pdxtex

The one and only time I tried to sell a bike on CL, I nearly had a fffn heart attack after the would be purchaser took my bike for a test ride. Turned the block and completely out of sight. He came back, but didn't like my asking price. How do you sell a bike and not have somebody ride off with it? Im generally trustworthy but very protective of bicycles....

valygrl

Hold their drivers license and credit card or a check for the sale price while they go for a test ride.

Jaymadd

"And btw, always remember to meet at a neutral place in public - NEVER at your own home!
+1
Very good advice.

SlimRider

Most people arrive in a car. Ask to see their driver's license and some other photo ID. Then hold the keys until they return.

Alternatively, if you have multiple bikes, you could have a friend of yours accompany you while you ride along with this guy, from some neutral meeting place.

Never meet at a place that can be easily connected to your personal life or lifestyle.
ie...Don't meet at a place that you frequent.

Never accept a check of any kind! Only deal in cash!

Erzulis Boat 

Asking for an ID in California is considered a hate crime, I think. Check your States laws first.

todayilearned

So how do people get carded for booze?

I think there are exceptions and holding ID to let someone test ride a bike is one of them.

Crappymonkey

A couple of years ago I went on a test ride and the seller came along with me. It seems like a good idea. He was able to answer any question I might come up with during the ride and he has an eye on the bike at all times.

Pinkbullet3

"WHOA WHOA WHOA, bud, my car is worth more than this bike you're selling. NO WAY am I handing over my keys."

John_V 

Thanks for these responses as I am selling a road bike on CL and was wondering the same thing as the OP. Riding with the perspective buyer seems like a good idea as long as it's someplace that is not desolate.

SlimRider

Fine! Then you won't get to ride my most prestigious and distiguished Roadmaster bicycle!

wrr1020

I sold one of my bikes on craigslist last year and i even told the guy before we met that if he wants to test ride it i'm going to hold the money before he sets off on it. He agreed to it. We met up, he loved the bike and both parties were happy in the end. Like others have mentioned always meet in a public spot.

Erzulis Boat 

Never mind.

pdxtex

OP here. I saw an add in the portland CL today and liked how this was worded

"Due to the increasing number of "ride away" thefts that happen during test rides, I must have cash in hand for a test ride"

Thats straight and to the point.

todayilearned

I've had someone ask me to do that and I can understand why someone wouldn't want to.

If the bike is mechanically crap and I just hand over full value of the bike they can run away with my cash while I'm stuck with a bike that has issues. Although a visual inspection should give away and major issue you never know.

A good in between is holding 75% cash. If the seller runs at least I didn't pay full for a busted bike. If the buyer runs at least you get 75%.

Holding someone's Driver's License and CC? Watch me swipe a CC quickly on the iPhone attachment and make a quick charge... This really makes buyers skeptical and not want to even bother with the deal.

Always write down the person's License Plate number. First THING.

Homebrew01

Another option is sell on Ebay with "Local Pickup only". Yes, you will pay fees, but might feel a bit safer.

X-LinkedRider

This is what the world has come to. Guess it depends where you live. While obviously using best judgement after speaking with the person, I have both bought and sold stuff off of CL from the my house and or the sellers. Not everybody out there is bad. I mean, the person had a car when they showed up right? Or did they run to the house? No1 is taking your used bike and leaving you their license plate on their car parked right outside your house. Neutral place is good, but only means you can't control the situation only neutralize it.

pdxtex

road cycling isn't cheap so hopefully that in itself acts as a kind of weirdo filter. i dont think id advertise my vintage hustler collection and then have somebody come to my house. ive sold tons of components on CL but never a whole bike. anyone in portland want to buy a kona paddy wagon? 60 cm! cheap!

vautrain

Oh, like there aren't any weirdos on 41?

dtrain

That bike should practically sell itself in the Portland area (especially in another month or so). Really, I've sold lots of similar bikes; it won't be a problem. I'll sell it for you for 10% and a couple of those Hustlers (kidding). What are you hoping to fetch?

dtrain

You might also consider consignment if you are really that put-off by dealing with possible buyers. Sellwood Cycles is a Kona dealer, so I bet you could price it pretty high there and it would still sell (given a little time). They take a third but do all the work (and it'll fetch a little more there). Here's one they just sold:

https://sellwoodcycle.com/consign/56c...ddy-wagon-575/

slushlover2

I must be the exception here. I've sold dozens of bikes on CL. Always met at my house. They drive up, they aren't going to steal the bike and leave the car. Never had a problem. Ebay is another story however. They suck big time!

pdxtex

id like to get 400 bucks for it. i priced it at that amount and had some hits last time but they only person who came to look at it wanted to low ball me. thats already pretty low for a now $700 bike. ive thought about consignment but 30 percent is pretty steep, maybe like 15 and id do it.....

jrobe

Sell it on Ebay.

You will have far more potential buyers, you can set a firm price if you really want, it isn't very hard to ship a bike, most LBS's are happy to give away empty boxes if you don't have one (this is a good time of year when LBS's are getting new bikes in), shipping isn't that expensive with FedEx ground if you keep the box size below their oversized limits, you usually get true market value. If you do it right and take lots of pictures and post a good ad, you will get lots of interest for any decent bike priced fairly. You immediately increase your potential buyer base by 1000 times or more on Ebay unless you live in a big urban area.

dtrain

That link I included was a recent consignment. 2/3rds of $575 is $385. You can think of it as 10-15% (from $400)...because it'll likely fetch that extra ~20% since they are a Kona dealer. I bet they could sell it for $500+...while you got one low-****** starting at $400.

Think of yourself as a potential buyer - wouldn't you pay more there than off some stranger on C-List?

dtrain

I agree with the ebay suggestion for some things (I have a few listings right now). But shipping a frame, wheelset, or bike isn't trivial or cheap, and Portland is plenty big with a very active used bike market. Plus, you have to figure that shipping costs sometimes limit what bidders might pay on an entry-level bike and the seller will still have some significant fees removed from the total. So for example, I'd probably just sell a pair of used Mavic Aksiums on C-List while taking the time to list SL's on ebay with several pictures. Certainly other markets vary in how well they'd hold their own vs. ebay.