I see no indicator that the allen key for sale is genuine Campagnolo or high quality product. It seems to be an item with no sentimental value, no collector value, and only of utilitarian value.

If you take a look at the item, it in fact seems to be a very low end generic allen key, with a cheap dull black oxide coating that is already scratching off from just handling, and the ends do not appear to be machined like most quality allen keys are, although the picture is blurry. It appears to be standard size as well and no mention of what kind of steel or heat treatment. A single quality allen key should still not cost more than $5.

I'm not denying that all tools are not the same, but I stand by my statement, the $20 price is because of imperfect knowledge in the market, and is not fair market value. If I got conned by a used car salesman, just because I paid the price does not mean that it is fair market value.

Here is the link for reference: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-3-5mm-al...item4173d6ff7a

For reference a genuine Campagnolo allen key: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Campagnolo-O...p2047675.l2557

I'm fine if the seller values his time and expertise at $10, and it isn't worth selling an allen key for less than $10 profit. But in a fair market, with perfect knowledge, he simply wouldn't sell any allen keys. I don't make any money riding bicycles either. Just because someone pays a price does not mean that that is fair price, market price, etc.

JFWIW, I was spinning wrenches at the LBS when deltas were popular - well, semi-popular - and we quit using the Campagnolo tool because it rounded out too easily. We ended up ordering a a handful from the hardware store down the street, and they did the job.

So while I agree with with the idea of paying for good quality tools, this particular instance doesn't make for a good argument.

IMO, people buy $20 Delta wrenches for the same reason they buy $400 Delta brakes: they don't work especially well and are kind of a pain in the ass, but hey, they're "Campy cool"!

Oh, and I dunno if I mentioned this already, but the local crit rats (me included) would pop out the "jewels" from Cobalto calipers and replace them with the little plastic "eyes" containing a black "pupil" that rattled around inside. Wish I still had some; I could apparently put them on Ebay for a couple grand.

Googly eyes?

That's pretty funny.

If you read the description it never states that it is a Campagnolo allen wrench, only that it is a rare size.

One either believes this or they search ebay and discover you can buy 100 for $23.00 with free shipping..http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

My $900 Samsung dishwasher (which has turned out to be completely mediocre) uses a 3.5mm allen key for the levelling mechanism...and they didn't include a $%^#@**(! $1 allen wrench with the damned thing.

There's a standard Torx size that fits.

Pete

Yeah, that's it. I couldn't think of the name.

I should probably suffer some kind of torture for all the now-collectable Campy stuff I mangled in my racing days. Not to mention the Super/Nuovo/C Record stuff that simply got thrown away because it had been used for a season of racing...