Hi Ken. I think BC's remarks on pricing in Japan may explain the one way street you've observed. American collectors may be unwilling to pay the prices that Japanese collectors demand and can receive for the goods they want to sell. And as long as one can be assured that a classic bike or part will be cherished and valued, why not sell it to the highest bidder regardless of residence? In other words, if the market in Japan is a sellers market, whereas as the American market is one for the buyer, then a natural tendency for the seller is to move product to the favorable locale. The part fetches a good price; the new owner is happy with his/her new acquisition. Everybody wins.
My hunch is that once both markets reach equilibrium and Americans are willing to invest a little more effort in Asian languages and culture, the street will indeed go both ways.
Jon Cowden Ithaca, NY
On Tue, 7 Nov 2000, Donald Dundee wrote:
> My original inquiry had little to do with prices paid for things, although
> the Japanese EBay addicts seemingly pay far more for things than the rest of
> the market, unreasonable skewing teh average market's perception of prices.
>
> More to the point, however, is the lack of any quid pro quo on the part of
> Japanese collectors. Their contribution to the fraternity here in the states
> id virtually nil.
>
> Ken Denny
> Boston, MA
>
>
> >From: Harvey M Sachs <sachs@erols.com>
> >To: "Donald Dundee" <rebour@hotmail.com>, moos@penn.com, p6man@home.com
> >CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> >Subject: [Classicrendezvous] Prices paid and International collectors, was
> >Re: Speaking of Japanese collectors
> >Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2000 16:03:28 -0500
> >
> >Lads & Lassies -
> >There have been a couple of interesting thoughts expressed in the responses
> >so far, so I want to put in my 2c.
> >
> >1) I'm really glad there are serious collectors, and I don't care
> >where. Yes, it means that some stuff that I want I can't justify buying ,
> >but high prices most likely mean that the things will be treated seriously,
> >and not just tossed into the boxes (where I find them). This is the best
> >possible assurance that examples will survive.
> >
> >2) There are questions about why collectors in Japan are willing to pay
> >premium prices on EBay. Let's start with the assumption that it's true,
> >which we can't know, because we don't really know the flow from European
> >and US sources to our esteemed counterparts in Japan. If it is true, it
> >just brings out again what is obvious to everyone, except perhaps Orthodox
> >Economists: Markets aren't perfect. Not only do different things have
> >different values to different folks, but "barriers" like trust and
> >knowledge come into play, too. Not to mention language issues.
> >
> >So, I'll remain more grateful that the items are being valued than rueful
> >that they aren't in my tender mercies...
> >
> >harvey sachs
> >who makes his living helping emerging energy efficient technologies enter
> >the market by overcoming barriers.
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
>
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