Ebay Auction -- WON!

I am still in Paradise (Suncoast of FL) with-out a trailer which I have leased to one of my drivers. It just makes more sense to let him use it, thus keeping it moving and generating income. Otherwise, it would be sitting in a storage lot down here costing me fees.

I have been watching Ebay and Craigslist for more than two weeks trying to find another one for me. I missed one last week when the auction closed before I made my final bid. Ebay uses west coast time zone - PDT. I messed up calculating the east coast equivalent. My oldest son taught me a bidding strategy that he uses, an apparently works. But you have to be monitoring the last few minutes of the auction and make a decision with about 30 seconds left.

The trailer I really wanted - the one I missed - apparently did not sell. After the auction closed it showed that the reserve price had not been met. I sent two emails to the seller over a three day period but never got a reply.

The trailer that I did win is almost exactly like the one I have now - a 27'+5' dual-tandem with flip ramps. It is two years old and has a couple of tires that need replacing. The wiring harness plug has also been pulled loose and two boards on the deck appear to be loose. But I got it at a price that will allow me to make those repairs and still be good -- assuming there are no other issues. You take your chances with internet auctions. Better factor that into the price.

I have delivered cars that people bought off the internet; a few of them from auctions like Ebay. I remember one in particular, a Jeep Wrangler that from a distance (and probably in it's pictures) looked pretty sharp. It had been detailed and all shined up. But up-close and personal it looked like a tired old Jeep that had been detailed all shined up. I have know idea what the new owner paid but I'm glad it wasn't mine.

And my Ebay trailer story gets better! This all happened late Friday morning. While I'm moving money around and paying my deposit via PayPal, I get an email from another shipper moving freight. I get 6-8 of these A DAY with at least 2 or 3 things we could do -- if I had more drivers, which I'm working on. It is rare that I find a load that requires my truck only. But it happened yesterday afternoon!

The trailer is in San Antonio, TX. I am in FL. This load is moving from Kentucky to south of Dallas. Kentucky is not EXACTLY on my way to TX but it isn't so far out of the way that I can't go get it -- which is what I'll do next week.

I had planned on staying here in FL thru next weekend. My neighbor is having a party that Sat and the city of Treasure Island (where I live) also has an event that weekend. I don't have to be back in Belleville until Nov 2 for a doctors appointment (regular check-up). But this trailer I bought, and now the ensuing load getting me to TX, has changed that.

FOLLOW-UP TO DEAD-BEAT BROKERS

My last post I mentioned Anchor Freight in Oklahoma City and how they promised to pay us in 30-days but did not. I finally got a check from them yesterday -- 42 days from the time they received the invoice and Proof of delivery (the 'trigger' for them to pay us). Oh well, better late than never.

And now I have another one -- DEAD BEAT BROKER. Please welcome Bowers Trucking in Oroville, CA to my list. Their 30-days was up on Oct 14th. Supposedly, "the checks in the mail." Hmmm, never heard that one before.