I was frankly surprised by the contraversy. Mike has been buying and sel ling classic parts for over a decade, and for most of that time he has larg ely bought NOS parts, in quantity when he could find such, and resold at pr ices that were profitable but never outrageous. Some of those a bit youn ger or newer to the sport may not recall that a decade ago eBay was not the force it has now become, and it was Mikes's Bicycle Classics, along wit h a few others like Bicycle Trader, Harris, Bill Ward and John Barron where one turned to find a classic part for a project.
Now maybe those sources aren't quite as crucial as they were then, but they still provide a large service by offering classic bits at a reasonable pri ce. And while one can certainly sometimes get a cheaper price at a swap meet or maybe on eBay, one may also wait months to do so, especially if one is seaking NOS. I thought Mike's posting made perfect sense. In an e conomic downturn, some people choose to sell off collectibles to improve th eir personal liquidity. Mike simply offered to buy if anyone wanted to s ell. How does one take offense at that? If you don't want to sell, th en don't. I've never been offended at someone offering to buy something from me, although I often decline offers.
I've noted a similar thing in UK, where some criticize Hilary for making a profit buying at jumbles and reselling on eBay. Now I do appreciate "fri endly prices", but Hilary does provide a great service, especially for thos e outside UK who have more trouble sourcing British bits. Besides, I sus pect the total profit Hilary has made in his life is less than what these S OB's on Wall Street stole one day before breakfast on the way to a $1 Trill ion scam. So let's save our hostility for those who deserve it, not thos e providing a valuable service at an affordable price.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
From: George Albaugh <albaughg@comcast.net> Subject: [CR]Thoughts on cash for NOS parts To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008, 8:23 AM
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