I'm reading about swoopo and auction theory again. I don't understand or I'm missing the ethical concerns here. Seller is paying ebay its fee to find out if this is how, where, and if he wants to sell this item. Or, he may be advertising it. ebay is an inexpensive way to advertise. Is there a thread in CR archives on the changed roles of dealers in a world with ebay?
Harry Travis Washington, DC USA
On Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 2:23 PM, ternst <ternst1@cox.net> wrote:
> David has a accurate handle on the Durkopp frameset that went at $ 710.
> I was one of the bidders.
> 1935 is when I date it.
> The second king's ransom machine is interesting in that I put a bid in
> to the gentleman after closing because I didn't see it on time.
> It didn't get to his reserve, he wouldn't tell me his reserve and didn't
> even bother to answer back??
> I suspect he doesn't know what a market value is and is trying to see if
> people bid on his supposed treasure to establish what the traffic will
> bare and then think about selling it to the "high" bidder.
> Is this sort of like phishing?
> I started racing on a couple of bikes like this in '47 and gave them
> away to kids also starting out along the line, not suspecting it would
> be nice to have one again just because.
> Too bad the fellow is taking this route.
> I'd like to buy the old iron so let's see where it doesn't go.
> Ted Ernst
> Palos Verdes Estates
> CA USA
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Ross
> To: CR discussion list ; Ted Ernst
> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 9:50 AM
> Subject: Durkopps on eBay
>
>
> A Durkopp track bike with many original parts just sold on eBay
> for $710. Was the winner someone on the list? I would love to correspond
> with the new owner. The seller listed it as 1940s bike, but I'm fairly
> certain that it should be dated in the mid-'30s. It has a head-clip
> style (Durkopp) headset, a pre-WWII head badge and a 146xxxx serial
> number, all of which shout '30s to me. The item number is 220347762472.
>
> Another Durkopp track bike has just been listed, complete and
> original. The seller thinks it's from 1929. I think he's being a little
> optomistic with an asking price of $10,000. Item number 180323225873.
>
> Dave "still working on my 1938 (or so) Durkopp resto" Ross
> Portola Valley, California, USA