Campyphiles,
I think that Campagnolo likes the "lore" being out there that there are parts that sell for big $$ on ebay. Note the current bicycling magazine article on the cult of campagnolo. It all adds to the legend. Brands can't buy that kind of advertising. For them, it's really about selling their current wares, and keeping their brand in the right place in the consumers hearts and minds.
Plus, they probally have their own stash!
Grant McLean toronto, canada
fred - agreed. this is archived list material. but, really, how many clients for these hoods do you (anybody) think there are? 3 years ago we batted this around; my question was something like:
"would hoods make folks happy, or will campagnolo need to reissue nr era cables, or the correctly marked nut and bolt for someone's restoration? etcetera"
my point is that i believe a few hundred folks don't
make a "market" and that 70s era bicycles are not BMWs
or john deere tractors, two collectibles with mass appeal.
hoods were always cheap back in the day. it might have made
more sense to stash 4 pair away than to lament the higher
prices that are commanded now by folks interested in making
moneyfrom selling them. and - i think campagnolo is quite
aware of the small groups in usa and japan that seek out
their vintage parts.
e-RICHIE
chester, ct
Kurt,
This has come up with Campagnolo in the past and, as far as
I can tell, they won't do it unless collecting classic bikes
becomes a highly visible hobby in Italy and France. They seem
to have no visibility into the classic bicycle collector
circles in the USA or Japan. (Other than - as you mention -
harassing small time manufacturers of reproduction parts.)
Beyond that, the Campagnolo marketing people (who I think do
a very poor job of "marketing" their products) simply do not
see the connection between the veneration of their old stuff by
people like us and the sale of their new stuff. It's a pity.
Best regards,
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia
> Would it kill them to earn some cheap goodwill among their
> loyalest
> long-time customers by doing up a few hundred or thousand
> globe logo
> gum hoods and selling them at a reasonable markup? It can't
> really be
> a hell of a lot of hassle can it? They could probably easily
> cover
> the initial costs with what they spent on lawyers hassling
> counterfeiters.