Time for a rant, prices

[lensmansteve]

Yes, but I signed up to eBay early doors, and there have always been some really stupid prices, and sometimes a stupid buyer, better still, stupid buyers, to match.. I've seen many used things sell for more than they can be bought new.
I've bought a good few frames and bits on this site, and a complete bike too, and all have been total bargains. I'd reciprocate, if I ever got round to selling anything.
Ebay is great for many, many things- for bikes and bits, not for me.

 

[TOMAS]

I'm with you Steve on this very subject, like many others I watch the used markets a lot and have seen some utter examples of greed from some that should also know better too. Not a good time for buying, thankfully if you are a genuine seller... it's actually helping fuel those that want to sell for realistic prices - they get snapped up quickly when compared with the numpty prices out there.

It appears there is a shortage of bikes, I've had no end of family and friends of family who know I have a bit of a collection ask me if any are for sale as compared to the £700-900 tag of new 'entry level' mountain bikes out there the used market is very attractive, but as soon as I say they are cable brakes, 8 speed rear and no suspension they are put right off - how wrong could they be haha!

So for now i'm mainly riding, i'll leave buying any major builds until post lockdown when normal service resumes.

 

[themountie]

Re:

Lucky I am that the places I still buy stuff from the prices have not changed much at all

 

[Markybeau]

I still regret not buying a shiny new Brompton when they were £399

That must have been a long time ago...

 

[lensmansteve]

Yes Tomas, rigid forks and rim brakes are not as desirable to a beginner/casual rider as sus and discs. That's the way it goes, some call it progress. I'm an oldie, and when I was a lad state of the art was alloy rims and derailleur gears. I'm in my mid-sixties so I had to wait till my 30s to ride a decent off-road bike. Lots of trad road types were very dismissive of mountain bikes. Probably still are. What I'm trying to say is that some aspects of progress are to my liking, and some aren't!
As for the current "bike boom", I think disrupted supply lines from China have a lot to do with it.

 

[legrandefromage]

As for the current "bike boom", I think disrupted supply lines from China have a lot to do with it.

Thunk! The sound of a nail being hit firmly on the head - hadnt even considered that

 

[lensmansteve]

Nice to know that my Grade E in Economics has finally had it's day in the sun (literally, it's bloomin lovely out there today)
Supply an' demand, innit? Or looking at it today, could be it's demand that should be in front. Double whammy really. Maybe panic buying has been a factor too. Not with me though, I'm the type that, given the choice, would use newspaper rather than pay a tenner for a roll of toilet paper.. Pass me the hair shirt, Ethel..

 

[legrandefromage]

what the actual woof?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Carrera-TDF- ... SwfXJevZ7Q

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/USA-Design-R ... 3580128945?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Teenage-Boys ... Sw2pFetwOm

 

[lensmansteve]

My gast is duly flabbered. Wouldn't think anyone on this site was a winning bidder. Including me.

 

[brocklanders023]

Re:

It’s madness for sure.

Just seen a 2017 Cube Attain disc go for nearly£900 in decent but not mint condition. Seller even said he only paid £1200 for it and it would have struggled to get £600 before Covid.

As much as I like my non-disc version it’s in virtually unused nick and I do wonder if the money would come in handy for something else.....