[CR]Was: Colnago Pista, now: giving opinions about For Sale items...

(Example: Framebuilding)

Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:07:00 -0500
From: <oroboyz@aol.com>
References: <20060127070914.99147.qmail@web34605.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <43D9D854.2EAD1EC2@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To: <43D9D854.2EAD1EC2@earthlink.net>
To: chuckschmidt@earthlink.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Was: Colnago Pista, now: giving opinions about For Sale items...

Chuck wrote:

<< I'm kind of concerned about this kind of idle conjecture on the CR list about bikes on eBay with nothing noted other than "isn't there something wrong with this bike" and nothing factual to back it up. I'd be pretty mad if it were my bike for auction being discussed in such a cavalier fashion as to its authenticity.>>

This sort of issue has come up many times here on the CR list and (surprise) I see both sides of the problem.

It does seem unfair to publicly speculate about For Sale items on auctions when the seller is not aware of the discussion and cannot cannot defend against our concerns. Perhaps it is not a good practice to write "Something just doesn't look right about that..." Maybe it would be better to form some more specific and knowledgable observation before posting... And we are a suspicious lot!

BUT, we are suspicious because we have very good reasons to be! Sharks & incompetents abound....bad photos, deliberately obtuse or inaccurate descriptions are common. Sellers either purposefully deceive or are not competent to present an accurate description of the item they are trying to sell. As a merchant myself, I am impatient with people who want good money for goods yet will not make the effort to properly and completely present those goods to the potential buyer. A buyer is naive if she/he is not wary and cynical in their approach to purchasing something almost sight unseen.

I think this forum serves a great purpose in helping all of us understand the nature and quality of the vintage goods bought & sold. Not whether the price is good or bad, (that's imappropriate) but giving an informational context for the involved parties to make their own decisions.

So my advice is for all CR list members to slow down before in chiming in about an auction or For Sale item. Think about what the problem might be and do not post until you have concrete information to add. "Instincts", intuitions or guesses can damage the quality of the discussion unless supported by facts.

Thanks Dale

Dale Brown Greensboro, NC USA http://www.classicrendezvous.com

-----Original Message----- From: Chuck Schmidt <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net> To: CR <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:25:05 -0800 Subject: Re: [CR]Colnago Pista

I see nothing wrong with the Colnago currently on eBay (Item #7214102400). The auction photo of the BB shell with club/flower cutout looks like the same one on the three Colnagos I own: http://www.premiumwanadoo.com/sceno234/photoebay/1002.jpg

The upper circle of the club/flower looks a little pinched in the photo but when I look at the cutout in my bottom bracket shells they look pinched also from the same slightly sideways (off vertical) viewpoint of the photo.

The seller also mentions it might be a repaint but that the decals are all original and no guess on the year of manufacture.

I'm kind of concerned about this kind of idle conjecture on the CR list about bikes on eBay with nothing noted other than "isn't there something wrong with this bike" and nothing factual to back it up. I'd be pretty mad if it were my bike for auction being discussed in such a cavalier fashion as to its authenticity.

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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