Joel, Without dragging this discussion too much further, one comment I'd make pertaining to the item that the seller is offering on eBay is that it's not the same as the current Brooks B.17 models. The description in my Rivendell No. 3 catalog (Summer 1997) for the Brooks B.17 saddle that Rivendell was selling at the time reads as follows (Grant's words, I would assume): "The prettiest saddle in the world, and the most comfortable we've sat on. A spiffed up (just for Rivendell) B.17 with Brooks Pro-thick honey brown leather, large hand- set copper rivets, chromed rails, and a chamfered lower edge."
Two things stand out in that description versus the current models of the B.17. One is "Pro-thick"..leather, the other is chromed rails. The current models of the B.17 are frequently mentioned in various forums as having poorer quality leather in the saddle which is not as durable as the earlier Brooks B.17. The current saddles are reported as sometimes wearing out before they are broken in (this has specifically been mentioned by Jan Heine). In addition, if someone wants a chrome rail B.17 they definitely can't purchase a new one from Rivendell, or anyone else for that matter. I agree with you, by the way, that price the Seller is asking on eBay appears too high. It may, however, have some justification to be described as a "special model" (they were never sold in some nifty box, by the way). Jim Cloud On Aug 1, 1:10 pm, JoelMatthews <[email protected]> wrote: > > I've sold a number of items on eBay over the years. In some instances > > my items sold for considerably more than I'd paid for them > > originally. > > As I have I both selling and buying. > > That is what auctions are all about. What caught my attention with > this sale however, is the seller set the initial price $55.00 above > what a new B-17 costs. Again, if the saddle is unused and still in > special edition box, maybe it is worth a mark up. Still not sure > about a $55.00 mark up, but whatever. > > If I were selling that saddle, I would put the base price at $70.00 > and feel really good if bidding brought it up to $120.00. As it is, I > will be real surprised if the saddle sells. Stranger things have > happened. > > On Aug 1, 12:07 pm, Jim Cloud <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I've sold a number of items on eBay over the years. In some instances > > my items sold for considerably more than I'd paid for them > > originally. The eBay market is a contract between the Seller and the > > Buyer, if the Buyer wants something enough to pay for it, whatever the > > price, whose problem is that? > > > I also have a Brook B.17 saddle that I purchased originally from > > Rivendell back in 1997 or so. It looks very similar to the one the > > Seller has available presently (mine is marked "6D9"). Since I'm not > > using this saddle I've definitely marked this Seller's item on my > > watch list. I'd have absolutely no qualms selling my saddle for more > > than what I paid! > > > In addition, I've frequently seen posts on this forum and other > > related forums (Internet-BOB) where someone nailed a very nice bike at > > a yard sale for next to nothing. The poster frequently brags about > > their buy and how they negotiated with the seller to obtain a lower > > price. Is this fair? > > > By the way, I don't buy anything on eBay that I can get for less money > > from another source. > > > Jim Cloud > > Tucson, AZ > > > On Aug 1, 4:57 am, JoelMatthews <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > This seller apparently believes the fact this used Brooks B-17 was > > > sold by Rivendell means it ought to fetch more than Rivendell will > > > sell you one new: > > > >http://cgi.ebay.com/Brooks-Rivendell-Saddle-/280542049122?cmd=ViewIte... -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
