I think my bike that got away just happened yesterday. I was at the bike co-op and kept coming back to what I thought was a mid 90s aluminum tourer. I pulled it out and discovered really nice components (Phil hubs, Magura hydralic brakes), all hung on what I still thought must be a black powdercoated aluminum frame, for $320. A bit above my price range, but I'm a sucker for touring bikes and I thought I'd learn something about those brakes.
The bike was pretty dirty and the seat post was stuck so I helped a couple of the workers (one of them the manager) get it loose. As we're working on it we both discover its no aluminum bike, but a titanium Litespeed, probably a Blue Ridge. I'm figuring this out about ten minutes before he is, but neither of us say anything definitively.
I lightly sand the post, lube it and take it for a test ride, return, and say ill buy it. As I walk back into the rear workroom to retrive the original saddle I see the manager on the internet. He says they underpriced it and that it should be priced at $1000 which is whats hung on it now.
I'm bummed. If it were any place other than a coop, I'd demand they honor their original price. Back in the late 80s I worked at a bike shop and wanted a Blue Ridge bad, but of course couldnt afford one. Hard for me to let this one go.