Ebay beat that price!!!

[Specky]

After years of trying to source cracking little deals on eBay I've noticed there are better deals out there, You just need to know where to look.

We already have the cross reference guide, but nothing “like” for “like“.

As an example:-

Ebay Item N/A NON TURBO FRONT PIPE EXHAUST DOWNPIPE B100S0022F buy it now for £299.99, but did you know they are stll available direct from Lotus aftersales for £25 + the dreaded.

A killer saving if you have an N/A. and you'll notice there's one offer pending... It's mine...and you can guess it's less than £25.

You may require advice on an Item that's on Ebay, so what better place to ask. another example is Upper wishbones, a few quid to buy direct from lotus, but sell for high prices on Ebay. The last set on Ebay even had the Aftersale 89 pence price marked on the advert but still sold for a substantial profit. A totally honest seller all the way, may be it was the only way an international buyer could obtain the parts...

Several breakers sell their goods on eBay, but do you know which other breaker also has the goods for a more competitive price, but isn't current advertising.

There is also a lot of recycling, parts that are sold one month only to reappear another at an inflated price. whilst it's your option to purchase these items or not, it may be useful to have a bartering tool in your back pocket.

I'm all for driving down operating costs for the consumer, especially if it keeps more cars on the road, if I were on the other side of the fence I'd have to do my home work. As they say it's a buyers market, you can take it or leave it.....



TTFN

[muley]

..you need to keep your wits about you.

Jim

[Specky]

I'll do a few examples:-

Ebay cooling sticker available cheaper from SJ Lotus £10.16.

Ebay N/A clutch bearing available cheaper from SJ Lotus £43.65, off the top of my head they may even be available from the Aftersales as well.

Ebay Lotus badge available cheaper from SJ Lotus £12.53, also available from the aftersales at £4.99 (They were still available a few months ago, I bought a couple)

Ebay dimmer beats SJ's sort of... , but only £11 on the aftersales.

And that was just one seller.

TTFN

[Specky]

Here's one for the USA

These mirrors have always looked odd from south west Lotus, but that's a whole other story,

UK Ebay Item against USA Ebay Just remember Like for Like doesn't always mean Lotus... OEM is the way forward.

TTFN

[bobbrown]

Mirrors not quite like for like UK new, US used but good
"Buyer beware" springs to mind

Bob

[Specky]

Mirrors not quite like for like UK new, US used but good
"Buyer beware" springs to mind

Bob

I'll get myself one of those 20 year old "new ones"

and If I could have one that's been on the display table for countless shows over the years... that would be grand, you know the ones everyone picks up and says "That's not right"

Only Joshing....

You are quite correct though, It's very "Buyer beware".

TTFN

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Also remember that most of the "NEW" old Elan parts came from one of the AfterSales offers. The interior mirrors were offered for 15 quid. Apparently very few actually thought ahead and bagged a deal from Lotus when parts were cheap.

[inkitin]

The interior mirrors were offered for 15 quid. Apparently very few actually thought ahead and bagged a deal from Lotus when parts were cheap.

To an extent I can see how that is true.

However, the question for me has always been exactly how far do I go in buying "bargains" from the Aftersales List or indeed elsewhere. Taking the interior mirror as an example, there is and has been absolutely nothing wrong with my interior mirror (as far as I know!) so should I have bought one (which I didn't) from the Aftersales List as a "just in case" buy simply because it was at a bargain price? Add to that the number of equally attractive other deals available that I don't currently need and we're talking hundreds or, more likely, thousands of pounds.

It may well be that my interior mirror will "blow up" tomorrow and I will curse myself for not buying one ages ago for a bargain price. There again I will not have spent hundreds or thousands of pounds on other "bargain" parts that I will probably never need, so I'll be able to console myself with that saving.

Ultimately, I'd rather leave parts available for somebody else who has a real need for them.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I see a lot of cars that have had the mirror portion if their rear view mirror turn black. When I first got my elan, there was a lot of discussion on LEC as to the source for replacement mirrors as others also had their mirrors stop working or stop being useful, so I bought one, just "in case".

I was commenting more on those that raid the aftersales lists to then turn the items around for a fairly steep profit. The eBay sellers of the rubber hood seals comes to mind when they were making a huge profit selling what was affordably available to anyone that was paying attention.

I don't condone anyone buying up stock just to make a profit.

It just seems that a lot of LEC members don't seem to notice that the aftersales offering is even available. The parts are getting harder and harder to find every day. When the new parts are gone, there won't be any more. Everyone should try to be proactive in keeping the parts available that they expect to need in the future.

[Specky]

Everyone is singing off the same song sheet.

This is an example of what BRN is saying...

Another exmple:-

Ebay Item 1 against Ebay item 2

But what's the best deal.... neither ...go for the Aftersales Item £17 + VAT and delivered to a dealer of your choice, but if you're an international buyer, "Ebay Item 1" most probably gets it... horses for courses and all that.

it's for us as consumers to keep the prices in check.

TTFN

[nyssa7]

Maybe it's because I'm new, but how does one get to see this aftersales list? I've had a hunt around on here and not stumbled across it

Thanks

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Go to this link: March 2011 Aftersales offer

The link worked a few weeks ago. It has been almost a year since the offer.

If anyone has a link to the actual list, please add it.

(I just did)

[inkitin]

Everyone is singing off the same song sheet.

and if my post came across as anything else I apologise.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

In case the original link is now gone, the list can be found here: Lotus Parts Sale

The Elan M100 parts are in several groups on the list, so look carefully.

You will need to contact Lotus at this email address: lotuspartssalemarch2011(AT)lotuscars(DOT)com to confirm the parts are still available.

[Specky]

Everyone is singing off the same song sheet.

and if my post came across as anything else I apologise.

Don't apologise...It's a sign of weakness

Sorry about that, don't know what came over me... .

BCN your Link works great and gets you to the list etc...

Another one then...

Ebay Item power steering pump A100E6125F £375.00 aftersale £95, but if you're State side the pumps are available for other makes and models, you may have to transpose the green pipe from your old unit to the new unit..

TTFN

[Brit-Car-Nut]

The first link I posted doesn't work with Internet Explorer (at least for me) but it does work with FireFox. That is why I posted the link to the list on my site.

[inkitin]

and if my post came across as anything else I apologise.

Don't apologise...It's a sign of weakness

Sorry about that, don't know what came over me... .

Not wanting to be left out of this, how about:

Ebay Km/h Speedometer - Aftersales just £15! (the MPH version is also £15!)

[nyssa7]

Go to this link: March 2011 Aftersales offer

The link worked a few weeks ago. It has been almost a year since the offer.

If anyone has a link to the actual list, please add it.

(I just did)

Many thanks

[Brit-Car-Nut]

They were still available last week. Just about everything on the list was still available.

[racerstev]

Here's one for the USA

These mirrors have always looked odd from south west Lotus, but that's a whole other story,

UK Ebay Item against USA Ebay Just remember Like for Like doesn't always mean Lotus... OEM is the way forward.

TTFN

I just bought that mirror from Sounthwest, my old one was turning black. I did a bit of shopping
around and this turned out to be the best deal between SJ and Dave Bean.

I'd pass on another 20 year old mirror even at that good price..


What do you mean it looks odd?

Steve