Well, if you want a smokin hot deal, on a public sales forum like CL, you have to move really, really fast. The exception is the crappy ad, with minimal to no details, and a clueless seller who is unable to answer basic questions. Such a seller typically treats all potential buyers that way. So by jumping in your car and checking it out, sometimes you can get a deal (other times, you just waste gas).

The classic for me was the seller, where the only thing he could tell me is that the bike was "blue". No brand, no size, no type, no nothing. Finally went to see it just for curiosity sake (50 miles one way). Turned out to be one of my best deals.

Word of mouth is where the best deals typically are (no competition).