"Smithers" Yes, Smithers is not my real name. wrote
Why would someone buy a big ticket item on Ebay?

Because they wanted it, and had the money? Why does anybody
buy anything?

.... It appears that the
sellers want to sell their product at market pricing and it really isn't
an auction. It seems the Reserve Prices have not been meet on the boats
listed now.


That's true. For the last few years there has been a glut of
storm-damaged boats, most of which should be stripped &
chainsawed up for the landfill. And boats that are in
reasonable condition are usually given unreasonably high
reserves.



Does anyone have any personal knowledge of people who have purchased cars
and/or boats via Ebay or similar auction service?



William Andersen wrote:
I don't know if I'd buy a big ticket item, but I did buy something for over
$800, so maybe I would.

I bought a windlass, but that was from a regular on-line
marketer who used EBay as an outlet. A good deal IMHO.

I have a friend who bought a military ambulance (the old square design) to
use for a mobile communications center in his volunteer organization.
Another friend bought a Toyota motor home and a gas powered scooter. Both of
them have been satisfied with their purchases.
Shopping eBay is no different than anywhere else: you have to know what a
fair price is and you have to consider the cost of shipping.


Agreed.

I have put down offers on a few boats, always after
carefully asking questions committing the seller to state
the boat's material condition. The last one was a very nice
37 foot racing sloop, the closing price was about 60% of
what similar boats are asking for on YachtWorld.com... in
other words, about what the seller could have gotten & the
buyer paid thur any other channel, minus a brokers commission.

My wife & I have a saying, 'The deal of a lifetime comes
along about once a week.' It would be dumb to buy anything,
from any source, without making an effort to find out what
the market value is.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King