Since I live in the middle of nowhere Nebraska I am hours away from everything. So I tend to watch for items that have been up for sale for at least two weeks. Then I show up, cash and trailer in hand, and make an offer.

And I always have a plan B. I got burned years ago on a car four hours away that was a done deal that fell apart when someone showed up and offered, cash in hand, far less than I had agreed to. So you never can tell what a seller is going to do.

Plan B usually involves visiting a salvage yard in the area that claims to have an old Mercedes or two. Or perhaps a yard that is on the way there or back. But sometimes I still make a long trip for nothing.

It's a good thing for me this is a hobby. Dealing with people like that would drive me nuts if I had to do it for a living.