Pay more and Have that CV bike come to you or drop everything and chase after it?
11-11-16, 06:29 PM
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Pay more and Have that CV bike come to you or drop everything and chase after it?
I am in between cars right now and admit that I have already missed a few deals, because I couldn't just jump into the car and show up with cash for the CL Seller. Even so it is a bit of a hustle to try to chase after bike stuff this way. Not to mention time and gas expenditures. These supposed deals are not always convenient either, often you may have to drop everything and drive a couple hours ++ to check something out and it could be a bust anyway.
I have tried to do deals from a distance and had mixed experiences also. On CL wherever. It's just hard to wag your tail and convince a private party your not a scammer. Big risk also sometimes getting a bike this way, because after you somehow convince the seller to deal with you, the bike could have condition issues after all that weren't disclosed or or known about. too late at that point, it is yours defects and all.
With ebay at least you know the deal can go though, but still it is often at premium and you still can't inspect in person. Nothing like inspecting in person right? I have decided though that if the deal is right I will pay a little extra just to have it shipped, for pure convenience of getting it to my doorstep.
How many times have you seen a bike and said, well it looks good but how in the hell am I going to get to it? The whole scheduling thing with CL Seller is pain too.
Maybe I will try this Facilitators thread, but no easy solution here. I'll probably get a vehicle soon but even then I know stuff will come up out of my range. Wish there was a better way somehow.
I have tried to do deals from a distance and had mixed experiences also. On CL wherever. It's just hard to wag your tail and convince a private party your not a scammer. Big risk also sometimes getting a bike this way, because after you somehow convince the seller to deal with you, the bike could have condition issues after all that weren't disclosed or or known about. too late at that point, it is yours defects and all.
With ebay at least you know the deal can go though, but still it is often at premium and you still can't inspect in person. Nothing like inspecting in person right? I have decided though that if the deal is right I will pay a little extra just to have it shipped, for pure convenience of getting it to my doorstep.
How many times have you seen a bike and said, well it looks good but how in the hell am I going to get to it? The whole scheduling thing with CL Seller is pain too.
Maybe I will try this Facilitators thread, but no easy solution here. I'll probably get a vehicle soon but even then I know stuff will come up out of my range. Wish there was a better way somehow.
11-11-16, 07:26 PM
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It's all part of the hunt. I live in an area where good C&V bikes are incredibly rare on CL. There's minimal bike culture from previous decades, and what culture there is currently is mostly focused on triathlons and new road bikes. The upside is I was literally the only person seriously interested in a Tommasini this summer, but it also means that that Tommasini was pretty much the only seriously interesting bike within easy driving distance I've seen on the local CL in 6 months.
If you live in a target rich environment, then you'll likely have other people competing with you for that great deal, and you'll miss out many times. But you'll also have more deals to consider. CL means lots of flippers and flakes (in the larger markets), but it also means you can easily see 1000x as many old bikes as in the pre-CL days.
Regarding the online auction sites, I would say it's really hard to know, from a distance, if something is "the right deal." Unless you're dealing with one of the regulars here, it's caveat emptor. It's much harder to get taken in face to face, even if it's a hassle.
If you live in a target rich environment, then you'll likely have other people competing with you for that great deal, and you'll miss out many times. But you'll also have more deals to consider. CL means lots of flippers and flakes (in the larger markets), but it also means you can easily see 1000x as many old bikes as in the pre-CL days.
Regarding the online auction sites, I would say it's really hard to know, from a distance, if something is "the right deal." Unless you're dealing with one of the regulars here, it's caveat emptor. It's much harder to get taken in face to face, even if it's a hassle.
11-11-16, 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Kevindale
It's all part of the hunt. I live in an area where good C&V bikes are incredibly rare on CL. There's minimal bike culture from previous decades, and what culture there is currently is mostly focused on triathlons and new road bikes. The upside is I was literally the only person seriously interested in a Tommasini this summer, but it also means that that Tommasini was pretty much the only seriously interesting bike within easy driving distance I've seen on the local CL in 6 months.
If you live in a target rich environment, then you'll likely have other people competing with you for that great deal, and you'll miss out many times. But you'll also have more deals to consider. CL means lots of flippers and flakes (in the larger markets), but it also means you can easily see 1000x as many old bikes as in the pre-CL days.
Regarding the online auction sites, I would say it's really hard to know, from a distance, if something is "the right deal." Unless you're dealing with one of the regulars here, it's caveat emptor. It's much harder to get taken in face to face, even if it's a hassle.
If you live in a target rich environment, then you'll likely have other people competing with you for that great deal, and you'll miss out many times. But you'll also have more deals to consider. CL means lots of flippers and flakes (in the larger markets), but it also means you can easily see 1000x as many old bikes as in the pre-CL days.
Regarding the online auction sites, I would say it's really hard to know, from a distance, if something is "the right deal." Unless you're dealing with one of the regulars here, it's caveat emptor. It's much harder to get taken in face to face, even if it's a hassle.
I appreciate the knowledge base here and also that there is a CV vintage sales postings. My timing hasn't been great there either. Gotta be quick there also. Did one buy that went fine with Sloar.
11-11-16, 09:00 PM
#5
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around here if you bought every "deal" you would have 4000 bikes- got to be choosy. but if you DO see something you really want, its a rat race. best to be within the first 5 minutes with a plan and cash in hand.
the other trick is to answer the really terrible ads: my holdsworth had no pics and just said: "old bike" and the zunow had terrible pics from the wrong side, no size, no model.. basically just said: "rare zunow. works".
the other trick is to answer the really terrible ads: my holdsworth had no pics and just said: "old bike" and the zunow had terrible pics from the wrong side, no size, no model.. basically just said: "rare zunow. works".
Last edited by jetboy; 11-11-16 at 09:06 PM.
11-11-16, 09:42 PM
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Yeah I am not expecting a lot of great pics and descriptions in Ads on potential finds. More risk though but less so locally, to check on something like that with little to go on.
I guess I should try and get a vehicle here at some point. I have really been doing the get around on bike with basket thing for a while. Not always easy, but I am proud to say I have pulled it off and been car free for almost 3 years. I just hate when I have to rent one and pay through the nose.
I guess I should try and get a vehicle here at some point. I have really been doing the get around on bike with basket thing for a while. Not always easy, but I am proud to say I have pulled it off and been car free for almost 3 years. I just hate when I have to rent one and pay through the nose.
11-11-16, 10:02 PM
#7
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you still save tons by not owning. we are a one car family which means I am on the bike most the time, but it does save $$ even when I have to rent a car (like tomorrow).
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