Classic & Vintage - And so I says to myself....

So I was perusing ebay a few weeks ago, looking at the most recently listed complete bikes when up pops this tiny vintage trek somethingerother. $40 buy it now. I see it's in New Jersey, at the beach, kinda near Atlantic City, maybe you've heard of it.

I pull the plug quickly, before one of you freaks came upon it. I figured it'd be gone quicker than those free brooks saddles a few years ago (what ever happened to whathisname from brooks who used to post here?).

I paid the seller right away. Sent the seller a nice note too saying thanks, and could I come by this week to get it?

I figured I'd take the wife and kids down , spend some time at the beach, teach my two year old how to play craps, go get the bike and drive home.

A few days go by and no word from the seller. A week goes by and I email him again.
"Yo seller? Can I come get my bike sometime soon?"

Seller's response, a few days later - "I havent received your payment"

Me, right away - "Yes you did, I paid you right after the auction ended, here the paypal details.."

Seller response, a few days later - "I have your payment, you can come either tomorrow before 2 or the next day before noon. I've behind the Dairy Queen."

Well, thanks. Thanks for not acknowledging you had my payment all along. Thanks for giving me a whole 48 hours to come pick up my bike. Thanks for telling me you live behind Dairy Queen, that's very descriptive. Thanks for doing this all weeks after I paid for my item, and the day before fathers day weekend.

I emailed him back and explained I couldnt come those days, but perhaps one day the next week?

A few days later - "I'm not here during the week. Want to just cancel the auction since you can't come get it?"

Me - "No, I'll come get it eventually."

So, then this past week I find out I'm going to be working in New Jersey the following week. I'll just go get it then!

Stupid me, I figured it's in Jersey, so the place i'll be working won't be far from the bike. I didn't bother mapping it.

Tuesday I got to my contract job, in Chester, NJ. At lunch I map Somers Point, NJ.

It's 133 miles away!

It was something like 70 miles away from my house outside Philly.

What an idiot.

So Tuesday night I go get this thing. I drive for over two hours after my job. I don't even have a hotel figured our for after work, I'll sort that out when I get back.

I drive all the way to Somers Point. First of all, I have never been to a "Beach town" that was a bigger crap hole than SOmers point, with the possible exception of Atlantic City, where no one ever goes outside or to the beach so it doesnt really matter. I was afraid I was going to get mugged when I was loading the bike, which the guy was nice enough to leave on his porch after some arm pulling.

Every person appeared to be on crack. Maybe the seller was on crack, though I will say that his house from the outside was one of the nicer ones on the block. It was in fact, in relative closeness to a Dairy Queen. Thanks for that.

I consider driving home 70 miles instead of almost twice that back to the job, but I don't bother. I drive all the way back to Chester NJ, find out there are no hotels there, and then drive another 20 miles to another town and find a crappy motel that only has smoking rooms and stinks not unlike the fine residents of Somers Point.

it's 12:30am now. So in short:

-I drove over 260 miles round trip to pick up a Trek because I'm an idiot.

-I paid for my item right away, but couldnt get the seller to give it to me for damn near a month later because the seller is an idiot or an ass.

-I slept in a crappy, smoke smelling hole in the wall motel for 5 hours, because of this bike.

-this bike isnt my size (about 15cm too small), and to be honest, it's pretty much not really even that cool.

-That Reynolds sticker I saw in the pick? 501, not 531.

-27" wheels

-mostly worthless components, the seat was trash, the brake hoods were too far gone, there is that "by the ocean" rust all over everything.

-I've been dragging this thing around in the back of my car all week, jammed in the back with my '68 Carlton which incorrectly thought I'd have time to ride a little.

-It's probably scratched my Carlton. I don't know for sure, I have no proof, but I just know it did.

I'd told Fender1 that he could have this bike, as he'd been looking for a tiny steel lugged bike for his son.

Well Brian, you can have it. The price is $40 plus gas, damages, lodging, meals, and pain in suffering. that brings the total to $892.57. I'll bring it over this weekend and you can write me a check.

And so I says to myself, I gotta have that $40 bike.

!$%@ing idiot.

Sorry but ...I'm chuckling here. Other than the scratch on the Carlton thing.;)

Why the disdain for Reynolds 501 and 27" wheels?

pics or it didnt happen ;)

Man, all this trashing of NJ beach towns. Why don't you come spend a weekend at a Long Island beach town and see what you have to say about NJ then, huh?

But seriously, $40 for a Trek? Whatta score, man. Surely worth all the indignity....

I, too, have recently bought something on ebay that I have to go pick up, maybe tomorrow... but this one will fit you.

Great story...well written. I feel for you. Thanks for sharing.

Easterners.
Jeez.
When I drive 2 hours, I make sure there's lots of junk to look at.
And at least something close to my size.

I pull the plug quickly, before one of you freaks came upon it.

^^ My favorite part :p

Link to the seller? I need to see the epic feedback.

Why the disdain for Reynolds 501 and 27" wheels?

I dont mind either under different circumstances.

Man, all this trashing of NJ beach towns. Why don't you come spend a weekend at a Long Island beach town and see what you have to say about NJ then, huh?

But seriously, $40 for a Trek? Whatta score, man. Surely worth all the indignity....


I, too, have recently bought something on ebay that I have to go pick up, maybe tomorrow... but this one will fit you.


Northern jersey is just beautiful. I'd live here if it was affordable.

Great story...well written. I feel for you. Thanks for sharing.

I guess i deserved it. This just hasnt been my year.

I live so far in the country, it's a half-hour drive to reach air. It takes another half hour to find sunlight. And then another hour to pretty much any used bike worth looking at. If there is a Trek within 20 miles...it's probably mine!

^^ My favorite part :p

Link to the seller? I need to see the epic feedback.

I havent left it yet. Im saving that until i get home. Maybe ill just link to this thread and leave it at that.

I dont mind either under different circumstances.

Understood. Very enjoyable story.

Oh man, holiday76 I was laughing WITH you on this one. Great story. If it helps your story also served a purpose. It described about 60% of my bike buying adventures and till now I thought I was alone in my misadventures - the fake Pinarello that I was so sweaty palmed about until I had paid for, the Zeus with the bad repaint and bent tubes ($250! A steal!) the list goes on and on. And every time I think I've become an expert - I get burned again! I don't know why I have such bad karma when I always make sure someone knows exactly what they're getting when I sell a bike.

On the other hand, I had some AMAZING karma today thanks to mapleleafs13, I'll start a thread on that one when I get more organized...

At the very least, it sounds like you built some additional character (whether you needed to or not). Your story made me laugh :D , thanks for that, and you have my sympathies for your tribulations... :(

Next time, let me know. I'd have picked it up for you.

And held it until you could get here.

End send you daily email like, "are you sure this is a Reynolds frame?", and "is this supposed to be repainted", or "what are you going to do about the freewheel". :)

I should have just told him i was lactose intolerant and to keep my 40 dollars.

Did you get an ice cream?

Budd Lake is relatively affordable. Is that where the hotel is?

This is a fun story. Its like you just keep getting kicked in the gut over and over. It seems like there are so many great finding a bike storys on here but not every goose chase ends with Reynolds 531. This seems like one of those "trophy" bikes that you keep around just so you can be mdd at it and say "im never doing that again".

I thought I was being pretty nice, leaving it on the porch. Did I really say $40? I thought it was $50. And it's not a crack house. We have standards. You don't have any extra Sudafed, do you? Do you need any more bikes? I know I seem a little hyper. It's the me..coffee. Ya Ya Ya....Do you need any more bikes? How about a gas grille? I got a nice gas grille. Or some tires? Tires, I got lots of tires...or tools? I got tools out back, right? Cigarettes, hey, you got any cigarettes? Man, I could use a smoke. Hey, where you going? Did ya get the bike? Oh yeah, you did...are you sure it was $40? I swear I said $50. Let me check that ad...Hey Jolene! Jolene! Are you on the computer? (Facebook, she's always on Facebook).. Yeah, check my ad, will ya? No, not the grille, the bike? You know, the bike! Hey, where did he go? Man, you got a cigarette? Hey, I got $40, let's party.

Fork's bent. On both bikes.

Ha,ha, ha,ha,ah, funny story. I feel better about driving 50 miles down to San Diego to pay $50 for a cheap rip off of the Nishiki Alien. It looked to be in decent condition, and was, but I should have cut my loses, and walked away. I just had to buy it because I'd just driven all the way there. I upgraded some of the cheap parts. I showed the guys at the bike store, and they called it a frankenbike. They told me to strip it down, and put the frame in their scrap metal pile. I put her up on the stand, and took off the upgrades. I then took the frame to the bathroom, and put it in the big scrap metal box. That was early on in my bike collecting, fixing and modifying career. Maybe I should have posted this in the confessions section

it sucks when stuff like this happens, when you drive a gazillion kilometers away and it turns out to be crap, that's why i make sure i get a really description of this stuff now, and i try to learn to walk away from stuff more often so i don't get stuck with someone's junk

p.s. you better enjoy that frame i gave to you devinfan!

Two hours is my daily commute, actually, though I live only 11 miles from my job.

Will you like it more once you get home? Or is it really that bad?

You could sell it to me, but I'd probably give you $40 for the thing and ask you to deliver it. And I live in another crappy Jersey shore town, probably to hellngone from anywhere you'll have to be for work.

I could have picked it up for you & held it Somers Point is less then 30 miles from me and I am there twice a month for doctors appointments, then you could have come and enjoyed the Cape May beach instead if you could afford a hotel/motel here.

Just where in Somers Point were you is what I would like to know because when I am through at my Doctors it is usually trash day and I ride around looking for what ever and I haven't been to a area like that there, in fact the only places that sound like that are maybe some of the apartment complexes I have made a U-turn in, I know where the DQ is on the main drag off of exit 29 & the one on Shore road just past the hospital and that is a nice summer community & it's not a bad area. I am sure every area has a place like you were at but for the life of me I can't picture where you were in Somers Point, were you near the golf course or the the back bay around the marinas.

Glenn

I was at Shore Rd and W Maryland Ave. Granted, it's not North Philly, and I didnt navigate much around the town aside from the WaWa parking lot (I said 7-11 in my story since I figured most people wouldnt know WaWa), but I'm telling you, the clientele were interesting.

I'm sure Somers Point is a very nice, maybe a little blue collar, beach town. I guess I'm just used to OBX.

I'm sure Somers Point is a very nice, maybe a little blue collar, beach town. I guess I'm just used to OBX.

Cause there is really so much white collar activity in the Outer Banks?

I was at Shore Rd and W Maryland Ave. Granted, it's not North Philly, and I didnt navigate much around the town aside from the WaWa parking lot (I said 7-11 in my story since I figured most people wouldnt know WaWa), but I'm telling you, the clientele were interesting.

I'm sure Somers Point is a very nice, maybe a little blue collar, beach town. I guess I'm just used to OBX.

I know it well I've eaten lunch in the parking lot of that WAWA a few times as it is about 2 or 3 blocks from my Doctors office and I know that on the other side of the street it is not what the rest of SP is like as there are a few apartment complexes and a school with some messed up street designs & behind the WAWA is the back bay with some very nice homes. I am sure a lot of people from those apartments use that WAWA so I could believe that.


Glenn

I'm sure Somers Point is a very nice, maybe a little blue collar, beach town. I guess I'm just used to OBX.

Cause there is really so much white collar activity in the Outer Banks?

i dont know what that means, but to me OBX seems a lot cleaner. Sorry if that offends you for some reason.

Addiction is a powerful thing...........Thanks for picking that up for me! BTW, I saw a schwinn world sport on Buffalo cl for $35 could you grab that for me on your way back?

Addiction is a powerful thing...........Thanks for picking that up for me! BTW, I saw a schwinn world sport on Buffalo cl for $35 could you grab that for me on your way back?


you got it! Just add $934 to the price.

good times

That's a great story. Nobody got hurt but your gas money and pride but now you've got a great story to tell! How many of the boring little bike purchases do you remember? You'll be sure to remember this adventure though!

i dont know what that means, but to me OBX seems a lot cleaner. Sorry if that offends you for some reason.

To me Somers Point isn't a beach town it's a town near the beach, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City, Ocean City and Wildwood Crest are beach towns and are in walking distance to the beach, Very clean and very expensive to live in.


Glenn

I wish I could drive for two hours and actually get somewhere. Actually, no, I don't.

Well, that'll teach ya not to talk to strangers...

I guess I'm different somehow — less humane? I was riveted to your story, but I saw nothing funny in it. The seller is the sort of pustule that cannot possibly keep all of his teeth for too many more years (if indeed he's not lost a lot of them already) or get away without his jaw being wired up at some time or other. Some people are so obtuse that they take risks that they are not even aware they are taking. Others are completely aware; they've just pushed their luck and have missed messing with their nemesis — yet.

As for Reynolds 501 — a VERY nice ride ... just a tad heavier than 531. The difference in the actual metallurgy should not be a bothersome unless you are vintage racing. Sure ... everyone wants 531, but 501 is a very nice tube IMHO.

Good luck next time .... ! And I admire your restraint.

I decided to check out Somers Point in google maps. I selected an intersection at random and what do I find... the Dairy Queen.

I guess I'm different somehow — less humane? I was riveted to your story, but I saw nothing funny in it. The seller is the sort of pustule that cannot possibly keep all of his teeth for too many more years (if indeed he's not lost a lot of them already) or get away without his jaw being wired up at some time or other. Some people are so obtuse that they take risks that they are not even aware they are taking. Others are completely aware; they've just pushed their luck and have missed messing with their nemesis — yet.

As for Reynolds 501 — a VERY nice ride ... just a tad heavier than 531. The difference in the actual metallurgy should not be a bothersome unless you are vintage racing. Sure ... everyone wants 531, but 501 is a very nice tube IMHO.

Good luck next time .... ! And I admire your restraint.

i will admit, much restraint was involved in dealing with the seller. As I've alluded to I've had many opportunities to practice restraint this year.

Sometimes you just have to sit back and laugh at the absurdity of it all.

It's adventures such as yours that help us keep our obsessions in check. I think many here have had similar experiences, I know I have, and it always makes me stand back and try to re-evaluate my goals and intentions and hopefully learn from those experiences. Thanks for sharing.

Ah, the thrill of the hunt...

Thanks for the laughs.

Look at the bright side. Staying in a Crack-Wh@re hotel is cheap.... as long as you stay away from the crack or the wh@res. :)

nice story - you probably don't want to hear this, but there is a search function in e-bay that lets you search auctions by distance to your zip code. no info on how the neighborhood will be like...

I did not know that about somers point. It's usually a cut through town on the way to a shore point (ocean city).
If it were atlantic city - I would have let them just keep the $40.

I know about the distance thing on ebay. I was willing to go there from home.

Holiday:
You don't know it yet but that bike is for your two year old! Inventory this bike till it's a good fit.
I suggest a hug per post of this thread for that toddler too. Perhaps this Trek fits into the three generation cross country grail ride?

Happy hunting to all.

I once had an experience about a Peugeot Canyon Express. Dude said it was perfect, 20" frame, blah blah blah. I asked if he could measure the top tube kindly and he blew a gasket on me.

Though I wanted that Canyon BAD, I wasn't prepared to deal with this wierdo.

Sorry about your frustration; these kind of encounters keep us humble and, like others have said, keep our heads out of the clouds.

But you got a Trek!

Great story! I as well was riveted to it! Hope the bike works out as something useful.

Fork's bent