My first experience buying parts from "A Porsche Enthusiast"

I have a 996. I bought it to commute to work and pickup my kids from school and because my wife suggested it after reminding me of a promise I made to myself when I started paying my student loans. If 996s ever command AC Porsche prices or status, it will long after I'm dead and my car is dead (hopefully not happening at the same time). My car gets rained on and I drive on damp soil occasionally. My kids left Pop-Tart crumbs inside it and birds strafe it nearly everyday because it's parked in my driveway.

I was going to build myself an LED third brake light, so I found a used one for the experiment. You can buy an LED light, but they require an external resistor so the cruise control works. Why even bother with an LED light? Porsche used six or seven small incandescent bulbs originally. They're dim, they burn out causing CC problem, and the light housing can't handle opening and closing... and this is GRM, so you know why I'll make my own.

Anyway, the seller of the used light is asking what I think is a reasonable price for the light, but his shipping quote is equal to 1/3 of the light price. It weighs less than a pound and would easily fit on a flat rate box. So, I offer to pay his full price if he picks up the shipping.

His response: "If you need this light for your car; you can afford this light at this price." I don't think I've encountered a DB of his variety before and I told him that. Unsolicited, he then let me know (with year and model) that he owned three Porsches and as you might guess, they weren't 914s, 924s, or 944s. He also informed me of the PCA slogan, adding that "It's the weirdos like you that are going cheap for the cars." This coming from a guy that won't spring for <$10 worth of shipping. I know all Porsche owners aren't buffoons, but I feel like I just met the guy that started the stereotype.

Rant over and I'm off to put mudflaps on my 308GTB.

I might have taken a higher road with, "No, looks like I DON'T need YOUR light. GOOD DAY, SIR!"

Apis Mellifera wrote: I'm off to put mudflaps on my 308GTB.

I hope you told him that.

In his defense, it takes time to box up parts and get them to the post office. If it were up to me, when I sell a part, I'd just drop the part off at the UPS store and the buyer could pay for the boxing up. I have parted out many cars over the years. People ask for all kinds of parts. Some are too difficult to ship, and some are just not worth my time to even unbolt from the car and box up. My time has value, and I can only assume someone who owns 3 Porsches thinks his time is even more valuable. My defense is moot because he's probably a shiny happy person anyway.

when I was selling parts.. I never took a "profit" from shipping. It just seemed a slimy way to weasel a few more bucks out of the buyer..

I guess it depends on how much the light is before shipping. $50? $100? Sort of makes a difference when asking a seller to eat the shipping costs. Personally, I use pre-paid USPS Priority Mail boxes whenever I can and when I do I always list the price as "includes shipping in lower 48" since I know what the shipping will cost and can factor it into my asking price (this all generally applies to bike parts I've been selling on Facebook).

Otherwise, I agree - the seller is being a bit of a prick. I'd probably tell him to pound sand and buy the light from elsewhere unless even with shipping it's far cheaper than you've found. Granted, if the price is good - or it's a hard to find part - I generally don't quibble about shipping in the first place. Bearing in mind most P-car owners are not GRM types...

I could be mistaken, but when he asks what you think is a reasonable price, that sounds like the opening to a round of negotiations? Maybe my grasp on the English language is not very good since I've only spoken it for 43 out of the 43 years I've been alive.

Apis Mellifera wrote: Rant over and I'm off to put mudflaps on my 308GTB.

That would have been an amazing way to end that conversation.

Sounds like the kind of person who bought into a mystique rather than buying a car.

Apis Mellifera wrote: I'm off to put mudflaps on my 308GTB.

Every brand has a sector of its following that are like that. The usually hold there own events and stand around looking down at the rest of the world. I bet it is a very lonely place to be.. ..

DrBoost wrote: I could be mistaken, but when he asks what you think is a reasonable price, that sounds like the opening to a round of negotiations? Maybe my grasp on the English language is not very good since I've only spoken it for 43 out of the 43 years I've been alive.

No, I'm the one that thought his price was reasonable for the price. He never attempted to negotiate - just offered tongue clucking and finger wagging.

I'm an out-the-door-price kind of guy so I tend to inquire about clearly padded shipping when a seller has shipping itemized.

Part of the fun (for me) in buying and selling second hand is the haggling. Some people can't handle it. This guy was down right offended that I asked if he was firm on the price. It went down hill from there.

PS: For the record, I don't actually have a 308.

Appleseed wrote: I might have taken a higher road with, "No, looks like I DON'T need YOUR light. GOOD DAY, SIR!"

I would've said "This may surprise you, but while I do need this light for my car, I have no interest in paying that price for it. Goodbye."

Some people show a sudden willingness to haggle when I use similar lines on them.

I think a part of the population gets where they are by being competitive shiny happy people. Most don't know how to turn it off or consider all interactions as a win/lose proposition. Anything goes so attempting to shame or goad a buyer into his price that was roughly a third higher than you wanted to pay would be par for the course. You see this behavior a lot with BMW, Porsche, Mercedes...

Apis Mellifera wrote: He also informed me of the PCA slogan, adding that "It's the weirdos like you that are going cheap for the cars." This coming from a guy that won't spring for <$10 worth of shipping. I know all Porsche owners aren't buffoons, but I feel like I just met the guy that started the stereotype.

This is the part that galled me. It seems like his attitude, and the attitude of the PCA, is that shopping for a good price is somehow a negative against you as an enthusiast?

A motorcycle friend of mine bought a 928 years ago. He mentioned that at PCA events he had 911 owners look down their nose at him for having a V8 in the front of his Porsche as opposed to a flat 6 in the back.

That turned me off to Porsche clubs...well...since then. I like the idea of owning a 996 but would be completely disinterested in that level of snobbery.

Maybe it's time to start a regular guy's Porsche club? There has to be more out there...

Xceler8x wrote:

Apis Mellifera wrote: He also informed me of the PCA slogan, adding that "It's the weirdos like you that are going cheap for the cars." This coming from a guy that won't spring for <$10 worth of shipping. I know all Porsche owners aren't buffoons, but I feel like I just met the guy that started the stereotype.

This is the part that galled me. It seems like his attitude, and the attitude of the PCA, is that shopping for a good price is somehow a negative against you as an enthusiast? A motorcycle friend of mine bought a 928 years ago. He mentioned that at PCA events he had 911 owners look down their nose at him for having a V8 in the front of his Porsche as opposed to a flat 6 in the back. That turned me off to Porsche clubs...well...since then. I like the idea of owning a 996 but would be completely disinterested in that level of snobbery. Maybe it's time to start a regular guy's Porsche club? There has to be more out there...

Go on any forum, including this one, and you'll see the same thing with different makes/models/types of driving etc. I own a lot of cars and motorcycles, including various Porsches (air and water), and very rarely do any kind of club stuff because every one always thinks "theirs is better".