I think you can attribute it to a slow economy, both in the US and Japan. Less disposable income, and those who have it are less secure in continuing to have it. I understand classic automobile prices have been going through a similar downturn. When this happens, even those with plenty of money to buy the goods reevaluate what constitutes a "good deal" and demand lower prices. I know I've become less willing to pay what is asked, as I figure a better deal will come along. I've bought several nice used frames, wheelsets, and even complete bikes recently for around $100. Good time to be a buyer if you have any room left in the garage.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> I have been watching ebay now for about 2 years now and there does indeed
seem
> to be a seasonality of both supply and demand. I believe there has been a
> recent increase in supply of interesting bikes and a decrease in demand
with
> many bikes going largely unbid.
>
> A few bikes that I have been tracking that might be interesting to CR
> listmembers are:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/
>
> The Colnago has a few rather interesting bits to it: Hi-Lo hubs (which are
not
> visible in the single photo), Campagnolo freewheel (worth over $100 on its
> own), pantographed chainring, pantographed seatpost, Cinelli
leather-covered
> VIP handlebars with 1R stem. When it first came up, I thought it would
attract
> an almost immediate 'buy it now' bid of $750.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/
>
> This Maruishi bike has already been discussed on the list when it first
came
> out. Lou Deeter is the only bidder so far and has not yet met the minimum.
> Initially, th ebike was offered with a higher opening bid and with a
> considerably lower 'buy it now' option. If I recal correctly, it initially
had
> a 'buy it now' of only $850. Given the ICS parts, I believe it would have
been
> quite an interesting purchase at that price.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/
>
> This NOS, supposedly never ridden, Colnago on German ebay already passed
> through unbid the first time round. If I remember correctly it was offered
with
> a opening bid of 1200 euros. For a mint bike in an interesting frame size,
this
> seems to be quite a good possibility.
>
> There have been a few weeks over the summer when I didn't have more than a
few
> items bookmarked to follow and I am once again back up to close to the
limit.
> Have others noted the same?
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ