What's up with asking prices lately?

When I first joined this forum about 5 years ago you could get some decent deals. Some really really nice bikes for Euro 400-500.

Now we have Gazelles with asking prices of £750-£1000. That's about Euro 1000 - 1250. Has the market really risen that much?

Come back Maryann...

More people buying to sell on, more shops dealing in older frames, prices creep up, as supply dwindles but demand dosen't.

There's still decent deals, but there's also people that join the forum just to sell something and ask silly money. For example:
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/282123/#comment12814088

Lots of great deals still about, e.g.

http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/282165/#comment12814265

Tories

I think with regard to track stuff, hhsb trends lean more towards old steel now more than before, which seems to be reflected in the classifieds

Could be worse later in the year as the Olympic hype kicks in, buy now sell later :)

Yeah, there are still some decent enough deals from time to time. And in the same timeframe track stuff I think has always been fairly steep. But just recently I don't know...seems to be a bit crazy on the expectation side.

It's the Russians and the Frenchies..

lot of stuff in benelux has risen (eg at source) and almost acheiving external market prices
vendors are also increasingly market savvy, i.e., searching the item they are vending before listing and expeting higher values

People on the forum used to complain more, about the high prices on here, to the seller. I see that has gone down a bit. True that vintage bikes are now more requested than ever.
More people riding, higher high street prices for crappy bikes push prospective buyers on the second hand / vintage market.
They know little and if the bike is nice looking and clean they might be lured into getting it at high prices that are still somewhat cheaper than new.
There is little to be done. Just be more patient I guess

regarding the vintage market,I assume there is finite amount of 'stock' in ''original owners'' hands, this source is unsustainable, therefore, traders in vintage are acheiving higher yields, cycling has become a lifestyle choice for increasing numbers, as has implementation of cycle infrastructure in numerous metroplolitan locales
the growth/global spread of L'Eroica and other vintage themed rides has also arguably contributed
some vintage brands are more in demand and have higher yields than other of course
some say it could go like the vintage car market, who knows, perhaps vintage steel will be part of investment portfolios in time

But that stock is not being destroyed that quickly is it. It's still in their hands. Issue is that it is stuck there :-/

I've seen some outrageously good deals on here in the past few weeks. Maybe not 'classic' or 'vintage', but some great bikes for stupidly low prices.

Guess it's the time of year.

i don't understand what you mean by ''not being destroyed that quickly"
i can't see how it would be destroyed, it would change value if (hypothetically) vintage stock only lay in the hands of traders

Hipsta tax

agreed, i think the mid life crisis demographic is also a contributing factor

I couldn't agree more. I guess the high prices will draw even more demand as it will become a status icon. I saw a guy commuting on a porn worthy olmo bike, silk handlebar tape included, and it made me splash some cash on some steel. On another point there is a colnago c 40 here for the same price as a 'dale supersix evo di2 sold on eBay last week....

they say cycling becoming the new golf, deals are done on wheels not grass,
some seem they think they are defining themselves by their choice of ride perhaps

i also saw a docu on cycle consumption in the East asian region, where bikes were always used, as more rise in economic strength, dropping $5k+ is a regular occurance for self styled social elevation

Cycling is getting more popular so there are more folk chasing bikes
A new steel bike costs a bomb and most don't look as good as the vintage models as the manufacturers have lost their skilled workers or cut costs
No wonder prices are climbing since the existing stock is static - it's like Mark Twain said - invest in land, they don't make it anymore

So how does one then price accordingly? eBay sold prices or sold prices on here?

i would look at a median between the two, quite a lot of stuff on the bay has over inflated bin prices, i presume the only way is to watch how the dictates prices , eg, look at stuff with low starting prices/no reserve on the bay and see what prices are acheived at the end

anomalys in prices can occur if items are poorly listed in my experience

The economic situation is better now than it was a few years back. People are perceived to have more money, hence prices rise. Also fewer "I have to sell my pride an joy quick, to pay the rent" cos I'm skint, just lost job sales IMO.