Ive recently noticed what I can only describe as speicalist traders on a few bike forums. There was a similar case on the ctc forum involving some retro gear at a great price, which was then ebayed at a vastly inflated markup. I seem to recall the seller even boasting he had several sets of the article.
In the past, Ive replied to wanted ads and let things go at well below market price, some even free on the grounds that I wont need it and someone wants to complete a project and a enjoy a bike with my kit on it. I'd be very reluctant to do that now, unless it was a known forum contributor, who was part of the "family". Even some of these guys seem to be building bikes up and then selling on. Maybe the building part is the fun, but I like to see a bike ridden and enjoyed for some length of time before being sold on. I would feel very used to have supplied (at a favourable price) a part which then appears on a bike being immediately sold off.
the net effect is that the price of retro stuff is being hiked up and for me, I have little interest in owning a concours machine, its to do with a bit of nostalgia, durability and the possibility of owning a good bike at a fraction of the cost of modern stuff. Its now getting to the point, where its becoming just as economical to buy modern stuff online, which is a shame.
Ive also given stuff to some of the good guys on here and never even had an acknowledgement or thanks :cry:
rant over, feel better now ...
