I am always looking at what is selling and what is being bought,
I do a bulk of my Escort buying there,I also sell stuff too,
but I think this guy in W.A. has just found a way to include carbon tax + 20%,
I won't buy nor bid on unrealistic prices but over 2,500 others have,
Whats your thoughts?

And ebay aquired Gumtree some time ago. They must make some profits from 'highlighted' listings and ad banners. Gumtree is awesome

it seems if people are just selling their old stuff it is really cheap but these guys who do it as a business have ludicrous prices for their stuff. I guess thats why you keep seeing the same things relisted month after month for huge prices.
 I still laugh at that switch panel for $300+. Im sure thats at a wreckers so they should know better. When the muscle car boom hit a few years back it seemed like everyone jumped on ebay to sell any old stuff they had lying around for big money, like just because some item was made in the 70's its now collectable and worth a mint.
Im into fender guitars, and any guitar over 10-15 years old is advertised as "vintage"with a price to match!  What a joke
Whooligan, I may be in contact with you in the future for one of those switch panels....

Look at this item number on UK ebay,
Mk2 Escort fuse box cover, 290756482181
delivered to your front door for $20.75aust
and $49.00 plus here in Aust.
always worth a look at UK ebay

Jaycees always worth a look at UK ebay

I priced up new plugs for the Zetec today.. Last time I paid $20 per plug. Today, the best price I could get was $25 per plug from Repco. On ebay uk they are 20 pounds including postage to Aus for a set of four Exact same part number and brand...
 
I had the same thing with buying a new oxygen sensor.. The same brand and part number was about 50% more than I could have bought on the net (including postage). Same with ARP bolts.. Its hard to believe really..
 
andrew

I needed a condensor for the distributor and Repco & Bursons wanted $45 each.
 
I got it delivered from UK  for $15AUD.
 
Sadly, the only reason to buy in Oz is if you need something straight away of you need back up service on big ticket items.
 
Matt

I  too would love to buy Australian but at 3 times the price why would you? 
 
Matt

Matt75 at 3 times the price why would you? 

I would if I got 3x the service. There used to be a local parts store near me, and they had 99% of escort parts in stock. If they didn't, they could get anything in within 1-2 days. I didn't mind if I paid a bit more, because it took no effort. I could go in, ask for something and they would find it. They good with non standard items, or alternatives (good for someone who is tinkering with non standard gear). Unfortunately they got pushed out by Repco and Auto One stores opening about 200m away.
 
Repco just ask you what car its off, and if their computer doesn't show it they can't help. So its usually easier just to check the net, and find it on ebay.
 
Andrew
 

I agree, it's albout building a relationship with someone you can trust and then the cost isn't really an issue (within reason)
 
But these days you are nearly forced to go to one of the big chains as most small guys are gone and have to deal with a pimple faced teen who just stares blankly at you whilst trying to find what you are asking for in half a dozen catalogues then say
"sorry mate will have to order it in but you need to pay for it first".
 
Matt

A mate recently needed new tyres for his four wheel drive.
He couldn't afford the $2400 demanded from aussie tyre companies.
So he jumped on the net and bought the tyres from a tyre company in Utah USA.
He tracked their transit.
They landed at his front door in Sydney in less than 3 days from ordering and paying for them. And one day of this was lost as they waited in Customs in Sydney.
He saved several hundred dollars and they were the latest current technology tyres in the USA, not 5 year old technology offered (dumped) by local resellers. 
 
Last Sunday's Sydney Sunday Telegraph quoted a number of industries that would be nearly none existant in 5 to 10 years. Retail was on the list.