Am I missing Something?

[AZWarts]

I may be posting this in the wrong section ( I swore I was reading a section on vintage equipment but can't find it now   :confused:  ). Anyways i am laid up right now from a broken ankle and have been trying to find a nice 45lb recurve to shoot a little bit and was bidding on this one. From all that I have read on here is that i should be able to pick up an old Bear Grizzly for 150ish. Long story short i found one I wanted and have been bidding on it, i went up to 200 bucks because it was really nice but 2 minutes before the auction ended it skyrocketed to 280 bucks! Are these bows jumping in value or is this the new average?

Here is a link to the bow if interested:    http://offer.****.com/ws/****ISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=192144487847

[Captain*Kirk]

No, 150 is average for a good used one. You just got caught up in a bidding war, is all. Been in a few myself. I stick with my bid and walk if it goes over.
When you consider retail is around $375 for a new Griz, 50% for a used one would half to be a pretty nice bow. Don't sweat it, there will be more.

[AZWarts]

Thanks, i guess i was a little let down cause i wanted that stinkin' bow !

[crazynate]

Don't think I'd pay 280 for a grizzly. I have bought many bows that shoot well for under 250. It probably was a bidding war. Like another collector said before some people have more money than brains .

[AZWarts]

Hey I guess the new owner just had to have it... hopefully it shoots as good as it looks.

[The Whittler]

An old Bear bow or any old bow that sells for a lot more then when it was new sometimes double.

Now take a new bow and everyone will tell you they are worth 40% to 60% less.

I guess I am missing something.

[Captain*Kirk]

The vintage (read: Grayling) Bears have become a 'cult' collectible item. You can find comparable classic bows by Ben Pearson, Damon Howatt, Shakespeare, Martin, etc that are going for 20-30% less simply because they are not Bears.
FWIW, Ben Pearson was the largest manufacturer of traditional bows, yet Bear bows get the larger following due to his (Fred Bear's) excellent marketing and 'branding' techniques.
You can resign yourself to paying that extra percentage or buy a lesser-known but equal quality bow, but you have to do your homework.

[smokin joe]

You can easily pay up to $280 for a Grayling Grizzly that is flawless -- perhaps even a touch more. Often guys will bid them up because that particular year is the one that they need to round out their collection, and the collectors want the ones that still look new. But, if cosmetics don't mean much and you are patient you can very easily get one at your price.

[bucknut]

I would get on the classifieds here and maybe some other Trad sites and put a Want To Buy ad in. No bidding wars here. You may be amazed with the results. People often will sell bows that they really had no intentions of selling and it just catches their eye or they may need money to buy something else.

[dirtguy]

The Grizzly is a nice bow, but was and is considered "lower" in the Bear line. Not as nice, not as fancy as its mates.  

As suggested above, a Ben Pearson, A Damon Howatt, or other brand might be a better buy in the used market.

[AZWarts]

Not gonna lie I've got an affliction for a grayling green bear bow.. I bought a Wing Falcon which should fit the bill perfectly and for much less!