Originally Posted by
KarmicPedals
Make your contact email very polite AND include a cell phone number where they can reach you and make it clear that you'll come see the bike quickly. While you're making arrangements to "come tomorrow" I'm at their house ready to ride off with my new prize.
+1
I get a lot of folks that respond to an ad on Tuesday, wanting to arrange a meeting on Saturday. In a hot bike market, listings sell bikes in hours, not days.
If you see a bike you really want, contact immediately, word your reply in such a way as to stand out in a positive way (and include foolproof contact info), have cash in your pocket, and be ready to roll ASAP.
It's the only way.