[CR]eBay searches for vintage bicycles

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 12:00:13 -0400
From: "Martin Walsh" <mowalsh@verizon.net>
To: "CR List" <ClassicRendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]eBay searches for vintage bicycles

Dear list members, I'm sure some of our "CR" list members could educate us in listing and finding vintage items on eBay in our search for the "Holy Grail" of bicycle "stuff". Ray Hominski alluded to some of his "tricks" of searching for incorrectly spelled listings on eBay (in the "sniping" thread). What got me started thinking about this was trying to find Richard Sach's auction for his Masi Gran Criterium (made in Italy) bicycle,that we all saw at Cirque a couple years back.What a great bicycle. What a project, almost like a PHD of bicycle restoration....Anyways my usual settings on my computer (Sporting goods, bicycles and frames etc., comes up on my screen and I type in Masi Gran Criterium and nothing shows up.What! Somebody had just mentioned it on the list and I've been offline for about six months.I wanted to see the auction of one of the more venerable "marques" that the CR list has been talking about since the beginning of the list. I now realize that copying and pasting the auction number and link is the easiest way to find an auction that someone "outs". But I assumed that an eBay search of something listed in the auction title would automatically find the item. I found Richard's auction listed under: "collectibles> transportation> bicycles" one of the many categories and subsets of categories eBay has. on their site. Anyways, I'm getting ready to list a 1973 Raleigh Professional (20 1/2") on eBay through a local eBay store and would like some feedback to a preferred place, CATEGORY to list this vintage frameset.The folks at the store have only listed a few clunkers for local pickup only. It looks like the two main choices that I see are 1) Collectibles and 2) Sporting Goods and then working down to "bicycles" & (frames). Finding bicycle items is like being on an EASTER EGG HUNT.The fun for me is often in finding the item be it eBay, a local swap meet, a Cirque 2006 "charity auction", craigslist, estate sale, or a Thrift store.... Ray H. thanks for your insights in playing the online auction game. I normally don't like to out auctions but Richard's is out of the bag and I think I'd have to say it is the most incredible collection of pictures and documentation of any auction I've seen to date and one phenomenal BICYCLE!! Good luck with your auction eRichie! Yours truly, Marty Walsh still in Vienna,Va.