[CR] Interesting experience selling my Colnago

Recently I sold my tricolor Colnago Super on eBay (item 220602954381, http://www.nonlintec.com/ebay/colnagosuper for pictures). In the listing, I had limited the sale to US buyers only. I know that I probably could get more for it if I were willing to sell it overseas, but I've done that before and firmly believe that the hassle just isn't worth it.

To my considerable surprise, it was bought by a company, not an individual, called Shop Airlines America, Inc. Turns out they are in Carson, CA, just a couple blocks from Cal State University at Dominguez Hills. Since this is just a couple miles from me, I delivered it myself. Also, I was more than a little curious about the buyer.

So, I boxed the bike, stuck it in the car, and drove off to Carson. Shop Airlines, it turns out, is in a big building in an industrial park, with lots of very large UPS trucks backed up to the loading dock out back, lots of warehouse space filled with boxes, and offices in the front of the building. I was met by a pleasant young woman, obviously a Japanese national, who took the box and gave me a receipt.

I tried to ask some questions about the company, but she seemed uncomfortable speaking English (although she clearly understood me with no problems) so I didn't push it. But it seems that this company buys and ships items to Japan for the benefit of specific clients. I can see the benefit--a Japanese collector can get eBay items listed as "US only," and he has an organization to arrange shipping and deal with customs. I'll bet the bike ends up costing him twice what I sold it for, but that's his choice. In any case, he's getting a nice bike.

So, the bike is off to Japan. I have a vision of it gliding along under the cherry blossoms, or past the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, or under the brilliant fall foliage in Kyoto. I think it would be happy there.

Steve Maas
Long Beach, California