On Sat, 03 Nov 2001 13:36:37 +0000 "Freddy Benjamin" <freddybenjamin@hotmail.com> writes: <As a self-confessed lurker who is still at the stage of soaking up information... >>>
Information is often a commodity. It's not (always) easy to seperate
the cost of acquiring information from the value we all get by receiving
it for free; last I checked, Dale doesn't charge for access to the CR
list.
Many people have spent a lot of time around the classic bike scene.
A few actually recall when these bikes were 'modern' NOT 'classic'.
Some listmembers are getting a 'free' education at the expense of
others who 'spent' years accumulating it.
If someone's life experiences allow them to attest to a 'Brev.' versus
'Patent' discussion or even 'the exact color pink used on Poulidor's
Mercier',
it's a treat to turn on the 'puter and read their opinions. All the
information is
of some value. If some people want to actually sell some tangible
goods too, I say 'let em'.
Dale has set the list guidelines for the CR timeline which covers
items and information up to the middle 80s and allows for a little
'fudging' now and then. I'm happy with the status quo. I see no reason
to omit the 'for sale' posts.
e-RICHIE
http://www.richardsachs.com (blatent commercial inclusion!!)
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On Sat, 03 Nov 2001 13:36:37 +0000 "Freddy Benjamin"
<freddybenjamin@hotmail.com> writes:
> Hi everybody,
>
> As a self-confessed lurker who is still at the stage of soaking up
> information before being anywhere near able to dispense it, I have
> held back
> from saying something about the increasingly commercial nature of
> the list.
>
> More and more it seems that traders and the like are simply using
> what is
> supposed to a source of information about old bikes as a marketing
> tool. It
> has been obvious for some time that there are people on the list who
> see it
> as a means of promoting themselves and their businesses but the
> situation is
> getting worse.
>
> People who used to have a clear out are now passing on their latest
> "finds"
> and others are more blatant. Naming no names but I know of one such
> who is
> actively scouring Ireland and other parts of Europe looking for
> bikes and
> components that are then offered to the list. Where do you think all
> this
> stuff comes from? I don't think it is the object of the list to
> provide a
> livelihood for these people. If they want to buy and sell like this,
> they
> should use Ebay or the classified adverts in a magazine. Or better
> still,
> they can set up a website and advertise their goods there-it isnt
> hard to
> do.
>
> I know that there are many people who are only too willing to buy
> and I may
> be in a minority but if we must have traders using the list like
> this, why
> can't their adverts be limited to one day a month. We could make it
> the same
> day and everyone would then know to expect it.
>
> This would not affect those people who genuinely have some stuff in
> their
> collection that they would occasionally like to get rid of but, by
> hitting
> their "cash flow", it might help discourage traders from making a
> fortune at
> the expense of other list members. It would also maybe serve to put
> an end
> to the cynicism that sees traders effectively swapping the odd bit
> of
> information in exchange for a platform from which to sell their
> wares. As
> far as I'm concerned, if they can't contribute their information and
>
> knowledge free of charge, they shouldn't be on the list.
>
> Come on Dale, put the brakes on these blatant traders.
>
> Freddy Benjamin