Classic & Vintage - I need some help pricing a frame for an insurance claim

I'll let my other thread speak for itself, but basically I was hit by a car earlier today and need help valuing my older Mercier frame for replacement. :(

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=248758

Repair is also an option I'd like to look into but I'm just not sure if it would be worth it.

don't know much about merciers but I don't think they fetch that much money. There is no blue book on these besides sheldon browns list thing. In car accidents if the cost of repair is more than the cost of a new frame than it's a write off. In this case I would say it's a right off. You could go with the argument that a new lugged steel frame of such and such tubing (what is it made of?) woudl cost this much but it isn't really equivalent since there is no such thing as a cheep production lugged bike these days though there are som cheeper non-lugged production bikes. If you want the most bang you could go with it's an irreplaceable classic and get a repair quote from marinoni (the bike will be better than it was if you send it to them). Unless it is a super high end mercier (again I know nothing about them) then it is not that reasonable to consider repairs. In my honest opinion the frame is worth no more than $200 pre-crash and that's probably pushing it unless it is 531, then maybe more. But your wheel should be good for at least an extra $100 bucks and your bars look like they might be bent.

Don't know what they're worth, but successful eBay auctions for similar items are a pretty standard appraisal method around here...

Unfortunately, in situations like this, with any vintage bike, the intrinsic value is greater than the usual selling price.

I strongly suspect that what will happen (based on my issues with cars before) the insurance company will make an offer based on their appraised value... what you think it is worth will mean little.

They will probably make an offer based on "used road bikes" so instead of trying to get a precise value, just get an estimate from eBay etc, and then be prepared to argue the level of bike they present as a suitable replacement.

As cycletoine mentioned, if replacing or repairing the individual parts costs more than the price of a similar bike on the open market, they will not pay to have it fixed, they will pay for a similar replacement. Therefore, you should quickly guess whether replacement of the whole bike is the cheapest path, and if not, then worry about the specifics like frame/wheel/bar etc. In my opinion, unless the going price for a similar bike is > $300 or so, you are probably looking at a bike replacement offer instead of repairing/replacing the components. Also, depending on the insurance company, they will want the bike since they have in effect bought it from you... though they might waive their rights on that... they did for me when I was rear ended while I was driving an old junker...

Good luck!

Bummer about the accident but glad you're okay. You noted on the other thread that you paid $100 for the frame. Well, I guess that's your claim then.

Neal

I dissagree that the frame isn't worth much....It's not worth a fortune but I'd say around $500 retail. That frame would fetch around $400 on eBay right now.....so add another $100 for retail LBS. Good, vintage track frames (and Mercier is respected) are at an all-time high right now (some would say rediculous).

OOPS! I apologise! I did not notice it was a track frame. **Cha-ching!** M-theory is right they sell for way more on ebay. Dang, I feel a twang of your pain now. So Sorry.