I don't put people in line based on when they email me. Instead, I read the emails, and the one easiest to deal with, and the one that sounds like they are ready to buy, goes first.

Typically some will give you a myriad of questions: how about a trade, how about 50% of what I am asking, how about more pictures (I already posted detailed full sized pictures), can I hold it til Saturday, etc. Then I will have a few simple ones: here's my phone number, I'd like to come see it. Guess who gets first crack?

My rule on holding bikes is simple, call when you leave your house, and I will hold it til you arrive. Too many no shows on C/L. I don't hold a bike til the next day, or whenever. I try to work the same rules when I buy something, most of the time it works, sometimes stuff gets sold while I am driving. It sucks, its C/L.

While I hit a lot of garage sales, the only way it makes sense is if you are looking for other stuff. I don't see enough bikes to make it worth the effort. But I do pick up a lot of other stuff, that usually ends up on ebay, or meeting a family/friend's need.