I can only disagree - and strongly at that.
Three years ago my bikes from the 70's sat hanging in the basement in need of parts to get them going again. I found this list which in turn led to me finding parts to get my bikes back on the road again. Since then, I have scoured local bike shops for vintage parts, bought what I could afford and then passed the not-needed items onto the list a reasonable prices. I do not keep track of profit and loss, but my wife can surely attest to the fact that this hobby is not a revenue generating proposition. Transferring information along with the opportunity to buy and sell parts is what keeps this hobby of ours one of physical enjoyment of our bikes along with the informational aspect of it. I never sell on ebay unless I've offered it to the list first - a courtesy to the list and the very many friends I've made. I always put in the subject line that I have items for sale so that you may hit the delete button. I buy many items from other list members that post here too. My wifes 47cm Bianchi came from a posting on this list - think I could have found that locally or afforded it if it went on ebay - no way (thanks again Gian).
I believe you misunderstand or under estimate the nature and importance of the "for sale" postings.
Eric Elman
Somers, CT
> Hi everybody,
>
> As a self-confessed lurker who is still at the stage of soaking up
> information before being anywhere near able to dispense it, I have held
back
> from saying something about the increasingly commercial nature of the
list.
>
> More and more it seems that traders and the like are simply using what is
> supposed to a source of information about old bikes as a marketing tool.
It
> has been obvious for some time that there are people on the list who see
it
> as a means of promoting themselves and their businesses but the situation
is
> getting worse.
>
> People who used to have a clear out are now passing on their latest
"finds"
> and others are more blatant. Naming no names but I know of one such who is
> actively scouring Ireland and other parts of Europe looking for bikes and
> components that are then offered to the list. Where do you think all this
> stuff comes from? I don't think it is the object of the list to provide a
> livelihood for these people. If they want to buy and sell like this, they
> should use Ebay or the classified adverts in a magazine. Or better still,
> they can set up a website and advertise their goods there-it isnt hard to
> do.
>
> I know that there are many people who are only too willing to buy and I
may
> be in a minority but if we must have traders using the list like this, why
> can't their adverts be limited to one day a month. We could make it the
same
> day and everyone would then know to expect it.
>
> This would not affect those people who genuinely have some stuff in their
> collection that they would occasionally like to get rid of but, by hitting
> their "cash flow", it might help discourage traders from making a fortune
at
> the expense of other list members. It would also maybe serve to put an end
> to the cynicism that sees traders effectively swapping the odd bit of
> information in exchange for a platform from which to sell their wares. As
> far as I'm concerned, if they can't contribute their information and
> knowledge free of charge, they shouldn't be on the list.
>
> Come on Dale, put the brakes on these blatant traders.
>
> Freddy Benjamin