Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Craigslist etiquette

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Craigslist etiquette

Old 08-13-07, 07:04 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
matimeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 808

Bikes: It's the motor, not the bike, right?

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 13 Posts
Craigslist etiquette

So, I find it very annoying that there is this guy on the Salt Lake City Craigslist that keeps reposting gaspipe road bikes for exorbitant amounts. Sometimes he'll repost the same bike just a day or two after he first posts it. He's obviously finding a huge supply of low-quality old bikes for cheap, investing nothing into them and trying to sell them for way more than they're worth. I cannot distinguish if I am jeleous because he is finding a butt-load of bikes and I'm not, or if it just bothers me that he isn't do it as a hobby but as a way to rip people off, or if it's just that he obviously knows nothing about these bikes. I'm still sorting this out with myself.
Anyway, so obviously this guy is not being polite by continuing to repost. Would it be ok to gang up on him as BF members and flag every single one of his posts to teach him a lesson? Would that be bad?
matimeo is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 08:13 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 7,279
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
There's a guy in Portland who does the same thing, apparently puts minimal effort into what he calls a "tune-up" on old low end bikes. He gets flagged all the time.

I dunno. On the one hand, poor people need bikes too. On the other hand, a "tune-up" should be a tune-up, whether it's done by the LBS mechanic or a guy flipping low end bikes on craigslist.

Another factor to consider: It's a violation of craigslist rules for a business to sell there, and some of these sellers get flagged for that reason...
Blue Order is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 08:25 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
cyclotoine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Yukon, Canada
Posts: 8,775
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times in 14 Posts
I think there is at least one in every city. The one here is so lazy he posts on ad with no pictures that says something like "vintage peugeot, apollo, raleigh racing bikes email for prices and pictures". He sometimes post more than once a day, I can't believe people are buying bikes from him... I am way past caring. I like being a bike mechanic because people trust me. When they bought bikes from my backyard they were skeptical. It also helps when selling on criagslist that I can tell people I am a mechanic and they can drop by my work to have a look at a part or something.
__________________
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
cyclotoine is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 08:43 PM
  #4  
Chrome Freak
 
Rabid Koala's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kuna, ID
Posts: 3,208

Bikes: 71 Chrome Paramount P13-9, 73 Opaque Blue Paramount P15, 74 Blue Mink Raleigh Pro, 91 Waterford Paramount, Holland Titanium x2

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 14 Posts
There is one in eastern San Diego county that shows pictures of flat bed trailers stacked high with Wal Mart bikes. He is advertising his business and keeps persisting despite getting flagged off again and again.
__________________
1971 Paramount P-13 Chrome
1973 Paramount P-15 Opaque Blue
1974 Raleigh Professional Blue Mink
1991 Waterford Paramount
Holland Titanium Dura Ace Group
Holland Titanium Ultegra Triple Group
Rabid Koala is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 08:50 PM
  #5  
tuz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto/Montréal
Posts: 1,209

Bikes: Eight homemade, three very dusty

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
I think it's also a CL violation to repost the same think every two days (is it?)
tuz is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 08:58 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
matimeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 808

Bikes: It's the motor, not the bike, right?

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by tuz
I think it's also a CL violation to repost the same think every two days (is it?)
Yes- so maybe we should start a sticky (clear throat loudly) where we report offenses, post links, and have everyone here flag these weasels to make sure they get booted- cause not enough people are doing it here to stop this guy.
matimeo is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 09:08 PM
  #7  
If I own it, I ride it
 
CV-6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cardinal Country
Posts: 5,593

Bikes: Lejeune(14), Raleigh, Raysport, Jan De Reus, Gazelle, Masi, B. Carré(4), Springfield, Motobecane(2), Greg Lemond, Andre Bertin, Schwinn Paramount

Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 656 Times in 308 Posts
Originally Posted by matimeo
Yes- so maybe we should start a sticky (clear throat loudly) where we report offenses, post links, and have everyone here flag these weasels to make sure they get booted- cause not enough people are doing it here to stop this guy.
We don't need to be policing Craigslist here. Do it on Craigslist.
__________________
Please do not "like" my posts. This isn't Facebook.

Lynn Travers

Photos

CV-6 is offline  
Old 08-13-07, 09:14 PM
  #8  
Bike Junkie
 
roccobike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times in 27 Posts
The only way to slam guys like that is to sell bikes in better condition for less but it probably won't put a dent in his business.
When I flipped bikes locally, I would scout CL for similiar bikes, then sell mine for 10-20% less, and if it didn't run well, I wouldn't sell it. But there were so many people looking for bikes, sometimes I would receive 10 to 15 responses for a bike within 48 hours. I doubt that I put a dent in the sales of those who overprice their bikes.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
roccobike is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 05:03 AM
  #9  
Non Tribuo Anus Rodentum and off to the next adventure (RIP)
 
Stacey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,161
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
The way I see it is the people who buy bikes from people like this get what they deserve. No one is forcing them to buy these bikes. If they do then I see it as a 'stupid tax' that we've all paid.

It's not my job to protect the world from them, but it is my responsibility to offer my customers the best product value.

I've had exchanges with people who have tagged these listings, they tell these sellers they are wrong, that they should go away and stop selling this stuff, etc, etc.

Every time I say something these crybabies they tell me just now much they are entitled to their opinion, how they can say what ever they want... it's their right.

I say hypocrite. they are calling these sellers to cease & desist of the same rights they are demanding.

IMHO, it ain't none of your business.
__________________
Stacey is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 05:26 AM
  #10  
Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by matimeo
So, I find it very annoying that there is this guy on the Salt Lake City Craigslist that keeps reposting gaspipe road bikes for exorbitant amounts. Sometimes he'll repost the same bike just a day or two after he first posts it. He's obviously finding a huge supply of low-quality old bikes for cheap, investing nothing into them and trying to sell them for way more than they're worth. I cannot distinguish if I am jeleous because he is finding a butt-load of bikes and I'm not, or if it just bothers me that he isn't do it as a hobby but as a way to rip people off, or if it's just that he obviously knows nothing about these bikes. I'm still sorting this out with myself.
Anyway, so obviously this guy is not being polite by continuing to repost. Would it be ok to gang up on him as BF members and flag every single one of his posts to teach him a lesson? Would that be bad?
Why would you want to harass someone selling bikes? Because you don't like his prices? WTF? Mind your own business!
Cyclist0383 is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 06:20 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
miamijim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 14,110
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 109 Times in 78 Posts
He's only ripping them off if he falsly advertises the bikes. Anyone can charge any amount for a bike. Consumers arent idiots of dumb a55es for paying what they feel is good price.

Remember, cyclists, in general, are very cheap people. What a cyclist considers to be over priced may in fact be market value. Also, just be cause you may have, or someone you know may have bought something similar or better for lesser price it doesnt mean the current item is overpriced.

Economics 101.....BTW...I vote for jealous
miamijim is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 06:47 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,404
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by matimeo
He's obviously finding a huge supply of low-quality old bikes for cheap, investing nothing into them and trying to sell them for way more than they're worth.
"He's obviously finding a huge supply of low-quality old bikes for cheap,".
I call that either a lucky guy or a hard working man!

How do you know he's "investing nothing into them"?

"and trying to sell them for way more than they're worth."
Trying and doing are two different things. Who's to say his prices aren't highly negotiable? Who's to say what someone else should charge for a bike? The buyer may have had one when he/she was a kid and is thrilled to find another and willing to pay a premium to get it. What's wrong with that?

I recently sold a handful of gaspipes on CL that I had thoroughly cleaned up, repacked bearings, replaced cables, tires and tubes as needed, and got a good price for them, surely more than the people on this forum would pay for them. Does this make me one of "those guys" on CL? I sure don't think so. How do you know this guy is any different without even going to look at what he has for sale?

BTW... Craigslist allows you to repost an ad every 48hours to bring it back to the top. In a busy CL city that's a smart thing to do to get your ad seen.

The guy may or may not be a CL flake like you suspect, but these things tend to work themselves out on their own. Either enough people see through the scam and flag him off the list, the guy is forced to drop his prices in order to compete, or is forced to fix up the bikes to get the price he wants (if he hasn't already done so). I imagine very few people actually get scammed. Caveat Emptor.

PS If someone actually is selling overpriced junk, it sure makes my good stuff sell easier.

Last edited by McDave; 08-14-07 at 07:03 AM.
McDave is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 07:34 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
matimeo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 808

Bikes: It's the motor, not the bike, right?

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 13 Posts
Aknowledged: Econ principles are at work here and I shouldn't be too worried, the guy can do what he wants, and I probably am just jeleous- thank you for helping me sort that out.
I guess I'm still just mostly cheesed off that he reposts constantly (you'd think he'd get a clue after a while and stop cluttering the listings).
matimeo is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 08:58 AM
  #14  
tuz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto/Montréal
Posts: 1,209

Bikes: Eight homemade, three very dusty

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
If he's not violating CL terms of use then I guess there nothing you can do.

A bit OT, but I disagree on the fact that if people are buying his crap they're to blame and he's just following economics. Sure offer meets demand, but marketing crap to unknowing customers is dishonourable. I think it's Milton Friedman that realized this. Following the BS the cycle industry is coming up with (e.g. "carbon is vertically stiff yet horizontally compliant", proprietary components, 16-spoke wheels) is discouraging.
tuz is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 09:29 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
ollo_ollo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Posts: 5,339

Bikes: Still have a few left!

Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 462 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times in 253 Posts
"Remember, cyclists, in general, are very cheap people"

I prefer to think of myself as an active "Agent of Market Capitalism"! Don
ollo_ollo is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 09:40 AM
  #16  
The Brutally Handsome
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
there's a guy here in town trying to sell a brand new $150 wal mart road bike for $250.
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 09:43 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,404
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Sizzle-Chest
there's a guy here in town trying to sell a brand new $150 wal mart road bike for $250.
Those type ads around here usually get a shoutout ad warning potential buyers of the scam.
McDave is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 09:44 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
pharnabazos's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 346

Bikes: Zeus Professional, Juncker Calypso, Lotus Eclair, Dahon Speed, Raleigh Twenty

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by tuz
(e.g. "carbon is vertically stiff yet horizontally compliant", proprietary components, 16-spoke wheels) is discouraging.
this might be what you're referencing but BikeSnob NYC had a spoof on this phrase yesterday...

https://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2007...-shootout.html

"Now, granted, I didn’t ride the Tarmac SL2, but I was able to tell just by looking at the pictures that the carbon fiber construction and layup yielded a frame that was laterally stiff yet vertically compliant."
....
Now, I didn’t ride the Colnago Extreme Power, but I looked at the Colnago website, which was full of poorly-translated English and a lot of Flash animation. I also rode lots of crappy bikes that were not the Colnago Extreme Power and possessed none of the attributes of the Colnago. Even the name of the bicycle itself told me most of what I needed to know, which is that if you either have or want to produce Extreme Power then this is the bike to ride. So I can say with complete assurance that the carbon fiber construction and layup yielded a frame that was laterally stiff yet vertically compliant....

"Thanks to the wealth of diagrams and photographs that have accompanied the introduction of the new Madone, it was completely unnecessary for me to ride it, because it’s abundantly clear the carbon fiber construction and layup yielded a frame that was laterally stiff yet vertically compliant."

Last edited by pharnabazos; 08-14-07 at 09:50 AM.
pharnabazos is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 09:53 AM
  #19  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,280
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts
A recent post in Detroit
https://detroit.craigslist.org/bik/396649366.html
Old Fat Guy is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 09:55 AM
  #20  
tuz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Toronto/Montréal
Posts: 1,209

Bikes: Eight homemade, three very dusty

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts
^^ bike snob NYC
Yeah I stole that phrase... such a funny blog
tuz is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 10:06 AM
  #21  
The Brutally Handsome
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Old Fat Guy
wow, i really couldn't tell if he actually bought that bike or if he was making up an example.

here's a reply to that wal mart bike scammer
https://eugene.craigslist.org/bik/396461649.html

Last edited by Sizzle-Chest; 08-14-07 at 10:15 AM.
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 10:25 AM
  #22  
Mistadobalina
 
AGGRO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Clairemont
Posts: 577

Bikes: Trek Speed Concept Flo wheelset

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rabid Koala
There is one in eastern San Diego county that shows pictures of flat bed trailers stacked high with Wal Mart bikes. He is advertising his business and keeps persisting despite getting flagged off again and again.
I know the guy. He gets auction bikes and resells em and they are almost always junk. I asked him to keep an eye out for me for a commuter road bike. He referred to the handle bars as "ram horns" and I almost died laughing on the phone. Forget it was my last response.
AGGRO is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 10:35 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
ultimatekiwi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 54

Bikes: Raleigh Technium, Giant something or other, Panasonic Pro-Touring, Schwinn Varsity.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It seems like Schwinn Varsitys (the ones from Walmart, not the decent bikes) are always being flogged off for exorbitant amounts, simply because they have the "Schwinnn" brand name. However, I can never tell if the seller is trying to rip people off, or if they legitimately think it's worth that much... Whatever.
ultimatekiwi is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 10:36 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
ultimatekiwi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 54

Bikes: Raleigh Technium, Giant something or other, Panasonic Pro-Touring, Schwinn Varsity.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
https://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4698938
ultimatekiwi is offline  
Old 08-14-07, 10:47 AM
  #25  
Dolce far niente
 
bigbossman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 10,834
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by AGGRO
....... He referred to the handle bars as "ram horns" and I almost died laughing on the phone..
Back in the day, all us kids referred to drops as "ram's horns". He's probably a child of the 70's.
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."

S. J. Perelman
bigbossman is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.