Re: [CR]Why is this inappropriate? Price Check requested

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

References: <263712.25035.qm@web88201.mail.re2.yahoo.com> <001501c8901a$fe9842c0$fbc8c840$@com>
To: mbirnbaum@snader.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Why is this inappropriate? Price Check requested
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:14:10 -0400
In-Reply-To: <001501c8901a$fe9842c0$fbc8c840$@com>
From: "Dale Brown" <oroboyz@aol.com>


<< I'm shopping for a bike for a friend who wants to get into distance riding, centuries, etc... Not a show piece, just a good, solid, reliable bike. At any rate, I saw a Bob Jackson at the local non-profit bike store. Early to mid 80's frame, downtube shifters, full dura ace, Cinelli bars & stem, Laprade seat post. They're asking $750. Frame has few scratches, but looks good otherwise.

Is this a fair price?

Thx much, Mark Birnbaum Novato, CA USA >>

Thanks Max, for making me refresh in my mind why I really don't want these sorts of questions on the CR list (Don't worry this is not a rant from me nor is it a huge transgression on your part, just my musings...)

Of course the core reason is that such a question COULD be trolling for info so that a pseudo member could attempt to maximize their sale of a product they care little about beyond profit. Profit is not a bad thing but this is a forum for afficienados, not pure mercenaries. But I assume that this is not what this message is about...

But I stop at the phrase "is this a fair price?" and wonder, for who?

A new real-bike-shop basic road bike is now nearly that much. Here we have a Dura Ace handmade in England KOF, so it seems to me that it's a bargain.. But does you friend like it? Does he understand the difference between the welded or molded bikes and this one? Did he look at the Bob Jackson section on the CR and Jackson's web site? Or the cost of a similar frame (that is still in production?)

Or does this question mean, if he buys it, will he feel ripped off later when he discovers that 25 year old Dura Ace Bob Jackson bikes sell routinely for say, $250.? I would think almost anyone on this list would quickly have an idea of that...

Anyway, in the end I understand we on the CR list could seen to provide guidance to newbies, but I also think there is a basis for expecting some smart consumerism and some observation skills from newbies.

So, Max, you could expect replies like "Great deal grab it!" to "I saw one at a swap meet last week for $100.00" Of course this last part could be true just like there are a lot of incredible deals items sold by folks either not knowing true worth ot wanting cash fast... But in the end, the real answer is, if he likes it, understands what it is, and can afford the asking price, he should buy it.

Dale Brown Greensboro, North Carolina USA http://www.classicrendezvous.com

-----Original Message----- From: Mark Birnbaum <mbirnbaum@snader.com> To: 'Classic Rendezvous' <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:58 am Subject: [CR]Price Check requested

I'm shopping for a bike for a friend who wants to get into distance riding, centuries, etc... Not a show piece, just a good, solid, reliable bike. At any rate, I saw a Bob Jackson at the local non-profit bike store. Early to mid 80's frame, downtube shifters, full dura ace, Cinelli bars & stem, Laprade seat post. They're asking $750. Frame has few scratches, but looks good otherwise.

Is this a fair price?

Thx much,
Mark Birnbaum
Novato, CA USA