Originally Posted by
randyjawa
First of all, waiting to get lucky is not the way to go. First, you must know what a quality bike looks like. Next, you need to actually get up, get out, and hunt, if you want success. The more time you spend hunting, the more bikes you will get - and some will be for free.
Your primary search method you should start to cultivate right now. Word of Mouth - let eveyone you know and meet that you are looking for an old road bicycle. This works incredibly well for your first bike or two. After that, go to
Yard Sales,
bulletin boards,
flyers, etc and you WILL get a nice bike, or two or hundreds.
This is almost guaranteed, if you put the time in. If, however, you want to compete only in the "
Click Arena" (Craigslist and the like), you will have to be extremely dilligent and move at the speed of light, when something nice comes available. Otherwise, I
WILL get there first.
Hope that is a help and, sure, put an email on your poster or flyer. Phone numbers are just easier, faster and more positive to use.
Randy nailed it as always.
+1 Do everything your competition is not doing.
Most competitors won't:
1. Drive to the boonies
2. Launch when it is not convenient
3. Consider any size, not just the size they want. (I am amazed how many pass on a deal because it was not their size).
4. Look beyond the click arena.
5. In the click arena, look for bikes at higher price points or with obvious flaws.
6. Won't take the time to become knowledgeable about brands, components, and value. They are looking for anything CHEAP and too lazy to acquire knowledge.
Thrift stores and garage sales only work if you are picking other stuff. Deals on decent bikes are rare, but deals on other stuff are common. Turn the proceeds from "other" stuff into cash, use that cash to buy the bike of your dreams.
In dealing in anything, having an edge is very powerful. Waiting to get lucky is not a viable plan. Know your edge and exploit it. Work hard. If you can't identify your edge(s) (hopefully you have more than one), then you aren't going to win.
As you get good at finding deals, finding deals will no longer be the challenge. Having the time to refurbish and move to a new home will be the challenge. I work more on finding outlets for stuff, than I do on finding stuff.