Like many of us, I have the packrat gene and have collected too many parts over the years. I have spent a fair amount of time over the past year downsizing and simplifying my life and it feels great!
When taking a long hard look at all this stuff, I found that it simply isn't worth storing it and carting it around in case I need it. Maybe two, but who really needs six extra front strut assemblies? eBay is a good way to reach a big enough audience to find someone needing XYZ specialty part, and willing to pay something for it.
With my extra bicycle stuff I found a local business which sells bicycle stuff on eBay. They take a cut, but the convenience of just dropping it all off and turning it into cash a few weeks later has been worth it. I hate cleaning stuff, taking pictures, writing a listing, answering emails, packing it to ship, navigating eBay fee structures to figure out the best type of listing, etc. Both bicycle and car parts probably require someone with some specialty knowledge about what they are selling, rather than the typical houseware/antiques/vintage clothing eBay trading assistant.
I am hoping to do the same with a bunch of Corolla and MR2 parts. It is more stock used spares, rather than ultra-rare desireable stuff (more like stock coolant necks and alternator brackets, and less like Formula Atlantic billet cranks and HKS turbo kits.) I would love to realize a few bucks for it, but I don't want to take the time to list if all individually and correspond with potential buyers, etc. It seems like a shame to throw it away or scrap it when someone out there too lazy to go to the junkyard might want to pay a couple bucks for it.
Does the type of service I am looking for exist? Anyone around the Pacific NW know of such a thing for foreign car parts?
