Colten

Hello, soon I am going to be purchasing my first road bike and was told this craigslist dealer would suit me great but want to make sure I'm not getting ripped off. This is the only bike I could find that would fit me in the area so I don't have many options but to save longer and buy a newer bike.
Here is the ad (take out spaces can't post links yet for some reason) https :/ /waterloo.craigslist.org/bik/d/60-cm-cannondale-r300-road/6589706328 . html

Thanks for any help anyone can give!

oddjob2

link

Closer to $300 FMV.

If you are 6'3" + this might be suitable.
https://cedarrapids.craigslist.org/b...581782590.html

Colten

So you think the price is fairly high?

Colten

Also do you think the price is too high to consider buying even though I am in great need of a road bike?

bikemig 

This bike? https://waterloo.craigslist.org/bik/...589706328.html

The price is high but then the seller says the bike has been overhauled and parts replaced as needed. That much work is worth something when it comes to the value of the bike but still $425 seems high.

Is this too small, it's a 58

https://waterloo.craigslist.org/bik/...562988296.html

wrk101

Lets say its $100 high. What does that mean to your budget? If you want to buy something right now, go for it.


Guy is obviously a flipper, and is not interested in what we think on pricing. As long as he does good work, thats the most important part. There are good flippers out there that take pride in their work, and schlocky flippers out there do terrible work. Well done work can equal $200 to $250 in value alone. Crappy work is worth zero to negative, as you have to redo all of it (or pay someone to redo it). I bought a bike from a flipper in Orlando recently, rather than replace the rusty cables ($3 cost to a flipper or less), he painted the cables silver! Idiotic IMHO as it probably took him an hour to paint all those cables. Of course, this meant the cables didn't move freely, as soon as the painted section entered the housing, it got stuck. Guy gave a lifetime guarantee by the way. I was interested in the parts, so not a big deal to be. But someone less knowledgeable wanting a bike to ride would have been screwed.

I have bought many bikes from a flipper in my area. The key is to get a bike from him BEFORE he works on it. His work is terrible and has to be all redone. I've taken bikes he has sold in trade, wrong size, stuck seat post and stem, BB shot, etc. Buyers are enticed by his low prices, but they end up screwed.

Colten

So aslong as I can trust the work that is done to the bike is quality and actually improves the bike if it is actually good work the extra money I spend here could potentially make it so I dont have to spend much money in the near future on the bike?

Also the 58cm frame is pretty small for me especially considering I'm 16 and still I'm growing a lot lol.

wrk101

This is the key. You have to decide how good the work is, if it is well done, its worth it. Crappy work is worth nothing. Seller should be able to explain (in person) exactly what was done, and how much work he did. Its a good opportunity for you to hone your skills in sizing up people, as you will be making much bigger financial decisions in the future. Being able to tell the difference between BS and credible work will serve you well in fife!!

Colten

Thanks for the help I feel much better purchasing it now.