Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Hi-Res pics of a Brooks B72... about to list for sale...

Hello,
I recently got a 3 speed Raleigh with this beauty on it. I'm going to sell it as I need the cash. Would anyone like to comment on the condition or just recommend a reasonable starting bid price for E Bay? I didn't touch it up with any goop as I would rather let the enthusiast who buys it have the pleasure of the before & after & I would rather not mess it up.

here is a like to the pics http://brewersbikes.tumblr.com/

thanks!
-danny

Personally, I would do something about the rusty rails.

+1, Hit the rails with some 0000 steel wool. I'd start it .99¢ Low starting bids generate more interest.

I would start it at $.99 as stated and it should end up in the $35-$45 range with $7 for shipping. The condition is just ok because there is alot of cracking near the rivets and the rust. Good luck.

Hello,
Would anyone like to comment on the condition? [/url]


The condition is horrible!

The leather is dry and cracked and it has some deep tears in it. The tear by the nose and around the holes spells doom for this saddle.

The undercarriage is a "rusty bucket" that will be difficult to clean.

Ebay starting price = $0.99. I wouldn't buy it at any price.

Why not give it away to someone you don't like. :)

Ouch.

The condition is horrible!

The leather is dry and cracked and it has some deep tears in it. The tear by the nose and around the holes spells doom for this saddle.

The undercarriage is a "rusty bucket" that will be difficult to clean.

Ebay starting price = $0.99. I wouldn't buy it at any price. Why not give it away to someone you don't like.

the emperor has no clothes!! thank you I was thinking the same thing but couldn't bring myself to say it. is it a rare model?

Thanks mike, way to really bust the F out of someone who was asking for a lil help. I wasn't sure, that is why I was asking. You bike snobs are the worst.

You asked for opinions, correct? I made an extra effort to include your question in my original post. You are not asking for help. You want to make a buck out of selling the item. There's nothing wrong with that, in itself, but don't try and BS me or anyone else about your altruistic intentions. You asked about condition and valuation and I gave it to you.

I'm not a bike snob, or any other kind of snob. Where did you ever come up with that? I just answered your question truthfully.

I have a b-15 in dry condition/tried to revive it.[all the tricks found on the web] Eventually cut the skirts back and laced it to try and save.....the skirts snapped inhalf like twigs when I bent them out of curiosity. Once they are cracked there is no saving them. I think to recover them costs as much as a new one anyway; so I can't imagine the undercarriage selling for much. List it anyway, someone may need it for a nonrider.

it's not in the best shape as stated. Just be up front about the condition and post all the pics and it should still sell. After some treatment I've ridden several saddles in that kind of shape for a few thousand miles and they held my heavy butt up fine.

I've also cleaned up rust much worse than that and it wasnt a big deal at all.
Overall it's not great, but not nearly as bad as Mike made it sound.

That's my opinion.

I will give a very specific criticism: In the last picture there are a couple of cracks at the bottom of the leather. I had a B72 that tore there and went right up to the doubler (second piece of leather that bascially followed the shape of the top of the saddle. The problem with your saddle is that from the pictures there is no doubler on that B72 (not sure when they stopped that, but modern B72s don't have doublers; my mid-1960s version does). On my saddle, it was salvageable because the tear stopped at the doubler. I took it to a shoe repair shop and they bonded a patch to the back side of the leather. If your B72 tears, it will go all the way through without a doubler. It is also likely to tear at the nose. I think that is why several people gave negative feedback. I would put it up for something like $5. Still low enough to generate interest and my you may get $30-40 for it.

Ebay starting price = $0.99. I wouldn't buy it at any price. Why not give it away to someone you don't like.

I just thought this was a bit of a low blow. But it's all good, I listed it for $.99 to start with & the pics are plenty revealing enough for whomever buys it to see the shape it is in.

Mike, you appeared to be a snob with a sarcastic & snide comment. but it's all good...

About my intentions, and them being altruistic, I'm not here to rip anyone off or to get something for nothing, so why are my intentions being called into question? Do you really assume to know my intentions?

Thanks for the comments folks, even Mike's, it made for an interesting lil thread.

You're absolutely correct about the snide comment. It was a failed attempt at humor to try and lighten things up a bit after a negative evaluation of your seat. Failed it was.

I should have put a smiley by it. :)

In the world of ebay, you never know what can get interest. I bet it will get some interest, despite the issues mentioned above. As I mentioned earlier, I would have spent a couple of minutes on the rust, as sometimes buyers freak out on rust.

Let us know how it goes.

Its whipped. Start it at .99 but dont expect more than $10 or $15 for it.

Well, it already has one bid. And with $15 shipping, its already done well.

FWIW: There are worse ones on ebay right now. One is missing the entire nose area completely.

I guess you found it Bill, Yeah, buying behavior can be well predicted, but I'm careful not to think that what I perceive the value to be is not the value someone else might place on the item. Within reason. I'll let you all know how the bidding goes.

-danny

Its whipped. Start it at .99 but dont expect more than $10 or $15 for it.

looks like you're winning the bidding so far :)

I guess you found it Bill, Yeah, buying behavior can be well predicted, but I'm careful not to think that what I perceive the value to be is not the value someone else might place on the item. Within reason. I'll let you all know how the bidding goes.

-danny

Yep, you never know about ebay. I just sold a men's sweater last night for $110. The market decides value, not me, or other posters on this list. I will often share my opinion, but sometimes things go a lot higher than I predict, other times they go for less.

I may just have to and nickle to that .99 cent bid to get the frenzy going ti keep my $35 initial estimate from looking lame.