We listed our Oregon Trailer 2012 FronTear on EBay!

[legojenn]

You should look at the bid history. It looks like someone is trying to manipulate the results. One bidder with no feedback history has bid six times, bumping out the bid price at least three times on themselves.

[oregonguy]

You should look at the bid history. It looks like someone is trying to manipulate the results. One bidder with no feedback history has bid six times, bumping out the bid price at least three times on themselves.

Hmmm... Could they be hunting for the reserve? I don't have a whole lot experience selling on eBay... Should we be concerned?

Jon

[jfocallag]

I looked at your ad on Ebay. From someone who knew nothing about trailers or towing before I bought mine, when I looked at trailers, I paid attention to weight and tongue weight. I did not see any of that information on the ad. I think you might want to post this in the ad as well as example of cars/small SUVs that would be capable of towing it. If someone just happened to stumble on the ebay listing, having this information might just sow the seeds of an eventual bid and/or purchase.

Good luck. Looks like a beautiful teardrop. Hopefully, I will have an opportunity to see it at a gathering.

[Roly Nelson]

Jon, as the octogenarian that I am, I am sorry but can't recall our meeting at the IRG, sorry about that. However, I do want to share a cost-related story regarding my, kind-of-different little woody. I totally agree, that many folks can't relate to the countless hours many builders spend, building an absolutely individualy designed teardrop, often resulting in a great camping unit, to their own liking. I have spent some time at custom car shows where I have been invited to come and share my trailer. (which, by the way, I love!)

An elderly little ol' lady happened by, and was truley taken with my assembled pile of wood and varnish. She said, and I quote, "This is exactly the kind of trailer that I would like to have, and I would like to know how much you would charge me to build one, exactly like this one." I tried to explain to her that I was an old retired codger, who built this thing as a hobby, to keep me off of the couch and out of the bars, and wouldn't be interested in building another one. Oh, my gosh, she reacted as though she had been slapped in the face! Her following comment, will stick with me forever.

"Oh come now, mister, everyone has their price, so just tell me how much you would charge me, to build another trailer, just like this one". Now, being a caring and loving teardropper, far be it from me to put this old gal down, and belittle her for her obvious, almost demanding order, that I go to work for her, as she expected. (and this is the part that I really love).

My reply to her, as close as I can remember was; "OK, I understand your interest and know that you expect me to do your bidding, but I am afraid I can't do that for you. So, how much do you think a little old retired man's time is worth, working 8 or 10 hours a day for a half of a year, for a perfect stranger, who doesn't know how much longer his candle is going to burn? Please understand, that there would now be TWO, absolutely identical woody teardrops? Do you want to start at, let's say, Fifty thousand dollars"? She was shocked, and countered, with the fact that it was more than she had paid for her motorhome. That ended the conversation, and she stomped off in a huff.

So, hang in there, and do continue to build quaility trailers, which there will always be a demand for. I must tell you, if I had the bucks, there is no way that I would be camping in my little rig with 1/4 inch sides, that is liable to turn into a bunch of cornflakes when it rains. I contend that quality built trailers, are what will continue to make our rigs popular and always be in demand. Just you watch, as the economy continues to faulter, folks with the bucks, will be buying more and more of our, simple, cost effective, comfortable, cozy camping units. Long live these trailers from the past.
Roly, the li'l ol' So Cal woody teardrop guy, planning to celebrate my 100th B-day in my trailer.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Hmmm... Could they be hunting for the reserve? I don't have a whole lot experience selling on eBay... Should we be concerned?

Jon

Yup that's the best way to find the reserve.

They were also placing bids against another person who had already place a higher bid the day before, therefore the higher bid won every time. That's part of eBay's Automatic Bidding System.

I have seen a lot of higher-price auctions have a few disclaimers in their ads:

1) Bidders with a feedback rating less than X need to contact the selller before placing bids
(X usually = 5 or 10)

2) Deposit of $XXX is required within 24 hours of the end of auction
($XXX usually around $500-$1000)

Check out some ebay car ads and such, and you'll see what I mean. Might not be a bad idea to do if your trailer doesnt meet reserve or if you put up another sometime.


Great looking teardrop!! Good luck with the sale!

[oregonguy]

jfocallag - You're right. Looks like we did fail to post the weight. I'll try and get on there and edit the description soon. Oops...I knew we forgot something

biziedizie & Zach(absolutsnwbrdr) - I think you're both right, reserve sniffing and auto rebids to get above another bidder. Zach - The bidder/buyer 24 hr deposit thing sounds like a winning idea.

Roly - We've met at the last two IRG's actually This last time at the 4.0, we had our three year old daughter with us. We were camped in the "Jefferson State Tearjerkers area", near my parents Ron and Olga Christianson, and over by Grant and Kay... Anyway, no problem. There are a ton of people at the IRG's, and it's not like we had a two hour conversation or anything...I'll make sure and introduce myself in some kind of memorable fashion next time...not sure how, but I'll think of something.

[oregonguy]

I personally from feel that with all the sniffing going around from perspective buyers its a good thing. I deal with E-bay a lot and it seems that the more the interest the better as there always seems to be a bidding war that goes on.
I think you're going to get a good price for your trailer as the price isn't that far fetched when it comes to the work that's gone in to it.

Thanks! Well here's hoping your right. We'll just have to wait and see how things progress I guess. My hunch is that it will probably hang at about where it's at for a while...then hopefully jump again at the end of the auction...

[bcsnave]

Guys very nice job and better than what we get here in the mid-west (you know where I live). I threw a bid in for it and we'll see where it goes.

[oregonguy]

Guys very nice job and better than what we get here in the mid-west (you know where I live). I threw a bid in for it and we'll see where it goes.

It would be totally great for somebody on the forum to get it! I wish you the best of luck with your bid. If you o win, you have to promise to stay in touch through the forum.

[Redgloves]

Guys very nice job and better than what we get here in the mid-west (you know where I live). I threw a bid in for it and we'll see where it goes.

bcsnave: To provide some background: Oregon Trailers benefitted from a lot of advice from Camp Inn while they were starting their company. The boys Dad (Ron) owns a Camp Inn and participates in the CI forum (not enough). Don't know if he will switch brands to support his sons.

Camp Inn gladly provided information because they believe the assistance supports the teardrop industry.

Jean

[oregonguy]

Hi Everybody. Just about 9 hrs left on the auction! Price hasn't moved for a while now, but I think that is pretty normal for the middle range of the auction. There are over 60 people watching it... and over 2000 views! Hopefully that means there will be a bit of a flurry of activity right at the end...fingers crossed.

RedGloves - Credit where credit is due, Camp Inn did help us with a couple of things, and were really cool about it. The main thing is the door trim. They designed a very nice Aluminum extrusion for doors that we really like. Cary was very helpful in guiding us through modifying our door shape slightly to allow it to work with their trim product...Which again is a very nice product, and allows our doors to really compliment our profile. We also bought the stainless steel sink from them, which is a very nice product, and reasonably priced too.

Thanks again everybody for helping us spread the work about the auction. I hope it all pays off as the auction comes to a close tonight!

[The Teardrop Nanny]

You boys have primo teardrops. Absolutely exemplify what fantastic products come out as a labor of love,
and the ability to provide high quality trailers to those in the market. Best wishes over the holiday solstice sale.
Say hi to the folks for me. xoxo JSC -TDN




P.S. Roly....they are some of the members of the tiny lights cult.

[oregonguy]

Sold! A very nice gentelman in New Jersey placed the winning bid. Maybe he'll choose to attend some of the east coast gatherings with it.

[jfocallag]

Congratulations!

[Vedette]

Hey Steve
As an eBayer it is easy to get that info. Ending bid price shows $14,000.00
If you look at the "Bid History" you will see that there were only 2 real bidders until the 3rd and final bidder placed his bid with 11 seconds left in the auction to win it.
o***l was the "shill" to run the bid up to the reserve they were looking for.
Very well played Auction and they obviously got exactly the price they were looking for!
Congratulations to them for not only producing a very nice product, but for using a well thought out marketing sceme.
Good Roads
Brian
*Future note: Even though the "shill" is easy to spot, most sellers use at least "Two" and always use someone with a previous bid history with eBay.
Not someone with (0) transactions to there name.