So, a guy on rx7club posted a sales ad for many NOS 80s Mazda Rx-7 wheels, still in their boxes. There were different varieties but no complete sets except for a set of base model phone dials. Well the guy was asking stupid money, $300 for the set of phone dials, which are not desirable except with weirdos like me who like 80s-ness and who are in love OEM Mazda parts. The other wheels were $50-$75 each.
He got no interest because the prices were too high. But I asked him if the phone dials came with the center caps because his photo didn't show them and I know that NOS Mazda wheels from that era come with caps and valve stems. He responded: "They did. They are all probably soda cans by now. Had to get them out of the shop. Sold."
WTF! What a waste of OEM NOS parts! Could the guy not have tried lowering the price just a bit before taking them to the recycler? The worst thing is that the guy is in my area and I really could have used those phone dials for my GC 626 project. I probably would have paid $150 or so if the guy had started out more reasonable, but no, he has to start with a stupid-high price and then abruptly scrap them without lowering his asking price.
UGH.
you've got a pretty good life going if that's the biggest problem you've got to deal with..
wanna hear about the solid 64 Impala convertible my cousins and i absolutely trashed for no reason 20 years ago? or all the solid old Chevelles, Monte Carlos, and Camaros that we tore apart and scrapped for no real reason around that same time?
or maybe this one will get your attention- all the solid mid to late 80's Subarus, Toyotas, Mazdas and Hondas that we used as ditch jumpers and midnight demo derby cars?
I have a friend who often starts conversations with sellers who are selling something he is interested in even if the asking price is ridiculous. I typically don't bother unless it is a screaming deal and then I run out and buy it RIGHT NOW! 
I get good deals because I'm psychotic, he gets good deals because when they finally get tired of holding on to their grossly overpriced stuff he is there to help take it off of their hands for a reasonably low price. I am far too emotionally driven in purchases, I have been trying to be more like him. But then again-I just got a good deal on a 911 and he didn't. 
I haven't checked the price on clean aluminum scrap lately, bu he might not have been too far off minumum price- if he can load a bunch of aluminum into the truck, and sell it all in one place, for half the value he would have gotten by selling them to weirdos one at a time....Not that I'm calling you a weirdo or anything, but you do frequent this board...
Sorry, a few years ago I was ("that guy") sitting on about 50+ wheels for Mid 80's Chrysler K-cars. Tried to sell them for a little more than scrap and no bites. So I loaded them up and cashed them in $$$$.
You cant even find aluminum wheels at the junkyard easily anymore since they scrap most of them. I dont get it, because I asked someone who scrapped wheels regularly (as far as i know only unusable ones), and he said they are only worth $20-$30 a set.
Datsun1500 wrote:
You're mad because he sold his property to someone else instead of lowering his price to what you think is reasonable? Wow.
It was his to sell to whomever, for whatever price. He was not holding on to them for you.....
Yeah, "wow." I'm such a retard for thinking that the guy might have lowered his price to somewhere between $300 and the ~$40 he got scrapping them. And "wow" I'm such a retard for being upset that rare 26 year old NOS parts that are never going to be made again were turned into pop cans for a fraction of the money the guy could have gotten had he actually made an effort to adjust down to the market value.
Grizz
Dork
4/25/12 1:15 a.m.
In reply to Travis_K:
AFAIK, scrapyards go by weight for aluminium wheels, so 20-30 per set might be close given the size of them and the price of aluminium.
Not really worth it if you can get more selling them.
They sell the sets for wheels for between $80 and $200(the ones they keep), but scrap most. $20-$30 per set was the average price a used tire dealer told me he got for scrapping unusable ones that he had. Thats why I dont understand.
Here in Flint I get $15-$30 per aluminum wheel at the scrap dealer. My Miata had a new set of Prime 15" wheels when I bought it. I tried selling them for $40 each or $140 for the set. A week later, after no one wanted them, I got $89 at the scrapper.
Come on now, it's not like JamesMcD is saying the guy did anything unethical or anything, he's just venting. Yes it's within reason for the guy to have scrapped the wheels, but it's also within reason to lament the loss of them.
Datsun1500 wrote:
JamesMcD wrote:
Yeah, "wow." I'm such a retard for thinking that the guy might have lowered his price to somewhere between $300 and the ~$40 he got scrapping them.
Why should he have to? They were his. He could toss them in the trash if he wanted. He put a $300 value on his time for the hassle of selling them, you were not willing to pay that amount.
JamesMcD wrote:
And "wow" I'm such a retard for being upset that rare 26 year old NOS parts that are never going to be made again were turned into pop cans for a fraction of the money the guy could have gotten had he actually made an effort to adjust down to the market value.
If they were that rare, you could have stepped up to the $300. If I am selling something you want, it is not up to me to come down to whatever price YOU think they are worth. If you don't like my "over market" price, don't buy them.
I see nothing wrong with what the guy did. His time was worth more than the $150 you were willing to pay. You said he got no bites because they were overpriced how long did you wait before offering $150? Did you ever offer $150? If they sat in his shop for a week with no offers, off they go to the scrap guy.
Id be disappointed as well. He didn't do anything criminal, but its still a bummer. I don't see why we need to be hard on JamesMcD about this.
Joey
joey48442 wrote:
Datsun1500 wrote:
JamesMcD wrote:
Yeah, "wow." I'm such a retard for thinking that the guy might have lowered his price to somewhere between $300 and the ~$40 he got scrapping them.
Why should he have to? They were his. He could toss them in the trash if he wanted. He put a $300 value on his time for the hassle of selling them, you were not willing to pay that amount.
JamesMcD wrote:
And "wow" I'm such a retard for being upset that rare 26 year old NOS parts that are never going to be made again were turned into pop cans for a fraction of the money the guy could have gotten had he actually made an effort to adjust down to the market value.
If they were that rare, you could have stepped up to the $300. If I am selling something you want, it is not up to me to come down to whatever price YOU think they are worth. If you don't like my "over market" price, don't buy them.
I see nothing wrong with what the guy did. His time was worth more than the $150 you were willing to pay. You said he got no bites because they were overpriced how long did you wait before offering $150? Did you ever offer $150? If they sat in his shop for a week with no offers, off they go to the scrap guy.
Id be disappointed as well. He didn't do anything criminal, but its still a bummer. I don't see why we need to be hard on JamesMcD about this.
Joey
because he came across as more than a little bit whiny and like he thought that the guy owed it to the old car community to preserve the parts for their historical value..
dculberson wrote:
Come on now, it's not like JamesMcD is saying the guy did anything unethical or anything, he's just venting. Yes it's within reason for the guy to have scrapped the wheels, but it's also within reason to lament the loss of them.
I agree. I am sure we have all seen the collectable old car sitting in the field with the owner refusing to sell because he's going to restore it one day and then it just decays to dust over the next 20 years only to be dragged away and crushed in the end. Not exactly the same thing but the same premise. Sure they were his wheels and he could do as he pleases but I believe it's better to save and restore versus crushing, especially ones as nice as these. If there is a collector that wants/needs them even more reason to save them. I feel for JamesMcD........I have been in the same position myself.
Here is a trick I've learned, "Your 300$ asking price is very fair but in this economy I can offer you 150$, thank you and good luck with the sale." Works wonders for me.
I don't remember the last time I saw an aluminum rim at the junkyard. They break the rims and tires separately then sell the used tires and must scrap the rims, hell if I know.
I took a long wheel base GMC 2500 full of alloy wheels to the recyclers yesterday. I got $2315.70 for 62 wheels.
We are going to have a pizza party
John Brown wrote:
I took a long wheel base GMC 2500 full of alloy wheels to the recyclers yesterday. I got $2315.70 for 62 wheels.
We are going to have a pizza party
Just out of curiosity...........where did you come up with 62 wheels? That will buy a lot of pizza!
In reply to Feedyurhed:
Mason, MI is only like 30 miles from Detroit. 
Brett_Murphy wrote:
In reply to Feedyurhed:
Mason, MI is only like 30 miles from Detroit.
What does Mason have to do with this thread? I grew up in a neighboring town. :)
Travis_K wrote:
You cant even find aluminum wheels at the junkyard easily anymore since they scrap most of them. I dont get it, because I asked someone who scrapped wheels regularly (as far as i know only unusable ones), and he said they are only worth $20-$30 a set.
i just got $80 for a set of wheels off an '89 SHO
Be nice and others will be nice to you.
Datsun is doing it right
