Dee, I can't claim to have specific experience with coins but for many collectible categories a guide is very useful to both collectors and dealers (assuming it is accurate) since it provides actual sales histories rather than theoretical asking prices. Obviously it is important to consider whether at a given point in time recent sales have been strong and indicate a trend to even higher future sales above the previous histories. A reference such as this benefits an amateur in that it provides an approximate idea of what they should ask for an item they are selling, especially since not being in that business they may not have a sense for what the market is. It also is useful for an amateur in trying to get a sense of what a given item that he might be interested in purchasing is likely to cost. For dealers such a guide is often a reality check reflecting what an item is actually likely to bring rather than just listing an inflated price based on the feeling that the item is rare or desirable. Lastly by having a database of actual realized prices by type or brand it is possible to compare and contrast trends in a market and between brands. Obviously ideally buyers usually would prefer to get a great deal and pay less than the going rate and sellers for the most part want to realize the best possible profit but this is true with or without a guide. As to whether it would be worthwhile for someone to expend the time and effort to put together and maintain a comprehensive and accurate guide for vintage lightweights, that's another question entirely. For my part I hope Mike finds the time to do it. I really used to enjoy perusing his old guide and found it interesting. I didn't always agree with all his opinions, guesstimates or premises but it was a great point of reference and educational. All the previously mentioned concerns about the need to quantify differences in condition, accessories, etc. have been addressed in other collectible categories such as cars, stamps and furniture so this is all certainly possible for vintage bicycles.
Edward Robert Brooks Managing Director Edward Roberts International Auctioneers of the Fine and Rare 1262 West Winwood Drive Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 Phone- 847.295.8696 Facsimile- 847.295.8697 Email- ebrooks@eriwine.com Website- http://www.eriwine.com -----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of d-gordon@sbcglobal.net Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 4:51 PM To: rapidfire10ring@hotmail.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: RE: [CR]Price Guide? We don't need no stinkin' price guide!!!(andthePX-10)
This is what happens all the time, especially with rare coins. Smart dealers have something to point to, to show sellers (and prove) that they are paying them a fair price, when in fact they know the price guide is wrong. I can show many examples. The dealers 'know' and benefit by the lowball figures, just as the can benefit from the too-high figures as another strategy.
-Dee Gordon Los Angeles
>>>I mean if I like Grandis bikes would I price them low in the book to get
them cheap or wait for the revised edition, price them high then sell my
collection? Just my 2 cents wort on this one.