Sold a bike on craigslist, now the buyer is giving me problems...
06-28-12, 01:26 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Chicago
Posts: 750
Bikes: https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/2008-se-lager-brown-6612
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wipe your arse with the twenties THEN give them back. And do this in front of him. lol
Seriously though, he is throwing out some wildly unfounded accusations in his email and like scrod said, his tone is totally insulting. Not the way to go about it.
Seriously though, he is throwing out some wildly unfounded accusations in his email and like scrod said, his tone is totally insulting. Not the way to go about it.
06-28-12, 01:31 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 72
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Agreed. Not only is this guy generally aggressive, he also inspected and even pedaled this thing around the block. Whatever damage this bicycle has is irrelevant. He is 100% responsible for this purchase.
06-28-12, 01:33 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 250
Bikes: 1974 KoKo Sport 3000, 1987 Lotus Elite 600, 2003 Qunitana Roo Kilo tri
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-28-12, 01:35 PM
#29
かわいいサイクリスト
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Gabriel, CA
Posts: 210
Bikes: Eighth Inch Scrambler v3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
For the record, he owns a prius 
06-28-12, 01:35 PM
#30
pro in someone's theory
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 3,236
Bikes: FTP
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
People result to intimidation like that when they know they are powerless. He really doesn't want to have to sue you because it wouldn't be worth it. When someone is acting childish that really shouldn't invite in-kind behavior. The truth of the matter is that OP didn't really have a bike that was worth $80. If he gives the money back he didn't lose anything and if he does it in a dignified way I'd respect that. I would just say "here's your money" and take the bike and that would be it. Be the better man.
06-28-12, 01:38 PM
#31
Cat Enthusiast
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plymouth, MI
Posts: 2,227
Bikes: All City Nature Boy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-28-12, 01:39 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 67
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Agree with the above. I would probably just tell him to bring the bike back and he will get his $80 back. If he wants more than that then refuse and meet him at small claims court - tell the court the truth that you found the bike in the garage, cleaned it up, the guy took it for a test drive and bought it, then decided he didn't want it and you offered his money back in exchange for the bike. I wouldn't be surprised if the court just told him to stuff it, they might make you give him his money back and have him give you the bike though.
It might be satisfying to want to tell him to go shove it, but if you act like the bigger person you will have the upper hand if he decides to escalate.
Not sure how he thinks he could recover $600 from you though.
It might be satisfying to want to tell him to go shove it, but if you act like the bigger person you will have the upper hand if he decides to escalate.
Not sure how he thinks he could recover $600 from you though.
06-28-12, 01:41 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NE Indiana
Posts: 8,687
Bikes: 2020 Masi Giramondo 700c; 2013 Lynskey Peloton; 1992 Giant Rincon; 1989 Dawes needs parts; 1985 Trek 660; 1985 Fuji Club; 1984 Schwinn Voyager; 1984 Miyata 612; 1977 Raleigh Competition GS
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1126 Post(s)
Liked 253 Times
in
204 Posts
well this is kind of OT since the bike i sold wasn't SS nor FG, but im just going to ask you guys anyway... So a couple days ago i sold an old steel motobecane roadbike on the cheap($80). The guy that bought it from me was hesitant on the sale, but took it on a test ride around the block, and then after debating with himself and making a call to a "cyclist that he knew" he decided to go through with the sale. Now he is calling back complaining how the bike isn't right for him, and how it doesn't fit him, and basically all these excuses of why he doesn't want it anymore. Now hes calling me a fraud, and basically just being very angry about it. Because this is a craigslist sale, there's really no return policy or anything, and he was satisfied with the bike at the time of sale, and took his own risk in buying it, i really don't have to deal with the crap he's giving me about it right? I know you guys are just well... a bunch of guys on the internet, and sure you guys might not know everything, but yeah... i need some input on this. Personally i think he should just man up, realize he bought the wrong bike, resell the bike, and then continue to look for a bike that "meets his needs"
his argument:
his argument:
This was Craigslist sale, people lie all the time about what their selling, not saying you are, but the buyer needs to beware. For example there is a guy where I live that right now has a pair of JBL LX600 speakers for sale and he says this about them: "These are NOT the low grade schlock from Best Buy or the like..." Any JBL speaker with the LX in the beginning were the lowest end home speakers make by JBL and were sold by Circuit City which is just like Best Buy. I see this all the time in electronics and bicycles, bicycles labeled top of the line racing bikes raced by pros in the TDF, were just junky bottom of the line crap bikes that never saw shiny side of a pros ass. But once the sale is made and the buyer says "wait, this isn't what you said it was", it's too late. Buyer beware.
Personally I think he crashed it and now wants out of the deal. I don't think a poster trying to rips someone off would come here crying wanting our support! If you did that then why bother coming here in the first place? We don't know you, we don't buy bikes from you, you have no reason for doing that that would benefit you.
Obviously if you did lie to him and to us, which I doubt, then you need to clear your conscious and do what's right by refunding him his money.
06-28-12, 01:48 PM
#35
At least I'm not a poseur
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Orleans, USA.
Posts: 794
Bikes: Giant Defy 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
"I'm sorry, sir. But after reading your email, I've decided that you are probably an unpredictably dangerous crazy person, and I will not be willing to meet up with you for anything else ever."
And I can just hear Judge Judy yelling at the guy: "It's an $80 bike! What did you expect?!"
And I can just hear Judge Judy yelling at the guy: "It's an $80 bike! What did you expect?!"
06-28-12, 02:00 PM
#37
THE STUFFED
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 12,671
Bikes: R. Sachs Road; EAI Bareknuckle; S-Works Enduro
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 361 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
17 Posts
Court over $80???? 
B*tch please, ignore him. His just using scare tactics over buyers regret. Just court fees are much more than that to begin with even in small claims. Like the saying goes, caveat emptor.
B*tch please, ignore him. His just using scare tactics over buyers regret. Just court fees are much more than that to begin with even in small claims. Like the saying goes, caveat emptor.
06-28-12, 02:01 PM
#38
Elitist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 15,965
Mentioned: 88 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1386 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times
in
77 Posts
06-28-12, 02:02 PM
#39
pro in someone's theory
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 3,236
Bikes: FTP
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I guess I value bikes by the price that someone who isn't an idiot would pay for it. Realistically anything under $100 is effectively the same thing as 0 when it comes to bikes though. The right thing for the buyer to have done was to just chalk it up to a learning experience. I'm totally with everybody in thinking that the buyer was a moron and would probably deserve to be taken advantage of. That said, I still think it's better to do the right thing.
06-28-12, 02:05 PM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Seattle
Posts: 248
Bikes: Marin MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ignore it.
All that legal bs is tough guy talk, trying to frighten you. He hasn't a leg to stand on and he knows it.
All that legal bs is tough guy talk, trying to frighten you. He hasn't a leg to stand on and he knows it.
06-28-12, 02:09 PM
#41
hamcycles.com
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,705
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I would tell him I'll see him in small claims court then. If he's going to do that over $80, then do it. Had he emailed me like a normal human being from the getgo I would've gladly given him the money back. I've found many things wrong with bikes I've bought after the fact, it was my fault for not noticing it when I bought it, it's not like you shipped it to him
06-28-12, 02:10 PM
#42
You gonna eat that?
Hell I do it all the time. Who wants to spend the time to read all this drivel?
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
06-28-12, 02:26 PM
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 72
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-28-12, 02:32 PM
#46
Banned
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,804
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-28-12, 02:33 PM
#47
Banned
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,804
Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
06-28-12, 02:40 PM
#49
You gonna eat that?
This actually is an interesting thread. If it were me, I'd probably just buy the bike back from the guy. I would have assessed it first, though, and known what I was selling right off the bat. That's a question of experience though; a few years ago I wouldn't know how to assess it. Then once you know what you've got, you can be a more informed seller in the future.
To be honest, it looks like maybe the frame tubes are bent in the picture, although small pics like that are often not reliable for that kind of stuff. On the other hand, maybe he crashed it after buying it and is just trying to get his money back. If he takes you to court you could say that you were not aware of any prior damage before the sale, so maybe it happened afterwards.
No matter what, though, although this seems like a crisis to the OP right now, it will be a learning experience in the long run. When things are going to hell, you can always comfort yourself with the fact that you are learning something.
To be honest, it looks like maybe the frame tubes are bent in the picture, although small pics like that are often not reliable for that kind of stuff. On the other hand, maybe he crashed it after buying it and is just trying to get his money back. If he takes you to court you could say that you were not aware of any prior damage before the sale, so maybe it happened afterwards.
No matter what, though, although this seems like a crisis to the OP right now, it will be a learning experience in the long run. When things are going to hell, you can always comfort yourself with the fact that you are learning something.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
06-28-12, 02:41 PM
#50
You gonna eat that?
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."