It occurs to me that most of the controversy swirling around this issue can be explained in the difference between making a profit on new goods and soliciting a special interest group for rare, out of production, NOS parts (i.e.: parts that can not be routinely sourced from a LBS)--for the obvious purpose of resale. All LBS, like any other businesses must make a profit or close their doors. However they are, for the most, part dealing in currently available items and not rare collectables. Wheeling and dealing in antiques is a legit trade but again, if one goes to antique auctions one often hears grumbling among the amateur bidders about having to bid against professional dealers--who again will take their winnings back to their shops for resale at a profit. This competition between dealer and collector does not exist in the case of non-antique items since those are generally easily obtained from multiple sources and the buyer can often do comparison shopping and buy an item at the lowest cost. With antiques there is a tension due to the perceived lack of supply: a buyer either pays the dealer's price or does without. That, friends, is the difference under discussion here. The fact that the solicitation comes during a time of economic downturn contributes to the heightened sensation of opportunism. I view all this as neither good or bad, but rather another market force. For me the real bottom line is that if demand becomes strong enough, replica replacement parts will be offered, much as they are for the antique auto restoration hobby. Again purists will moan but the causal restorer will buy the cheaper reproduction parts (assuming they are of the same or better quality as the NOS parts) and get on with life.
George Albaugh Bowie, Maryland USA
>Attaboy Mike. Oops, sorry Dale, forget I said that. But seriously >Mike, I think your critics are absolutely un-American. Profit is >good. In moderation of course. And face it, we're all opportunists. >In moderation of course.
>Mark Fulton
>Redwood City
>California
>USA