Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - California Prices?

Just received a Fuji Absolute 1986 bought on E-Bay for $125.00 plus freight. Condition is “disappointing” considering that last week I bought a local, very clean Del Ray for $80.00. This has got me thinking whether resale prices in California are considerably higher than the South East Coast (Florida)? No lectures, please, on the inherent risks of sight unseen Ebay purchases! I accept that risk every time I bid.

1. I find it hard to justify bikes on ebay once freight is added.

2. Some bikes on ebay go cheap, seemingly for no reason, others go high (like the Supersport last summer with a bent fork that went for over $1000).

3. ebay does take out the lower local market impact, although freight usually is an equalizer.

4. I have successfully bought a couple of flip bikes on ebay where I sold each within one week for 4X or more on Craigs List. But these were poorly described, wrong category, local pickup only or obscene shpping. After one bad shipping experience on ebay, I only buy bikes that I can drive and pickup.

5. Local bikes, particularly thrift store or garage sale are almost always the cheapest option. Then sometimes the Craigs List post if you move really quickly. Then you have the occasional ebay find. But out of the 30+ bikes I bought last year, only three were ebay (and one was the bad shipping experience).

OK, no lecture on sight unseen. How about sight seen? Don't feel bad about the Absolute, because you can get burned on a local pick up. Just because that local pick-up looks like a winner doesn't mean there are no serious problems waiting to be discovered. Examples that have happened to me (and I'll bet lots of others here), the drive train has been ridden to death so all parts must be replaced or the stem is frozen in the steerer or the seat post is frozen in the seat tube.
On the other hand, a Fuji Monterey that I found covered in brown stuff, you know rust, turned out not to be rust, but wood dust from being stored in a wood shop. The oil from the wood dust preserved the original finish, I've attached a pic of the "rusted" Fuji Montereay.
As for values. Any price off of ebay, unless it is local pick-up. Reflects the international or at least national value for that bike. If you were in a bidding war, then maybe you overpaid, but keep in mind, vintage bike prices are rising substantially. However, I don't buy vintage bikes for flipping off of ebay. I know others do, but they are seeking specific higher end models where they know the price plus shipping is low. As for California, everything out there seems to be higher priced. One way to find out how your area compares to others is to spend time on your local Craigslist, then go to Craigslist in other areas that are small market, but big enough to have a substantial bike for sale section. Raleigh NC meet that requirement and probably Pittsburgh and Philadelphia do as well.

Probably should have a thread called "Is There a Classic & Vintage Bike Bubble?" Stock market, housing market, commodities market, now C & V bicycle market? Hey, maybe I'll post one!

Check out the "numbskull" thread postings for today. Some guy in California is trying to get $375 for a 1968-69 "gas pipe" AMF 10-speed ala Murray et Huffy. Oh, yea...Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France on it, or was that Greg Lemond? Anyway, the term "competitive" was used in his ad. Do folks in California have their own currency? Is it like 1 California dollar = 37.5 U.S. dollars? Or, are some of these guys just a little "over zealous" in their asking prices?

Planet California is simply a different place. And after tomorrow, a lot more influential. Hide your wallet, your guns, and any potential fossil fuel reserves you may have. It also may be wise to give up smoking.

Planet California is simply a different place. And after tomorrow, a lot more influential. Hide your wallet, your guns, and any potential fossil fuel reserves you may have. It also may be wise to give up smoking.


What's happening tomorrow????? ;)
:commute: This is the only emoticon that I could find that potentially couldn't get me into trouble after today.

after immersing myself in southern California's craigslist bicycle underbelly for the past six months, I have to say prices are crazy high here, I thought I spotted a thrift store find the other day but when I went in the price on the bike was 125.00, at a thrift store!

but eBay prices put California prices to shame, I just bought a 72 Schwinn sport tourer for 180.00 and one went recently for over 500.00 on eBay, a couple of the flippers around here have gotten wise and seem to be raising their prices, using eBay as a kind of blue book.

Californians are more cunning and smarter, and perhaps have a dose of greed.

Deals? You want a deal? Go to the midwest.

From California, where no one wants to be taken, but everyone wants to take somone.