The one that got away

[Jeff D]

Just missed this on Craigslist.  Called within 15 minutes of it being posted and the guy already had a deposit and two other callers ahead of me.  I told him he was gonna regret selling it!  He said he already was!
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/2534953860.html

Jeff DeBell

[checkcrew]

Jeff,

the bike is now on Ebay with a $1700 Buy it Now price, a far cry from the $645 craigslist deal,

either the owner changed his mind and listed it or the new owner is trying to be a Marketeer :-))))

still a nice Six-Day in good shape !!

Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]

[Nick]

It's also on Mark's Swapmeet for $1950 OBO.  It has the exact same narrative, but is being sold by someone named Alex instead of Bryce, so I guess Bryce sold it to Alex and Alex is using the same narrative.

[Jeff D]

A little bit...no a LOT...of price gouging going on there, huh.  I could see polishing it up and turning it for a couple hundred for your time and effort, but 17-1900?  That doesn't fit into my moral code.  Wish I'd called earlier.  If the bride didn't let me keep it, someone here would have had a nice bike for what I had in it.


Jeff DeBell

[454MRW]

The seller on Marks Swap Meet page wording suggests that it has been his bike for quite a while, so it might just have opened his eyes to the value and he re-listed it on Marks page for more $$$. It's now on ebay with a $1750 Buy it Now, Mike
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-Penton-125-Penton-Six-Day-125-1972-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem23132a641eQQitemZ150645400606QQptZUSQ5fmotorcycles

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1980 KTM 175-400'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT & 77 250 Black Widow
1979 Husqvarna OR250 & OR390
1976-78 RM & 77-79 PE Suzuki's
1974 CR250M 07 CR125R

[AndyL]

Jeff,
I missed it as well.  Called about the same time as you did.  I figured that if I didn't keep it, I could sell it to Mike G. without too much arm twisting.

I know of the new owner, you might as well.  You probably rode against him in some of the  Missouri vintage events several years ago.

He has been advertising alot lately.  Story is that he is looking to make some quick cash as his work has been slow.  

It is not uncommon for him to "re-use" the original owners ad wording on his own ad's or auctions.




Andy
#14u
MOVMX, AMA, AHRMA

[Jeff D]

Hey Andy,
I emailed him via ebay expressing my displeasure and he wrote back and said he's been off of work for 2 years and just trying to make a buck.  I have 2 thoughts on that...first, if he just asked 11 or 12 for it, nobody would have blinked an eye and he would have doubled his money for an hour's work.  Second, I lost my job a year ago and have been working 2 part-time gigs to the tune of 70+ hours a week.  Not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but there's work out there, at least in our area.  If someone's interested in the bike, bid it up to 11 or 12 and see if he takes it.  I can secure the bike and hold it for you or deliver to the Reunion or whatever.  Punkinhead McEntee is picking up the 400 Penton I snagged for him this weekend.  Just trying to do my part to feed the addiction!

Jeff DeBell

[checkcrew]

Andy,

hold on i resemble that remark []

i thought i recalled the new owners Ebay name,

also i agree with Jeff's comment about a fast sale for 11 or 12,
but do nothing to the bike, use the PO pics and wording, then triple the price is way over the top !!

OH Well, live and learn !!

quote:Originally posted by AndyL

Jeff,
I missed it as well.  Called about the same time as you did.  I figured that if I didn't keep it, I could sell it to Mike G. without too much arm twisting.

I know of the new owner, you might as well.  You probably rode against him in some of the  Missouri vintage events several years ago.

He has been advertising alot lately.  Story is that he is looking to make some quick cash as his work has been slow.  

It is not uncommon for him to "re-use" the original owners ad wording on his own ad's or auctions.




Andy
#14u
MOVMX, AMA, AHRMA

Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]

[t20sl]

Guess being in and around the motorcycle business for 40+ years gives me a different outlook.  If the buyer from Craigslist paid $1200 no one would be complaining.  He did not force the seller to sell.  He paid the price, saw the value and is making a profit if possible.  Guys, when did profit become a 4 letter word???  Why does the current seller need to make only a certain amount.     If the craigslist seller had cancer, was dying and 90 years old and was selling a million dollar painting for $50, yes I would  not take advantage of the situation and inform the seller of his error.  BUT, with the internet and the ease of a seller doing research on Pentons in my opinion the current seller is fine. My hat is off to him. Ted

[sixdazed]

Ted,Being in the business about the same time as you(god has it been that long[])my opinion may be tainted too,i think the guy is intitled to what he can get from the bike.I don't like him using the original sellers ad though-that seems misleading.A few years back that bike might bring 3k.                                                                                                                                      I say lets see what it sells for.I mean if you saw the ad earlier would you have said(to the original seller)hey,that bikes worth $1200 or $1800 (or whatever)-you're selling it too cheap???I know i wouldn't.Just my humble opinion.
                                Ric
I once bought a complete 70 steel tanker for 20 bucks,delivered so obviously i have zero conscience and i will probably rot down below for it but hey i only had 20 bucks on me at the time[}:)]I think cheap Pentons are  bonus for the other ones that cost you an arm and 2 legs or the ones that cause you grief just trying to secure them...either way i keep buying every one i can afford,because they are neat!But i've never sold any-traded a couple for a ktm but never sold one so i couldn't say what they are worth in currency,money management never being one of my strong points.Like Speedy says it's all about the bikes Soul...
ric emmal

[Jeff D]

Talked to the seller yesterday by phone.  Says he's been out of work for 2 years (union electrician) and finds old bikes, fixes them up and sells them to keep bread on the table.  Don't see any fixing up going on here.  If he can get his asking price, so be it, but I told him if no one bites I can find him a buyer here if he's willing to take something less than $1300 for his 10 minutes work.

Jeff DeBell

[t20sl]

Jeff:  Its been 5 days.  You missed out on the deal.  You complained to the new owner twice.  Let it go!
Ted

[Jeff D]

I'm not interested in the bike. My original contact with the first seller was to try to procure it quickly (because I knew it would go fast)and then see who wanted it here on the POG.  I wouldn't have asked a dime more than I paid for it and I would have been glad to hold onto it until delivery arrangements were made.  Somebody here could have had a nice $645 Penton, but since it appears my way of doing business is not the norm these days, whoever wants it can pay triple that on eBay.  I'll still offer to store it and get it in the transport pipeline if someone here picks it up.
If it doesn't sell on eBay or Marks and the seller wants some help moving it, you may see it here, but it won't be for $645.  I'll try to talk him into a more reasonable asking price.  And the procurement/storage/transport offer still stands.

Jeff DeBell

[tofriedel]

I'm guessing here, but I believe this is what happened.  The 1st caller committed to purchase the bike for the advertised price.  Soon after another caller offered more and then maybe another caller offered even more.  At that point he took it off the Craig's List market and went with eBay and Marks list.  

How he dealt with the 1st offer,  I have no idea.

From the seller's perspective, this process, questionable to some, gave him a more realistic value for his product.  

I have run into this 2 or 3 times when dealing with Craig's List.  I missed a 1969 Six Day some years ago under the same circumstance.  I was bummed about it, but I survived.

Good or bad, it is the way some people sell their goods.

Tony

[Jeff D]

Not to prolong the discussion, but original Craigslist seller did sell it for $645.  The buyer is the one flipping it, but I know what you mean.  I've seen the situation you're describing many times.  The original seller did get me the frame and engine #s which I forwarded to Prez Paul for archival purposes.

Jeff DeBell