy again from ebay, but only from people who do this regularly.

 

[monoshock]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

CATransplant <br />If you don’t mind , what’s your user name on EBay? <br />Do you have any items for sell?<br />I've been selling "stuff" sence 2000.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

my ebay mane is myoutboards, im not scared to say it.

 

[bigNATE®]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

I was looking at that merc lastnight & bid on it but didnt hit the reserve

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

ebay experiences good and bad.........<br /><br />I've been buying and selling on ebay in the UK for a while now and have had mainly good experiences and a fantastic experience recently! But the bad ones aaarrrggh!!<br /><br />1. Bought an old 40 Evinrude with electric start described as "runs but dies after a minute or two and I know nothing about engines..." etc etc etc<br />Bought it, went to collect it and found it was a back street outboard dealer Wasn't given a chance to even look at the engine as it was loaded into the car by two goons. Got it home lifted the lid and discovered very little.....left of it that it is! Starter motor missing, fuel pump missing, electrical connections cut, hoses missing. Seller said "sold as seen pal!" Now hearing horror stories about the seller (anybody in UK want to know who then email me!).<br /><br />2. Recently sold a mint 25 Merc with electric start and remotes. On the morning the auction ended I had a bidder come around and check the motor over. Started it from cold for him (started first time every time!) and decided to take photographs of it running/peeing etc and also decided to put the date/time stamp on the photos. Another bidder won the engine then contacted me two weeks later to say he'd just started the engine and the impellor had failed. I had the proof in the photos that when sold the engine was perfect. I suspect that he ran it dry first before taking it down to his boat! Cover your back if you can.<br /><br />3. Bid on a boat and engine last week; a RIB and an Evinrude 25 that had been in storage since 1976/77. Went and looked at the boat/engine before the end of the auction: it was immaculate! It was like time had stood still. seller had described it as "all the seams are deteriorating" when what he actually meant was "the glue holding the makers badge on has come loose"!!!! Boat holds air perfect, all the bonding is perfect and the engine started first time (after careful prepping) and purrs like a kitten!!!! Cost for an immaculate showroom condition 4 metre RIB and a 25 almost new Evinrude and a trailer that looks like it never saw the water??? £820 or $440 (US) !!!! I'd say a bit of bargain? <br /><br />Good and bad in all walks of life, but like others have said: do your research, know what you're looking at, and walk away if it smells at all!

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

So YOU're the guy that got that flatacraft!How jammy are you? I did have a good look at the advert and I was sorely tempted to bid on it, but the searider came up on the day the flatacraft was due to end-and I couldn't really say no to a 4m searider on a rollercoaster trailer that had most of the air in it from 5 years ago and an A-frame on it for £150... I didn't even have to pump up the tyres...Once I put a proper centre console in and an engine on it'll owe me under £1200.<br /><br />I've sold a couple of motors on Ebay myself saying "don't know if it'll run but can't see why not" simply because my flush muffs wouldn't fit and I don't have a tank so I couldn't try and run them. Never had any complaints yet-but then I always added "should be viewed as possible spares or repairs" at the end. <br />I had one of them go up to silly money and the guy turned up and said "have I got a bargain?"<br />I just said "I have absolutely no idea! "<br />At the end of the day, you can only be honest about it-if someone's gonna bid silly money then that's up to them.<br /><br />Bro, I'd like to know who that backstreet dealer is-let me know please? Can't email through here.

 

[reddog349]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

jvb - You are going to take a gamble anytime you buy on ebay even if the seller has 100% feedback . For a larger purchase id buy from sellers you can pick up item (local) , test before you pay , and be sure to ask questions! <br /> I myself have a 85 1973 johnson for sale on ebay but I listed it as is for part or repair because it was a estate sale purchase and I am no mechanic .

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

By the way, has anyone noticed quite how many ebay sellers blatantly make ridiculous claims about the age of the motor they are selling? Ebay UK sellers all seem to think that ALL 4cyl 50hp mercs are mid 80's-and there's a 60's 40hp Johnson on there that the guy's claiming is 1980's too.

 

[rg33]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

I havew been buying on ebay for a few years and for high dollar items or items with shipping concerns, buy within your driving distance. If you get there and it is not what is stated, walk away. Leave the feedback alone unless the seller attacks you then reply about the false condition of the item.<br /><br />just my 2 cents spent

 

[wildbill59]

Re: freakin ebay motors......

Bought a Merc 50hp 4 stroke in June off a guy in Cape Cod who said it was low hours. Yes it still had the break-in oil in it. Problem was it sat for 3 years and seller said he would dewinterize it.When I got it wouldn't idle worth shlitz. Bottom carb out of the 4 carbs was full of 3 year old fuel and the rest had old fuel crystals in the bowls. Cost me nuttin to fix except my time cleaning them up. I now know my motor very well and can syncro the 4 carbs. I got a good deal on the price. Imagine a dealer would have got $600 to rebuild them. If I did it again I would see it in person and watch it run.<br />I just sent off my 95" merc 25 hp to a lucky buyer in MI. Second place bidder only lived 20 miles away but never asked to see motor.Guy that won it is getting a motor that never left me stranded. Will it do the same for him? I dunno, it's a 10 year old motor and used stuff does break. If you aren't mechanically inclined buy new and have the fall back of the warranty. Personally I like to take apart and fix stuff, problem is sometimes I have spare parts left over. Life is good