[Mr 5 0]

82 GT:

Buying used parts long-distance is always risky.

The seller is obviously just trying to get the best deal for his setup but he is also screwing around with you in the process. Long-distance buying also loses the opportunity for you, the buyer, to make a cash offer on-the-spot and take away your merchandise. In a long-distance sale the seller can keep jacking up the price - as happened to you...from $300. to $400....and/or make a tentative deal with you but when a better deal comes along he can still blow you off, as you haven't given him a DP or made a firm deal. Communication between buyer and seller, even with e-mail and cell phones, can still mess you up, as almost happened to you with the late-night e-mail that basically canceled the deal. I know that long-distance parts buying is sometime a necessity when you're working on an older car (been there, done that) but it can still be a hassle and a disappointment and should be avoided as much as possible.

I say: live and learn. Buying new parts by mail-order is risky enough - but used? Not worth the hassle in most cases unless absolutely, positively necessary, which is rare.