No offense to Earle. What he describes is done all the time and considered proper. However, I feel queasy about buying items way below their market value. I don't mind getting bargains, mind you. But there are times when sellers have no idea as to the value of their items and to pay them pennies on the dollars just seems wrong to me. There is a lot of authentic Shaker furniture in my area and I personally know of occurrences where dealers have gone to the homes of elderly people and bought their Shaker furniture for next to nothing.. When they are offered $500 for a chest of drawers they think they've hit the lottery when, in fact, they've been totally scammed. There have been many times on Ebay when I have tried to inform an uneducated seller about the value of their item even if I intend on bidding for it. Many times I have seen bikes being sold by the family members of the recently deceased original owner. Usually, these people have no clue as to the value of the bike. I just have a problem taking advantage of their ignorance. If someone is getting a really, really good deal on something then someone else is probably getting the shaft. Just my 2 cents.
George Allen Lexington, KY USA
earle.young tds.net wrote:
> Charles Andrews said: "I am baffled by auctions like this:" pointing to an
> auction of a pretty nice bike with bad presentation.
>
> I personally love auctions like this! I bid on a bike labeled as a
> Motobecane, with bad pictures, but enough detail to show a Stronglight 93
> crankset. I put in a maximum bid for what I would pay for the crankset, and
> won. The bike is a 1969 Gitane Tour de France, straight, no dents but with a
> bad rattle can paint job. A really nice frame for next to nothing. Rides
> like a dream.
>
> Fast forward a year. A lugged Marinoni appears, with less than stellar
> pictures and a mishmash of parts on it. Pictures don't show the model name,
> but do show that Victor-style seat lug. Since I know Marinoni models, I spot
> this as a lugged Leggero, and if the seller is right on the year, it is from
> the last year of the lugged, conventional size tube bike.
>
> The sticker says Columbus Niva Crome Extra Leggero, which I believe is the
> 0.7-0.4-0.7 mm tubeset that did so well in Jan Heine's ride tests. I've
> loved the Marinonis I have ridden in the past, so this also may be a cheap
> gem.
>
> Another bargain, just because I saw what the presenter did not show.
>
> The lesson to me: Don't out the auction, don't ask for better pictures, just
> bid stupid low and hope you get it.
>
> Same thing holds true at swap meets. Sometimes, a seller will be clueless
> and have something prices at pennies on the dollar. Just smile sweetly and
> pay the asking price, and gloat later.
>
> Earle Young
> Madison, Wisc.