Re: [CR]re: a man called brian (was re: frame building 101, or something like that)

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

To: chasds@mindspring.com
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:21:57 -0500
Subject: Re: [CR]re: a man called brian (was re: frame building 101, or something like that)
From: "Richard M Sachs" <richardsachs@juno.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

snipped & cut from post below: "...you'd *never* be able to sell your frame for anywhere near what you paid for it, because it was made for YOU, and others who want such a frame will pay that much for it *only* if it was made *for them!*--- second, the only way to get what you want from Brian Baylis, is to order a frame and pay whatever the price is, and wait as long as you have to wait. Anything else is second-best...at best."

chas i don't agree at all. brian's frames are masterfully made, unique, and rare. products such as his have added value that relate to more than "use" and "fit". you may not want one that you can't ride, but that only dictates what you'd buy one for, not the market. if i were wealthy and in a collecting mood, i'd want a baylis (and a confente, and a 60s cinelli, etcetera...) just to appreciate the place in time that it was produced. no need to ride it. e-RICHIE chester, ct

-------------------------------------- the post: "C. Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com> writes: This assumption is false. I can prove it from an anecdotal case in the real world. About a year ago now, I bought a Baylis frame-set. Just back from Baylis himself..he had replaced a tube and repainted it. Pearl yellow with white panels. Nervex lugs with tiny, elegant holes in them. In brand-new condition. Very pretty. I paid $950 shipped for this frame. It was not built for me, and as a result, while it's close to my size, it's not exactly right.

What's left out of the assumption above is that every one of Brian's frames is a one-off, made for one person, and unless you happen to match that person's specs exactly, you're never going to get a Baylis that fits you exactly right, on the open market. Not to mention that the frame will not have the custom finish details that Brian specializes in...it'll have details, sure, but they won't be the details *you* ordered. As for fit, yeah, you might get lucky, but only a few people will get that lucky, at best.

At one point, I offered this frame to another list member, who, reasonably, said that while it was very nice, he'd rather order one of his own from Brian.

My point is two-fold: first, if you followed the method noted above, you'd *never* be able to sell your frame for anywhere near what you paid for it, because it was made for YOU, and others who want such a frame will pay that much for it *only* if it was made *for them!*--- second, the only way to get what you want from Brian Baylis, is to order a frame, and pay whatever the price is, and wait as long as you have to wait. Anything else is second-best...at best. There is no way to manipulate the price and demand by re-selling the frames on the open-market.

Charles "cheapskate" Andrews
SoCal