Classic & Vintage - God i hate ebay bidding wars!

today I lost out on THREE cranksets. THREE!!
:notamused:

Maybe I'm just having a bad day, but I can't be the only who feels the same way.


honestly, living without a crankset for my bici is horrible.


what about you guys?

if you have any cranks to throw about, why not send it to me! haha

Try the ISO and For Trade thread on this forum. Problem solved. :thumb:

Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth.

You should fit in here.

Bid your max...if you don't win you didn't want it as much as someone else. Simple.


Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth. You should fit in here.

Wanting to get an item for as little as possible isn't cheap. Conversely, is a seller who wants to sell for as much as possible a horrible person?

Why the pejoratives?

Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth.

You should fit in here.

"Worth" is such a loaded word. I've read that there is software that you can get that allows you to hijack an ebay auction. I'm not sure what the point of the software is, it seems like if you find something you want to bid on, take emotion out of it and figure out what is the most you would want to pay for it. You'll either win it or you wont, but getting into a bidding war will suck the dollars right out of your wallet, which is exactly how ebay makes it's gazzilions

Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth.

You should fit in here.

haha nice to know I'm in good company


but yeah, I guess I understand what you guys are saying

thanks for the "advice" hah

Bid your max...if you don't win you didn't want it as much as someone else. Simple.



Wanting to get an item for as little as possible isn't cheap. Conversely, is a seller who wants to sell for as much as possible a horrible person?

Why the pejoratives?
Keith, the OP lost three auctions in a day. I think it is fair to say that he was unwilling to pay the real worth of the crank(s) in question. Is that a negative statement, or just harsh reality?

To answer your first question, the reason one sells on eBay is to maximize one's profit. That should be obvious.

Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth.

You should fit in here.

Yer killin' me. :lol:

Keith, the OP lost three auctions in a day. I think it is fair to say that he was unwilling to pay the real worth of the crank(s) in question. Is that a negative statement, or just harsh reality?

To answer your first question, the reason one sells on eBay is to maximize one's profit. That should be obvious.

I suppose I was reacting to the "You should fit in here." part. I still don't understand why it's ok for a seller to maximize profit but somehow wrong for a buyer to minimize expenditure.

Hey OP, why don't you paste us the three auctions? I'd be interested to see.

Hey OP, why don't you paste us the three auctions? I'd be interested to see.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350411731553&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

this was the only one I could find. I realize it didn't sell for much, but I'm on a budget. And i had to choose between two others.
one was a shimano 600EX (arabesque) crankset, and the other was a vintage dura-ace crankset that looked amazing with a UN-91 bb with it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120646352568&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156


found it

60 bucks for the good condition DA7400 crank, with BB, shipped??! That's not bad at all!.......
Actually, I noticed a lot of stuff is going for cheap out there lately. So better bid up as it will not get any cheaper till I think next year, this time again.

Chombi

God i hate ebay bidding wars!



The whole purpose for eBay's existance, it's raison d'etre, is to allow & encourage "bidding wars".

i hate it too

60 bucks for the good condition DA7400 crank, with BB, shipped??! That's not bad at all!.......
Actually, I noticed a lot of stuff is going for cheap out there lately. So better bid up as it will not get any cheaper till I think next year, this time again.

Chombi

Is vintage stuff seasonal ? I would have thought it didn't matter as much compared to "regular" road parts.

Me too, thats why I use an ebay snipe software (automatic bid in the last few seconds).

I notice the price of parts varies from week to week, so keep bidding and you might 'win' eventually

Sometimes I think its better to buy a whole bike, harvest the parts you want, and sell the rest. That way you pay next to nothing for the parts you want, and with some luck, actually make some money. It's a little bother, but if you are on a budget, could be a good way to go.

60 bucks for the good condition DA7400 crank, with BB, shipped??! That's not bad at all!.......
Actually, I noticed a lot of stuff is going for cheap out there lately. So better bid up as it will not get any cheaper till I think next year, this time again.

Chombi

I would have stayed away from that auction or at least asked a few questions a here's why:

1: Small chainraing was NOT Dura Ace
2: Mis-matched crank bolts. Why?
3. NO dust caps. They usually run $25/pr.
4. What length is the cartridge BB?
5. What model is the cartridge BB?

My question for the OP is this, what exactly are you looking for? It seems your looking for high end but dont want, or dont realize what high end crankset sell for. That being said, I have a very nice Campagnolo Gran Sport crankset in VGC condition I'll sell you for $60 plus shipping.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/bf%20stuff/DSC03686.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/bf%20stuff/DSC03687.jpg
http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/bf%20stuff/DSC03689.jpg

If you're going after name brand stuff like record and dura ace of course its going to sell high, I've even seen arabesque cranksets sell for $60+ I'm not saying you may not get lucky sometimes, just doesnt happen very often. I only got about 12$ or something like that for a 7402 Dura ace RD on ebay few weeks ago, typically they will sell for around $40, so it may not be a bad time of year to hunt for deals. Or you can just use my approach, buy stuff thats so ugly no one else will bid on it, I got a 7700 DA crank that way, 10 bucks cause it was scratched to hell, i just sanded the thing down and polished, oh and I just bought this, basically for shipping:

http://i56.tinypic.com/282kg48.jpg

I needed a 60mm stem, im not gonna pay $30 for something that looks pretty when it works all the same!

Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth.

You should fit in here.

:)

Sometimes I think its better to buy a whole bike, harvest the parts you want, and sell the rest. That way you pay next to nothing for the parts you want, and with some luck, actually make some money. It's a little bother, but if you are on a budget, could be a good way to go.

That's what I did yesterday.

Bought the whole bike and stripped it in world record time.

Sold the frame to a guy at the shop who was going to buy a Surly Pacer.

Ended up with a Nuovo Record gruppo for peanuts.

.......and another tubular wheelset to add to my collection.

Me too, thats why I use an ebay snipe software (automatic bid in the last few seconds).

I notice the price of parts varies from week to week, so keep bidding and you might 'win' eventually

+1. Bid groups are great too. Set up snipes on multiple items, but as soon as you win one (or the number you specify) all the others are cancelled without a bid being tendered. It's a huge time savings, and prevents emotional bidding wars, which I for one want no part of.

today I lost out on THREE cranksets. THREE!!
:notamused:

Maybe I'm just having a bad day, but I can't be the only who feels the same way.


honestly, living without a crankset for my bici is horrible.


what about you guys?

if you have any cranks to throw about, why not send it to me! haha

The bidding wars!! I don't get in them.

This how I go about bidding in ebay.

1. First I see what I want, and if it is something I truly want and will pay, I check the time, and put a WATCH ON IT.

2. I don't BID right then. IMO, if I bid with 2 days, or even 1 day, or even 1 hour before the bidding is up, IMO, that only pushes up the price and let the other bidders aware that I am on to it. That will make the other bidders INCREASE their maxium bid. Not good...

3. I wait until the last couple seconds, that is, if the crazy bidding hasn't already gone over the max I will pay, and if that is the case, I don't bid at all. But, if the bidding is below what I will pay, at the last couple seconds, I put in my maxium bid. The other bidders got one shot to out bid me, or if their maxium bid is over what I put in, they win. I am not on ebay to push prices up..I go on ebay to try to get the best buy for my dollar. Just like on the Price Is Right, the one that has the last bid, just bids 1 dollar over the last bid, and they win with everything else. It is call using common sense.

Didn't mean to run it, but I guess that is why I was very successful professional poker player/gambler for about 40 years, and did dam good, because I used basic common sense.. :D

I hope the OP isn't just looking at any crankset assuming it will fit the existing bottom bracket (whatever that is). Hate to have someone else ruining a decent vintage Campy or other crankset cranking the **** out of the mounting bolts to try to make it work :palm:

Seems like you may be too cheap to pay what they are worth.

You should fit in here.

Hey, Old Fat Guy, I resemble that remark! :D

BTW, IMHO We are heading into the best time to buy on ebay. For three years running I've found December to be thee month to buy on ebay. I upgraded both of my MTBs to Fox F-100 forks for $210 and $250 (with Terralogic) by buying in December. If I had bought those forks two months earlier or later, they would have cost about $100 more. Just Sayin'

Wow Monday morning and we've already got an eBay thread going! :lol:

I'd bet my Left recessed Brake nut that we've got a Fixie rant by tomorrow morning ;)




if you have any cranks to throw about, why not send it to me! haha

shoot me a PM if you want a double, I've got one to get rid of.

Wow Monday morning and we've already got an eBay thread going! :lol:

I'd bet my Left recessed Brake nut that we've got a Fixie rant by tomorrow morning ;)

I'll see your Fixie rant, and raise you a Rivendell vs. V-O!

Neal

I think the greatest frustration is when you're one of only two bidders and you lose......I always think, maybe the next guy wouldn't have gone up the extra $1.....? In reality he probably woould have and there would have been no end in sight until you become the guy who paid THAT for it. Still sad to lose though.

what this thread needs is a females perspective. Just saying.

I'll see your Fixie rant, and raise you a Rivendell vs. V-O!

Neal

I see your Rivendell vs. V-O and raise you a HELMET. Go ahead...raise. :)

I see your Rivendell vs. V-O and raise you a HELMET. Go ahead...raise. :)

Nope, can't be raised. Throwing Helmet arguments into the ring is the bicycle equivalent of Godwin's Law :lol:

chip in obligatory nudge-nudge homophobic comment and/or unintentional ethnic slur ...I'll stay wait... Helmets, too rich for my blood I fold.

I see your Rivendell vs. V-O and raise you a HELMET. Go ahead...raise. :)

Neal, I think you should fold. :lol:

Since I have to go look up Godwin's Law, I'm definitely going to fold.

Neal

I see your Rivendell vs. V-O and raise you a HELMET. Go ahead...raise. :)

Eh, it's probably too cold to get too many casual riders out there for me to try throwing my "why didn't X type of rider wave" into the kitty, so I'll take my weak sauce back home too.

I set it, forget it.
Win-Fine
Lose-Fine, well, not really, it ticks me off quite often.

Yuengling really helps in that regard.

the flip side of a bidding war is that if you're the seller, *you're* the biggest winner.

I'll see your Fixie rant, and raise you a Rivendell vs. V-O!

Neal

C'mon gys, when's the next "stuck stem/seatpost" or "What's the best way to wrap a handlebar" or "Got myself a PX10 (really a UO8)'............post coming up this month?? I can't wait!

Chombi

C'mon gys, when's the next "stuck seatpost" or "What's the best way to wrap a handlebar" or "Got myself a PX10 (really a UO8)'............post coming up this month?? I can't wait!

Chombi

And who'll be the first to say the fork's bent?

Since I have to go look up Godwin's Law, I'm definitely going to fold.

Neal

Nazi.......

Nazi.......

Hah! (Yes, I did look it up.)

Neal

And who'll be the first to say the fork's bent?

DANG,!! I knew I missed a real big one!!:D

Chombi

Everytime I lose something on ebay I just tell myself "next week they'll be another one, and it will go for cheaper" and there usually is...

Yes, something always does come up even after you think you just missed the last one for sale in the whole world.
I still remember searching long and fruitlessly for a Mavic 851 RD 2-3 years ago and almost losing hope of ever finding one, now there's a steady stream of 851s of all sorts of condition at eBay and they are getting cheaper every month they're around. Last good one (looks mint) sold for less than 60 bucks last week! I've seen them sell as high as close to 200 bucks before.
Same with Simplex/Mavic retrofriction shifters. Just when the supply seems to go down to a trickle this summer and prices hitting just below a hundered bucks.......they start popping up again these last couple of months in good steady numbers and many in nice condition.
Even the much drooled after 50th anniversary Campy groups come up every year.....if you are willing to pay the price....

Chombi

It makes me think that when potential sellers see some item go for a small fortune, they comb through their parts bins and flood the market, thereby depressing the price.

Guess I won't be selling those retrofriction levers for a while!

Neal

Guess I won't be selling those retrofriction levers for a while!

Neal

Simplex?

the flip side of a bidding war is that if you're the seller, *you're* the biggest winner.

Exactly.

And OFG has it right. Something is worth what someone will pay for it today. The OP didn't want to spend that today and someone else got the item. We're grown folks here. Move on, brother.

I'll see your helmet and raise you a 'campy vs shimano'.

Maybe we should ask Dottie?