Roy wrote:
> Well I waited until the second auction was over to post this
> (not to spoil it for Steven ;^), but I don't think the difference had
> anything to do with the wheel components. It has to do with language
> and availability.
>
> Both wheelsets were from Germany, but:
>
> Auction #1 is written in English, priced in US dollars, and
> available worldwide.
> http://ebay.com/
> $102.50 with 4 days to go)
>
> Auction #2 was written in German, priced in Euros, and
> posted/ship to Germany only. (went for $60.23)
> http://ebay.com/
>
> If you limit your selling area, you're not going to get top
> dollar (or top Euro).
Thanks for waiting! I spoke to the vendor and he was more than willing to ship to the US, but was going to charge 60 euros for shipping and didn't seem overly knowledgeable about how to pack the wheels. I therefore took this into account with my bid. The pair still up for bids would cost $26 for shipment to the US, therefore the price comparison becomes $128,50 for the wheels still up for bid and approximately $120 and a phone call to Germany for the other wheels (without freewheel). More interesting was a pair of pre-cpsc SR brake calipers that sold for $18. I have bought a number of things from Germany and Italy on Ebay and whereas they usually state that they won't sell internationally, if you will the auction, I have never had anybody not ship to me. Most vendors are quite surprised that they even get any interest from abroad. I believe the default setting when signing up a new auction on Ebay is for national and therefore the vendor must make a conscious decision to open up for sales abroad. It is also my understanding that the Ebay costs are highly variable depending on the country of listing. Italy is cheap because there is so little offered. Germany and the US are more expensive. It pays to look internationally! A 50th anniversary campagnolo gruppo, still in the suitcase, just went unbid in Germany for $1800 less than two weeks after one went for $2500 here in the US. A second gruppo, also in the suitcase, just sold in Germany for $1100. There have been some interesting all-original 1930-50's Bianchi and Taurus roadsters offered in Italy for $200 go unbid.
Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ
Steven
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