Mountain Biking - Finding a bike and the art of craigslist bargaining

Craigslist bargaining you say?

A little backstory first. I'm trying to get my girlfriend out on the trail with me without breaking the bank if she doesn't like it. I'm almost a foot taller than her so trying out one of mine is kind of out of the question. So I started asking my good ol' buddy craigslist for a smaller bike that could still handle a bit of abuse. This is what I've found, and I believe it's just a tad overpriced:

GT Rebound (looks like a 97 to me). It has been female owned (just quoting the ad) and only been on the road. Nothing has been replaced or serviced from what she has told me. She wants $300 for a bike that retailed $550 12 years ago. What's the best way to talking her down to something more reasonable or should I be hoping for something else come down craigslist lane?

I just want to try to get out there before the snow falls too deep.

Anyways, here's a link.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bik/1356892472.html

And here's the winner if we had that much cash:

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bik/1356526362.html

Thanks for your advice in advance.

Looks like a good bike, but not worth anywhere near $300. She is most likely not going to sell it for that much. I buy and sell bikes on CL on a weekly basis. It really depends on the area, but I would go and see the bike, offer her maybe $150 (bring the cash with you). If she declines just leave, there will be plenty of bikes on CL. She will eventually have to lower her price.

So is $150 reasonable for this bike? I was thinking a bit less, but I guess you take what you can get?

Thanks for the input and any more that comes this way.

Yeah, like I mentioned it really depends on the area your in. I live in a college town and people can get a way with robbery sometimes selling bikes to the new college kids here.

I'd skip the GT for now, and ask what model Schwinn this is for $250
(http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bik/1353733868.html)

Or this, it doesn't say what size is the frame but it looks small enough.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bik/1355066855.html

I was outta town for the labor day weekend and may have missed a few deals. Thanks for the suggestions, though. I saw this one and it might work; however, I think it appears to be more of a city bike that could handle a fire road. The only thing that concerns me is that the fork is backwards...

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bik/1361439588.html

What are the long term effects of riding on that?

Shouldn't be bad for it. Just looks funny.

I'm not down with the Altus.

Both of those sellers need to quit smoking the crack rock and get in the real world. Its the same here in Atlanta. 50% of the sellers on craigslist try to sell there 90's bikes for 20 times what they are worth. The entertaining part of it all is, to watch week by week as they keep dropping there price by $25. until they either sell or give up.

Agreed with jjbod, people like that have absolutely no idea how much bikes are actually worth nowdays and just end up charging over the odds.