Re: [CR]Re: Now list rules...

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

To: johnb@oxford.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Now list rules...
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:47:46 -0400
In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20070712162338.01331a18@mailhost.oxford.net>
From: <loudeeter@aol.com>


I insure my bikes.? Not cheap, but they are?covered at the stated value.? Regarding value, if you want to know what something is worth, all you have to do is ask a few individuals in a private email (as mentioned by someone earlier).? If they don't know, they'll usually guide you to someone who does.? Having said that, I've given my opinion freely to people who ask for it and for the past two years, I've been low on value.? I think that is because I have likely misjudged how some prices have risen, particularly Campagnolo parts.? I think I'm still a pretty good judge about most?frames, but, if you have something that is very rare or niche market, you need to find the right specialist to advise you.? If you are that skittish about it , then?ebay will?determine the market?value for you.? But?even there, you have to know how to do it--good pictures, accurate description, right finishing time--all those things can affect the bid.? But, when the ebay bids are topping out at $300, you can't expect to believe that the frame is worth $1000.? Dashed expectations are not uncommon in?our hobby.? Lou Deeter, Orlando FL USA??

-----Original Message----- From: John Betmanis <johnb@oxford.net> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Sent: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 4:23 pm Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Now list rules...

At 03:22 PM 12/07/2007 EDT, LeMansGTMAN@aol.com wrote:
>On another discussion forum I recently held up Dale's requirement that
>posters have to ID themselves fully at the end of every message as a shining
>example of an excellent rule that largely prevents the mis-use / abuse of said
>forum* - suggesting that it was one that they might usefully adopt...
>
>*Most typically the use of personal invective / brainless humour etc.,
>
>To this another member of that list replied that would be an infringement of
>UK Data Protection Laws, his human rights & his right to privacy!

I can see where people could be paranoid about revealing their identity and location on the Internet. That is one rule here that I overlooked originally because I just assumed the "rules" were the usual stuff about no flaming, profanity or personal attacks and didn't need to read them because I'd participated in mailing lists for almost two decades. However, in this particular hobby of ours, names and locations actually mean a lot. We rely a lot on historic and anecdotal information and it's so much more credible when coming from a real person from a real location, rather than someone hiding behind a pseudonym in cyberspace.

As for trying to determine a fair price for a vintage bike or part, that's a little tougher. As was already mentioned, a large portion of the "market" is right here on this list, and you still wouldn't get a reliable answer from people who are looking for the very same item, hoping to find a bargain, or others trying to sell the very same thing for a profit. The trouble is (maybe fortunately) that the vintage bike market just isn't big enough for price guidelines to be established. A certain bike may be worth $2000 to a collector, but an insurance adjustor would only see $2 worth of scrap metal. I wonder how many bike collectors actually have their stuff insured and how it was appraised.

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada