Another who disagrees--I have both bought and sold goods on the list, stuff that I and others couldn't find anywhere else. By coincidence both me and the guy I've bought from have bike businesses. Not many folks get to scour bike stores beyond their regions; this list serves as many spare sets of eyes for available equipment, among other nice things. David Feldman
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 6:12 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Stop the CR list "traders"
> 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
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Freddy Benjamin <freddybenjamin@hotmail.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 8:36 AM
> Subject: [CR]Stop the CR list "traders"
>
>
> > 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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> >
> > _______________________________________________
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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