Federighi

iTrader: (7)

Hey 8club!

I'm looking for a US-based marketplace that caters to tuner enthusiasts searching for new and used aftermarket and jdm parts at fair and reasonable prices. I've shifted my interests to other hobbies, and my garage is now brimming with new and gently used items that I'm eager to find new homes for.

Admittedly, my online presence is near nonexistent, and I'm not exactly up to speed with the latest trends or tech that comes and goes. Apart from occasionally checking the RX forums, I haven't ventured much into the automotive online world and while I do have an ebay account, it's not my preferred choice, and dealing with it can generally be a headache imo. FB market comes to mind, but I prefer not to support their services and I'm unsure of how effective it actually is.

Having spent years buying and selling in both RX marketplaces, I can say without a doubt that they fall short when it comes to tuner parts and they predominantly serve stock and trendy OEM+ vehicles.

So, here's my question: which US-based marketplace boasts the largest community of tuner enthusiasts eager to purchase top-notch JDM and aftermarket parts online?

I'm not looking to start a competition here, so please approach this question with a helpful spirit, and let's keep any automotive insecurities at bay when responding.

Thanks in advance!

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

I ask because I'm a member on another forum (non automotive) where you have to donate to the site to be able to use their classifieds and imo, this is an excellent policy to have because it really weeds out the tire-kickers. I've always felt this was a great feature for serious sellers and buyers who aren't interested in wasting time unnecessarily, as we all have busy schedules / priorities.

I think this practice would not only enrich the forum classifieds with better cars / parts but also generate site revenue. Let's be honest, there's plenty of room for improvement.

Killawatts

If you are asking if there is a JDM automotive site that bars entry or puts their sales section behind a pay wall, no I don't think that exists, at least not one I've ever heard of. Maybe on the niche vintage stamp collecting forum or whatever you're into that might be a thing, but not in the under $50k automotive scene.

Selling stuff is work. If you aren't willing to put in the time, put everything up for very low prices and it will sell quickly.

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the input! Some excellent points you made and very well put too I might add.

I guess in my dreams there's an enthusiast run site where everyone works to cultivate and support a high standard (content, parts, etc). Maybe something I should try to work with other usdm platforms (FD, MkIV Supra, NSX, EVO, 240sx, etc come to mind) to try and establish. I'm more than positive I'm not the only person who would benefit from such a site and beyond that, that enthusiasts would be overjoyed that such a place now exists to showcase a bunch of interesting items. Because it's sad to say that forums aren't what they used to be, ebay is mostly junk (imo, but lot of truth there) and FB hosts various hive-mind hobby groups of questionable merit.

spectre6000

So you want a BaT, but for parts?

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

Ooh I forgot about that site! Totally spot on. Yes I think a similar site would provide a common place for enthusiasts to buy / sell all kinds of rare + special automotive parts / pieces of history, etc. Thanks for the comment!

RayLavelle

Have you found it?

Meat Head

“It” has always been an elusive quarry. I suspect the OP will continue his quest for the foreseeable future.

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

UnknownJinX

I don't think a website like that will exist, simply because there is little to no room for profit. I'd imagine by the time that you can make a pricing model that can profit from rare auto parts sales, chances are that the price will be so close to new that you are better off just buying a new part unless it's discontinued.

BaT works because there is they get an alright-sized cut for each car sale. 5% cut(w/$250 floor and $5,000 ceiling) +$99 is profitable enough to keep an auction site like BaT running. The only way to run a business based on just used car parts... is a junkyard. Get a wrecked car for cheap, put in the labour to tear out the parts, and make a profit on good used parts.

I will be honest, I will not pay for a used part trading site at all. Chances are, if I am looking for a niche part, nobody is gonna be selling it(or at least, at a reasonable price), and if I am selling a niche part? No one is gonna be needing it for a while. That's why these parts are called niche.

Just sell it on Facebook or eBay. As others mentioned, if you don't want to deal with tire kickers or lowballers then just sell it for cheaper. If you want more money then yeah, you will have to put in more work. It's like selling your car privately vs. selling it to a dealer. The former nets you more cash but you have to do more work. The latter takes the work out of it but you get less cash.

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

You make some good points. I just figured there was enough of a demand from potential buyers / sellers to warrant a single, organized, premium marketplace because imo, the enthusiasts who are willing to purchase + import rare / interesting parts generally won't have an issue with paying a nominal fee to use a service. Like I was saying in my 2nd post, there are niche enthusiast forums out there where you are required to make a small 'donation' to receive certain privileges such as selling in their classifieds, etc. Beyond that, it's generally a free for all of awesome things for sale and I can see a huge opportunity for the open exchange of all kinds of automotive things somewhere. And using the forum is 'free' just like here but you may be right that for some people it won't make enough dollars to make sense.

My ideal goal is just about connecting people with similar interests and having a collective place to share rare and historical parts, etc. Not so much the elite auctions like Bat and others have become imo, so that might be the whole snafu right there if you asked me. I know there's no shortage of cool stuff out there that just needs the right platform.

UnknownJinX

We all know how it is with enthusiasts: very few of us can put money where our mouth is.

The thing with used parts is that there is also little flexibility. With car auctions, you can always see something you might like and just bid if you like it enough, but I can stare at a nice Autoexe RX-8 steering wheel all day, but in the end, it's not gonna fit on my Speed3.

Dealing with lowballers and tire kickers is just part of selling anything, really. Just gotta live with it. And then there are the scammers... Eventually, you will meet a nice buyer.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

I love you brother, so please forgive me for stating it straight up:

an infatuation with all things JDM is not logical, it’s poseur-centric; the things poor kids who don’t any better dream of, the things rich kids who don’t know any better unwisely do.
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Federighi

iTrader: (7)

Yeah the used oem and aftermarket parts market is all over the place imo. And you're right that the people who can buy usually will. Guess my only option is to wait it out for a nice / right buyer. Btw, I'll sell you my Speed3 AutoEXE wheel. PM if interested.

Oh it's never a problem Team. I've always appreciated your frankness and feel it's best to say what you have to say rather than letting an opportunity pass you by.

It's just a preference and we all have them. Not unlike how we prefer a steak to be cooked, our sandwiches to be made, the clothes (quality / style) we wear, etc. I mean, there's no shortage of fans who're seriously crazy about sports teams, not to mention the ones who are even crazier about their sports gear. Some people just happen to like x, y, z and no real biggie imo (as long as it doesn't cause harm to oneself or others, etc).

I've personally always enjoyed a lot of Japanese culture and products. When I was growing up (late 80's - early 90's) I noticed how a lot of Americans considered asian made anything to be a lesser product when compared to USA or EU products. Just put in some time watching a few old 'Price Is Right' episodes and listen / watch the announcers and audience and their reactions to the prizes. Imo it's super interesting how these games shows are a literal time capsule snap shot of culture. Luckily for me, I learned as a child that this was more rooted in odd prejudices and wasn't necessarily true across the board so I found a ton of cool things at a great price because of this. Sad those days have long since gone.

What I really think you're picking up on is my extreme obsessive compulsiveness. I admittedly went overboard with my build and hindsight should've just picked up some basic street legal turnkey track monster that most likely would've appreciated heavily in today's market. Oh well, live and learn. But my wonderful wife has reminded time and time again that owning anything other than a rotary or jdm sports car has never appealed to me and it that was 'right' for me to follow my heart instead by modding something I respect and impose value upon. I bet I'll always love silly little jdm time attack cars, ha. And that's precisely the point of a preference, some things we grow out of and others we don't. I swear life is the funniest thing sometimes. I was into Japanese culture 20+ yeas ago before anyone knew (or cared for that matter) about Japanese anything. Left car culture completely for an easy 10 years after selling my '94 CW FD (imported full genuine '99 kit, RZ wheels, RZ interior, bunch of mazdaspeed parts, etc, one day it'll appear again, just waiting for it…). Fast forward 20 years and I found myself in a place with a desire to build an authentic vehicle like the ones I'd always day-dreamt about (late 90's - early 00's authentic jdm time attack). But now my man focus is clearing out the extra stuff and moving onto enjoying the vehicle plus other interests.

Hope that helps provide a bit of reasoning behind my motivations.

WilberBlick

Thanks for the info, I appreciate you for taking the time to write it in brief. It helps me a lot.

PaulPrice

Thanks, I was wondering and I am glad I found my answer here.
Edit: I replied to this.

Federighi

iTrader: (7)

Welcome to the forum.

This is an extremely vague post. Care to share your question and the answer you found?

42?

Laminar

Fake members pumping up their post count to get access to other areas of the site for spamming purposes.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

AI bots are taking over, youboob is essentially overrun by them pumping each others user account likes and comments

pretty easy to pick them out for now though. In time, maybe not.
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Laminar

Fixed that.

Laminar

I can't tell if you're referring to me or someone else since I only quoted what you posted in this thread, but I think this is aimed at me?

Yes, because that would be demonstrating self awareness, and you certainly aren't on board with that.

I have to be missing something here, did someone else's post get deleted? Either you meant this for someone else's post or it's another of your weird NASB-voice rants that doesn't actually mean anything because none of it applies to my post.

Killawatts

It's best if you look at Team's posts through the lens as if he's a dementia patient, because he probably is. I still respect what he knows and the man he once was, but these days he is absolutely suffering from some sort of mental decline.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

I was aware enough to recognize my mistake, but you beat me to it.

Suffer it to be so; I made plenty in my life, and compared to those I can live with it. I’ll state it again even, “nobody on here has made as many mistakes as I have”

the man I was could never hear or comprehend this:


.. but we preach Christ crucified, to the chosen people; a stumbling block, and to the world; foolishness


I’m quite blessed to not be that man any more, the same as you both still are …
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UnknownJinX

To be fair, if you are using cars strictly for A to B, anything other than a Prius is foolish. Even a Prius is getting debatable as well given their price and availability. So a Corolla or a Nissan Leaf if EV is your thing. Or you can join the 99.9999% of the people who buy an SUV now.

Federighi's idea isn't bad on paper, it's just that I don't see how a business model could work off of it. It might not be the best performance per buck to modify old JDM cars anymore, but they are pieces of automotive history that are worth preserving. They aren't good value from a performance perspective, but from a historical perspective, it's a different story.

The value is always in the eye of the beholder. What is worthless to one person may be very important to someone else.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

there’s no value in seeking the glory of worldly men, less so from kids at a Cars & Coffee meet.
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