I hear about all you guys finding stuff on e-bay and I would like to know what criteria you use to search. I have gone to e-bay a couple of times looking for plans etc. and I really don't have much luck finding anything. A general search brings up 300 or 400 items, most of which are off target for me and are tedious to search through. There must be a better way! Thanks.

Tedious? Nah, FUN! Besides, you never know when you'll find something you never knew existed or just can't live without!

Dr.1

Many, many sellers on E-bay do not use correct catigories, so if you detail your search too much, you can miss a lot of good stuff. Start out in Toys & Hobbies, Radio Control, then use the left side of the page to gradually close you search parameters. You can choose aircraft, cars, electric, gas glow, RTF ARF Kits etc.
Or you can start out in Radio Control, and then type "plans" etc into the search bar.

Since you didn't list what it is you are after, we can't be specific about how to search. However, I went through Ebay's catagories until I got to Radio Control and bookmarked this location. Then, when I go to the bookmarked page, in the search engine box, I type in things like Airplane kit, ARF, Airtronics radio, Airtronics servo. ect. Generally, I get lists of 25 to 200 or so items to page through.

At the R/C start location I've bookmarked, I can also type in Balsa USA, Pica, or some other manufacturer and get specific infromation about products people are offering for sale by these manufacturers. I attempt to be very specific in my searches and feel if a seller doesn't understand how to list to get good exposure, I guess I didn't need what he was selling, anyways.

Be aware that if you type in brands, like Airtronics, many people will put Airtronics in their title, even though they are selling JR equipment. Although this provides them with good exposure I don't care for this action as when I typed in Airtronics, that is what and all I want to see. I know JR exists and if I wanted to visit JR, I would type in JR.

I have both bought and sold many items on Ebay and have had good luck with it! Good deals can be found, however airplane kits do not seem to be one of them!

When looking for kits on E-Bay, check out whether the kit is still in production or available and the cost. Case in point, I see people bidding on Sig's Miniplane and Astro Hog with amounts exceeding what you could buy the kit directly from Sig.

DaveB

oh man [&:]is this a difficult question , you can hit in RC Nitro PLanes , wood rc planes , wood rc kits , fule rc planes , as soon as I find one I like I visit there store and if its good I add it to my favorites .I agree ,it is fun , you never know what you are getting to get

DaveB makes a good point. In ANY selling forum (from eBay to RCU to local swap shops), you absolutely MUST know the merchandise. In an auction, do NOT be caught up in a bidding war. Before you ever bid, decide what is the maximum you will pay for the item and do not bid over that.

I've never been burned on eBay, but I know some have. There are rogues and crooks in ANY market.

Know:
The merchandise - what it's worth new, used (in what condition), and what the market is for it. Decide how badly you want it and bid accordingly. Check around for comparable sites selling the same thing.

Your seller - Lots of good feedback and reasonable answers to neutral or bad feedback are a must.

Terms - Be sure of the shipping terms, costs, time, etc.

Method of payment - Paypal, money order, etc.

Guarantees - Is the item returnable, and if so, what are the conditions.

BE AN INFORMED BUYER - as always, it's CAVEAT EMPTOR (let the buyer beware).

Dr.1

Ok cutting the fun part out and getting serious , I have found one fool proof method in addition to all of the above listed ....very simply email the buyers , not the seller , mant ebay buyers especially are good old RC guys like you and me and as you know we love a forum .They will tell more then you need to know about the seller and quality of the goods .

Back to your original post , I have aprox 15 rc sellers saved , as a result ebay now emails me "a favorite sellers update" when they add products .
I get emails from everything on century jet retracts to kit planes to ARF warbirds .

Hi Bish,

Here is a site that is pretty cheap if you can find somewhere to print the digital data, Kinko?. He has a huge amount of stuff and is rather fun. I have bought a number of plans from him that he printed for me and they are very good quality. They often came with other info. Since the death of his wife he is keeping to digital plans, electronic delivery, no mail charge.

http://d94132.u23.simplenet.com/WhoisUncleWillie.html - Here is the URL.





old git - - - - - - - aka John L.