It's always daunting starting something new, and a blog is no different. Where to begin? Of course, you don't get around to starting a blog until way too late, not until you wade through all the stuff you've been working on, give it some semblance of order. And by that time, it's too late. You've forgotten half of it. This should have been started Day 1. Nonetheless, let's go.
My first "I should write about this" thought came from an email I received from someone inquiring about a bike for sale, a vintage Peugeot Perthus model in Reynolds 531.
Basically this person was whinging that my prices were too high. The email went like this:
"Hello -
I'm interested in your bike... but I must say I find the asking price a little out of order.
I'm relatively new to the road bike world - but can't find another bike like yours priced anywhere near as high... is there something I'm missing? How old is it? Price when new? Condition?
Are you open to more reasonable pricing? Similar bikes are going for about half what you're asking - if that interests you I'd make an offer."
And I thought, "OK, I'm open minded." And I also know that I am no genius when it comes to the bike market. So I replied, trying to open some discussion:
"Hello, Hmmm, I try to always be reasonable.
maybe you could direct me to a couple of bikes for sale that are comparable and half this price. I could then try to explain the differences. Or, if I am out of line, I would consider adjusting my price.
So let's start with that. Show me your comparables and then we can talk more concretely.
and I get this:
"Thanks - but I'm not interested in a great deal of back and forth.
It looks nice - but rather than me showing you a bunch of 500$ bikes, consider what else is on the used bike market for 1000$ and see if you're in the ballpark.
Best -"
and I end the conversation with:
"Dear X, So, you start this non-conversation by stating that you are new to the road bike world and then you reply suggesting that you don't actually want to learn anything about the difference between apples and oranges road bikes?
As you wish then. Good luck with your search."
Snippy I know. And probably bad business. But I was left baffled. Though maybe it was just a stealth stink bid that I should never have taken serious anyway.
I guess the point here is (beyond Be Polite and Never Take It Personally) is that Yea Peugeot made hundreds of different models often with very similar paint jobs. And only a few were collectible or of interest. Don't confuse peugeot with PEUGEOT. And, as Mike Barry of the late Bicycle Specialties pointed out at a recent gathering of the No Click Cycling Club, an all-Campy-clad bike is really not that interesting. Beautiful Yes, but not so interesting any more.
What is interesting is something like this Peugeot Perthus that has not a lick of anything Shimano or Campagnolo but instead has this wonderful mishmash of Mavic and Simplex and Spidel and Stronglight and all original French parts of the era.
Nice.
Peter
My first "I should write about this" thought came from an email I received from someone inquiring about a bike for sale, a vintage Peugeot Perthus model in Reynolds 531.
Basically this person was whinging that my prices were too high. The email went like this:
"Hello -
I'm interested in your bike... but I must say I find the asking price a little out of order.
I'm relatively new to the road bike world - but can't find another bike like yours priced anywhere near as high... is there something I'm missing? How old is it? Price when new? Condition?
Are you open to more reasonable pricing? Similar bikes are going for about half what you're asking - if that interests you I'd make an offer."
And I thought, "OK, I'm open minded." And I also know that I am no genius when it comes to the bike market. So I replied, trying to open some discussion:
"Hello, Hmmm, I try to always be reasonable.
maybe you could direct me to a couple of bikes for sale that are comparable and half this price. I could then try to explain the differences. Or, if I am out of line, I would consider adjusting my price.
So let's start with that. Show me your comparables and then we can talk more concretely.
and I get this:
"Thanks - but I'm not interested in a great deal of back and forth.
It looks nice - but rather than me showing you a bunch of 500$ bikes, consider what else is on the used bike market for 1000$ and see if you're in the ballpark.
Best -"
and I end the conversation with:
"Dear X, So, you start this non-conversation by stating that you are new to the road bike world and then you reply suggesting that you don't actually want to learn anything about the difference between apples and oranges road bikes?
As you wish then. Good luck with your search."
Snippy I know. And probably bad business. But I was left baffled. Though maybe it was just a stealth stink bid that I should never have taken serious anyway.
I guess the point here is (beyond Be Polite and Never Take It Personally) is that Yea Peugeot made hundreds of different models often with very similar paint jobs. And only a few were collectible or of interest. Don't confuse peugeot with PEUGEOT. And, as Mike Barry of the late Bicycle Specialties pointed out at a recent gathering of the No Click Cycling Club, an all-Campy-clad bike is really not that interesting. Beautiful Yes, but not so interesting any more.
What is interesting is something like this Peugeot Perthus that has not a lick of anything Shimano or Campagnolo but instead has this wonderful mishmash of Mavic and Simplex and Spidel and Stronglight and all original French parts of the era.
Nice.
Peter
RSS Feed
