Greetings all...
I have been following with interest the thread about whether it is "right" to part out a certain rare & valuable bike or not....1) The bike is the property of the seller; they can do with it as they please....our approval is not necessary or solicited. 2) The classic bike market is a rough way to make a living....I buy & sell complete bikes, off of e-Bay, Craigslist, and other venues- I have often found that the only way not to lose money on these transactions is to sell the parts separately from the frames. I do not 'make a living' off of these sales; I have a 'real' job at a local non-profit bike shop; the sales & trades I make basically pay for my own bike Jones. 3) Parting out a bike often serves the needs of a greater number of people, rather than selling the bike 'intact'. How many of us are in need of only a period piece or two, to complete a long-running resto project- but we see those pieces only available attached to a $2,000+ bike sale. Offering the parts separately enables a larger number of people to complete their projects more economically- what's wrong with that? For instance- I recently sold the wheels, crankset, and brakes from a pre-Raleigh 'Carlton Flyer' to list members. All the buyers were very happy with their purchase, as it allowed them to finish various projects; I was happy as their purchases allowed me to be able to afford to complete some of my own projects....and, finally - why the all the resentment & thinly-veiled racism directed towards our fellow enthusiasts from Japan? An inquiring mind wants to know...
Regards, Larry Myers Portland, OR,USA
---------------------------------
Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.
Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.