In a message dated 10/9/2002 2:32:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time, richardsachs@juno.com writes:
<< but the discussion doesn't allow for the sellers to participate; most are not on the cr list. they often never heard of the cr list. they may not be vintage-bike folks. they may just want to sell something using ebay as a conduit. these 'auction trashings' occur routinely on this list. unless the seller is on board to speak his piece, i do not like the tone of these discussions. >>
I agree with that mostly... But I think many of us are feeling powerless in these Ebay auctions because the seller is mostly anonymous and we feel sort of victimized often by the lack of other communication avenues. It does seem unfair that the sellers cannot respond to our observations in this forum, but I think the burden is on the sellers to represent themselves correctly. The bigger unfairness is to those folks who are not within our group who have none of the safe guards that our combined expertise provides... Finally, an honest and forthright seller will respond gratefully and actively when he/she commits a faux pas in a product description, dating, etc. I know you would and I know I would...Beyond that, I feel it is your duty, my duty, all of our duties to bring "truth and clarity" (whew, that really sounds pretentious!) to any representation of old bike goods that we see for the greater groups benefit....
Dale Brown
Greensboro, North Carolina