A very recent thread noted the frustration of selling on CL. I have had a 99.8% success rate selling on CL. I sell full bikes on CL, components go on ebay due to the whole matter of shipping things. Here is a post to point out what makes for successful sales. I will post what has worked for me. These may seem very dumb and self-explanatory, but hey, why not.

1. A reasonable price. You aren't going to sell a Masi on CL for eBay prices. If what you have is average, sell it at an average price. I sold a 1980s POS cruiser frame within 30 minutes of posting last week because I priced it at what seemed like a steal. It was probably an early 90s dept. store frame but I got 30 emails and it went fast.

2. Buy into peoples' thinking that they are getting a bargain. I don't rip people off, but point out the good things. When you say it has an Ashtabula crank, oooh, that sounds exotic.

3.When people reply, say you will meet them at a landmark close to your locale. Whenever I roll up to the sell location actually riding the bike for sale, it is almost a 100% sale. Seeing it actually roll is a big selling point. Yeah, it is a ten minute walk home, but take in the air while you enjoy that cash in your wallet.

4. This is most obvious. Be ready to haggle. Price your stuff such that if somebody offers you 20% below your asking price you take it in a hurry. That way both parties leave happy and thinking they got a deal.

If anybody wants to amend this please feel free. As the CV people we basically fund our hobbies by resurrecting what could be garbage, keeping the good stuff for ourselves and passing along the rest to live another life.