You know what I'm thinking... Maybe he's hoping your the Q&A would be public. Making a $1700 offer certainly would scare a lot of potential bidders away. They would think that wouldn't have a chance at winning if this one guy was willing to fork over that much money sight unseen.

You feel me?

The person who posted it had some shady issues...I checked his feedback left and his feedback, and people made some scary comments and several talked about having to work with him post sale. I rejected the offer because the buyer scared me and because I actually thought it would go that high regardless. We'll see...I just want my money back.

I think you'll be okay in the end. Any luck w/ the tool kit etc.?

Not yet...it has to be around.

I see no reason to end the auction. I sold a wrecked Honda Civic on ebay. Before the auction was over, someone said he'd pay $1200 if I stopped the auction. I ended up getting $1675 for it. The buyer came with cash and a trailer to tow it.

Great listing! Knowing the demographic. I wonder how many watchers it will have near the end. It is so exciting when you have something high dollar on ebay with over 100 watchers, especially if you have some money tied up in the item!
I hope the market bears more than you need.

Thanks, me too! The photos could be a little better, but I think they get the point across.
I didn't like the prospective buyer...we shall see. I could swear I saw someone I know bid

I took out the mustache photo from the ad...Lori said it was too much.

I'm a watcher, but not a bidder. Just curious and hope you are able to sell it for top dollar.

you should post a couple of craigslist ads with links to the auction. Your in philly, there are doctors, lawyers, etc here in NYC that are avid cyclists and it's a short drive down to philly to pick it up, it might boost your pool of bidders.

PErsonally I never fully understood "collectibles" typically don't things become sought after because of how great they were and the quality? who cares about the quality if you aren't gonna use it! Bikes were made for riding!!!

my c&V experience consists of one restoration of an old hi ten bike from the 80s but you guys have piqued my interest.

There is a schwinn paramount that sits locked up outside this Electric bike shop in my neighborhood. it's in rough shape. what do these fetch in rough shape? should I go look at it and see the extent of the damage and whether it's worth restoring?

EDIT: Did you find out who the jazz musician original owner was? I'd put that in the auction, I wonder if theere is a way you could get the seller to authenticate it.

The CL idea is a good one and it might have a more important benefit...in hand pick up with no shipping. I much prefer local pick up.

I ride everyone of my bikes, though I rarely ride my one true collectible, the motorolla Merckx, because I'm terrified of killing it and also because I don't like it much. Still, I do ride it. If I kept the paramount, I'd ride it...which is part of why I'm not keeping it. For my purposes a lesser bike with more patina is probably more appropriate.

An old hi-ten bike from the 80s isn't the same breed of dog as db columbus, tange and reynolds.

I think it depends on how rough the shape is, if the parts are original, which model of paramount and what year it was made. It probably is worth looking at.

$1,338.13

VERY disappointing. I think not having the tool bag/papers really hurt it. Oh well...still made a few dollars.

Oh whales.

No, that wasnt it. Without getting into it I believe it was covered in my previous PM's....

Jim...you were likely right.

I went off my instincts as well as some other advice. Next time I'll do it your way and really appreciate the advice.

Was the advice about selling bikes in general or specific towards the paramount?

Hmm, I wonder what Jim would give to a Paramount seller.

I think it would be good general advice, but it was specific to this Paramount. Basically I wasn't sure how much to clean it, whether to overhaul it, or whether to replace rotted tires and pads. Jim's advice was to fully clean it, change tires and pads and restore. I felt like it was likely a wall hanger and would be better touched less.

I think he was right.

money aside IMHO I think you did the right thing for a bike that would have been a wall hanger for you. Let the next guy decide.

I think so too...and I still made a couple of dollars, just less than I'd hoped for or would have expected after a fairly substantial initial investment.

new set of tires and dinner out with the wife.

you'll nail 'em at T-Town if you show up ...you're all fulled up with bike Karma

That's actually looking better! My trainee is progressing well. Actually too well! It's annoying when someone is picking things up right away that you took a while to learn. I might be free and clear and doing only one job soon!