I recently posted a want ad on one of the early Ford sites. I was looking for a pair of Model A roadster subrails. I knew that finding decent used rails might be tough but a fellow from Michigan called and said he had some. He apologized for not having a digital camera so he couldn't send pics. We agreed on a price and I gave him my address and told him to let me know the shipping charges and I would send him a MO. He told me that he was heading toward the UPS office anyway so he would just send them to me. Told me to look them over and send him the money later. And that's what he did. That got me to thinking that I've done the same with car parts that I've sold. And over the years I've received plenty of parts to examine and send the money later. I know I'm not alone here. A friend told me that somebody once sent him a 4" Merc crank to make sure it was as described. I've been around old cars and parts for a long time. I don't really deal in any other commodities--no other hobbies. Is this only an old car thing? I think it says a lot for the old car hobby and the people involved with it. It begs the question: What have you received to inspect before sending the $$$?
Bumper brackets from a Comet specialty shop somewhere in Long Island, and he threw in a missing "t" emblem for free. I think it's just a matter of these guys 'get it' most of the time. I've definitely had more positive experiences in general with people because of owning or working on old cars than bad (a-hole neighbor across the street who finally moved away being an exception).
I arranged a trade over the internet and few phone calls. I had a long AEE springer front end I didn't want and a guy on the east coast had a new 21" Harley front wheel that I wanted. We made an agrreement and I boxed up my springer and shipped it. A week or so later I got my wheel. All either of us had was tracking numbers and trust.
The Jalopy Journal
