Bikerider007

I'm sure most here have had dealings and they are not always pleasant or normal for that matter. Either buying or selling.

One of my mine was that I was on a way to friends house, a young guy that that is into vintage stuff, so I had a couple things for him and decided to pick up a couple cheap tools to help him along. Saw an ad for a chain breaker that was on way to his place. For anyone familiar with AZ it was in Maryvale, not the greatest area.

I make call to set up the pick up. Go to the directions given and there are about 5 guys (thuggish looking) standing out front with a bunch of stuff that looks like a yard sale, I assume they must be the ones selling stuff. Of course, one runs up with a puffed out chest like I was in his hood and says "whats up!" I just say, "I am here for the chain breaker", a couple more guys walk up looking confused I and I say "hey man I just called and am here for the bike part". They then say, "we are not selling anything we are moving in", ok, must be wrong place. So here I am parked in front of a cruddy apartment complex and about to take off, and a guy comes around the corner waving and says something to the thuggish group. He pokes his head in the window and I look at breaker, he drops in my hand and I hand him the few dollars. At this same time I look up and cop is slowly driving by.....great. So I talk to him for a sec and expect cop to come back as I am sure he thinks I just bought some crack or something. I figure oh well I have done nothing wrong and take off. I get up up about 1000 feet and there he is pulled to the side of the road, I just keep going and he follows me out of the neighborhood and down the road about a mile, but never pulls me over and eventually turns off. I am sure he looked me up but even though I did nothing wrong, it sucks to be followed like that!

oddjob2

At least the area is patrolled. Try living outside of midtown within the City of Detroit, good luck!

horatio 

My wife is amazed that I will go places to look at bikes. She must think I'll end up in a situation like you described! To date, I have not.

jefnvk

Most of mine are just sellers horribly misrepresenting what they have and having to tell them you aren't interested with them badgering you with lower prices. Like an F250 I went to look at with crappy pics and "minor rust", and foot diameter hole rusted through the side of the bed that was conveniently missing from the pictures, or a Focus that was in otherwise described shape but the owner forgot to mention had no drivers seat belt. I've also had two sellers that when I showed up to their house at the agreed upon time, they weren't even home.

My girlfriend forbade me from going to look at people's houses when searching for a touring capable C&V for her when she was present. On the plus side, I ended up finding a C&V shop I never knew existed!

She's regretting that decision...

CliffordK

Ahhh, you probably just gave the guy the $5 to buy his cheap fix.

Honestly, I can't think of any place around here that I wouldn't go on a bike or in a car. I've met most people at their home, but met a few people in parks or store parking lots.

Darth Lefty 

No hinky people so far. The worst sale has been to the guy who bought my 1yo Tempurpedic at a 70% discount from what I paid new, and wouldn't shut up about what a great deal it was for him. The worst buy has been this one https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...ar-reader.html

Velocivixen

I saw a Miyata mountain bike (vintage) online with just a bit of info. and a phone number to text. I text asking a simple question, and the response was something like, "Read the ad!". So, sure enough the info. I asked about was in the ad and I just missed it. I texted back something like "Oh sorry, my bad". Given that the guy seemed to have a crappy attitude I never contacted him any more. His ad sounded like someone very angry in all caps with lots of exclammation points and telling all the idiots out there not to bother, etc. etc. The bike was relatively inexpensive.

Fast forward several hours, he texted me saying somehthing like, "yeah, you ******** b@tch, I figured as much. You wasting my time, you idiot, blah, blah, blah" I don't recall all of what it was but I was flabbergasted, as I have never been spoken to like that. Of course I knew enough not to respond back, but I don't take abuse like that. I so wanted to give him a piece of my mind (it surely would have added to the little he had). Anyway, I restrained myself and ignored it, but he was on quite a tirade. I never told him I wanted the bike, or anything. Just a simple question.
That bike stayed on CL for a long time.

Pompiere

Going to their house is sometimes where you find the best deals. A bike or a frame or a box of parts that wasn't in the ad, but you noticed when you went into their garage. Or that they threw in afterward because you seemed like someone who would appreciate it. I have heard of people not even buying the bike they went to look at, because there was a better one that wasn't in the ad.

My worst experience is someone selling a hybrid and trying to tell me how great it is and easily worth much more. He claimed he could sell it quickly at 50% more than his asking price, but seemed upset when I walked away.

jefnvk

Oh, I'm well aware of that, doesn't bother me in the least, but the lady does not think as I do. It is why I have a Trek 400 frame and a pile of bike parts in a box sitting in my apartment, when all I wanted was a set of $5 wheels. Guy just kept sweetening the deal, clearing out old stuff he didn't want to make room for new projects...

carbomb

The worst experiences I've had have all been with buying and selling cars or car parts. I've had people follow me after I declined their last minute low ball offers. I've had people just text and text for days in anger with crazy insults when I didn't buy something (if something isn't as described, I just walk away).

Bike stuff? So far it's all been pretty damn pleasant and I've usually ended up with more than I thought I'd get, certainly not less. I once had a kid not show up to sell a frame and then he called me stupid for not offering him more money if I really wanted it. That was confusing, but it was a fun conversation topic for the week =)

D1andonlyDman

My only really poor CL experience was not something I bought nor sold, but rather, on a bike that I offered to help inspect and facilitate for a newbie on this forum. It was an aluminum Specialized Allez that was around 8-10 years old, and advertised to be in "like new" condition. The buyer was over-eager and impatient, so he negotiated a price prior to the actual inspection with the seller, a price which I thought, BTW, was slightly on the high side of fair value, but not outrageous by any means, if the bike was in the condition it was described to be in the ad. The agreed-to price was $350.

Well, at the time of the agreed-to inspection and pickup, I see that the bike is in slightly lower cosmetic condition than the ad claims, and the wheels are not really true - they are rideable in the near term, but really should get trued. So I say as much, and frankly, what I said was that, for the out of true wheels, the seller should knock $50 off of the price - because that's what it would cost the buyer to get them trued. Honestly, I expected the seller to counter with either a $25-30 knock down of the price, or a refusal to knock down the price. What I did NOT expect was the seller to go ballistic, start screaming and cursing at me, and threatening to take a baseball bat to my head. The guy's wife had to restrain him or he would have come at me. He tells my newbie buyer that he wouldn't sell his bike to him if he was the last customer on the planet. My newbie buyer basically had to disown any association with me and then BEG the seller to still sell him the bike (were it MY choice, I'd have walked away from the deal, and I told him to do so - but he REALLY wanted THAT bike).

So, in the end, acting like a jackass actually worked for the seller, and he got his price for a bike that was not as nice as it was claimed to be, and I ended up with both the buyer and the seller pissed at ME, simply for offering my honest opinion about the bike. As a result, I won't do that sort of deal any more. I will only facilitate when I am the one negotiating, and the buy or walk decision is mine at the point of sale.

Lascauxcaveman 

No 'bad' neighborhoods around here. I can go anywhere and am usually just talking to some nice old guy who can't ride anymore. Or his widow.

I buy a lot of used bikes in the area; have yet to have a bad experience that comes to mind. A good experience which is becoming a pattern for me is buying a brifterized (or trigger-shifter MTB) bike at an extreme discount "because those lever things don't work" and it turns out they do, after a little WD40 is squirted in there.

Phil_gretz

Just one bad experience. I had someone e-mail or text (I really can't recall which) about coming to see an inexpensive Lotus in a smaller size. Anyway, I had a cash offer from another BF member to provide to a neighbor who wanted the bike. So, off went the bike to its new owner. Several days later, the originally interested person writes back to schedule to see the Lotus. "I'm sorry, but the bike is sold" triggered a series of angry, threatening (I know where you live) types of messages detailing her Army training and how the bike was for her daughter, and I couldn't get away... Wow. It blew over, eventually.

CannedPakes

The guy I bought my Fuji from kept bragging about the brand new qr skewers he put on it. Well, during my test ride the wheel launched into the frame because they were external cam.

Luckily I had some internal cam skewers at home, so not really a big deal. Why do external cam skewers even exist?

nashvillebill

I've had a few purchases that didn't turn out to be so great; only one where I completely threw my money away though. Looked at an antique microscope, exterior was good shape, couldn't get anything to focus through the optics but I figured it was just dirt so I paid $40 for the thing. Got home, went to clean it, and found the mirrored coating on the internal prism had completely flaked off, irreparable. Eventually it went into the trash afte trying to figure out some way to recoup anything of value from it, never could think of a redeeming use for it.

Years ago I went to look at a Suzuki motorcycle, according to the seller it just needed a clutch cable or something but was otherwise in absolutely perfect shape (only a vague picture to judge from). So I go over to look at it...it was sitting uncovered outside and badly rusting, seat had ripped with electrical tape on it, chain rusted solid and sprockets worn out, dent in gas tank, and worst of all, the engine and pipes were heavily mottled where the engine had been run too lean and overheated. Nearby was a Kawasaki in similar condition. As I was leaving, the owner commented that he was going to buy a Harley because those Jap bikes wouldn't stay running. Yeah right it's the bikes fault....(I did not buy the bike of course)

Camilo

I had a similar experience but in person. And about 20 years ago, before Craigslist, but still.

I am also into acoustic guitars and always looking for the sleeper, or in bike jargon, a "barn find" - a gem that someone doesn't realize and is getting rid of for less than real value and/or a real collector's item. I've actually found one, a little known hand made guitar at a second hand store for $125 ($2,000 minimum new in the 90s - I called the builder later). This shop was selling low end, but known brands for about 2X what they were worth, and only knew that the guitar I bought was not Martin, Gibson, Sigma, Yamaha, etc.

Back to the point: Saw an ad for a "custom" 6 string. Called the guy, got directions to his "home", went there. He lived in a marshy area, in the middle of about 2-3 acres of junk - vehicles, scrap metal and wood, etc. etc. He was living in a school bus with a wood stove chimney protruding from the top, and spray urethane covering all the windows.

The guitar was a self-customized total piece of s---. I mean the "custom" stuff he did looked like a kid carved or sawed some parts and attached them with sheet rock screws and wood glue. I didn't even play it, but tried as politely and friendly as I could to say I wasn't interested. Something like "I wasn't sure but see it's similar to one I have so I guess I'm not interested." He immediately started ragging on me telling me I wasted his time, and I was a jerk, etc. I mean I think this guy was mentally ill (duh?). I was actually nervous for a few minutes, but said sorry and just walked to my car and left asap.

echo victor 

Knock on wood, but I've had pretty good experiences for the most part. A few semi-sketchy locations that turned out fine and a couple sketchy individuals that I walked away from, but mostly it's been friendly people just trying to move something along.

One experience that did torque me off pretty well was after I'd spoken to a seller. I was all set to meet up with him, but he said he couldn't meet until later in the day, say around 3:00 pm, because he was running errands. So I structured my afternoon around his request and called him around 2:45 as agreed, and he says, "Oh, sorry - I just sold it." It worked out eventually, because the buyer turned out to be a friend of mine, and the bike was too big for him... so he sold it to me.

On the other hand, true confessions... I may have been the 'some other guy' in one case: I met up with a seller, liked the bike (not C&V), and all but had it on my rack... and he got a call from another buyer. The other buyer was waiting to meet the seller at the place they'd already agreed on, after a long-ish drive.

Yeah, my girlfriend prefers that I text her the location I'm supposed to meet someone. On one occasion she had me text the info to a buddy of ours who's a sheriff's deputy in the area I was headed. I'm actually surprised by the number of people who invite me to meet them at their home. I'm willing to do it, but if I'm selling, I don't typically invite strangers to my home - a parking lot or something nearby, sure, but I'm not comfortable giving someone my address when all I've done is trade texts with them.

You're near me - what part of town was that?

Bikerider007

I am constantly reminded as well, this may sound wrong but after being married 18 years I know when I should tell her something or not, I surely did not tell her this story. Mostly because it would make her worry more. I do let her know exactly where I go and call her before getting there, and after.

That is not bad, that's horrible man. I don't know what I would have done, that could have gone lots of ways and many of them really wrong.

Another quick story...more amusing than anything. Called and wanted to see some parts from a CL ad. I had introduced myself over the phone as soon as I called, and he gives me his, but was a little tough to understand so I felt like I was not clear on what it was. So, at the end, to be sure I asked his name again and he tells me, so I repeated it back as in; "it was nice talking to you Dale." Then he says "NO, Biilll!" I was like "Ohhhh ok, sorry about that Bill, see you soon." I get over there, do the business and then say "Thank You Bill, it was nice meeting you", and he goes "NOOOOO! Daaaallle" like all stretched out. I was like, what the? so I say something like "MAN! I am sorry but I just cannot understand what you are saying".... So he reaches up and grabs his top lip, opens his mouth and says, "I don't have no top teef, my name is Daaaarrrrrrelll", really slow. I about died laughing.

Lazyass

When I bought a Trek 400 off of ebay and when I get it I see it had been in a head on collision with the headtube pushed back and the downtube bent.

clubman 

I wanted to reduce the fleet and posted this good condition 1942 CCM roadster for $75, what I had in it. A couple respond to my ad from just around the corner, two semi retired university professors. The wife needed exercise on docs orders and the bike looks perfect for her needs. Could she try it for a day or two? Sure.

I ended up leaving town for a few days and when I came back, I went to collect the money (or bike). Turns out she's had a flat, I wasn't home so she went to the local bike shop and had new rubber installed to the tune of $35 and here's the bill and the outstanding $40. My jaw dropped, I turned purple. The husband was grossly embarrassed by his freaky spouse but said nothing. I turned on my heal and walked away. These are 6 figure income earners.

The upside is that the husband has made a sincere effort to buy a lot of bread from our bakery since then. But it's embarrassing to see these people on a regular basis.

eschlwc

bought and sold hundreds of items through craigs and never had anything dramatic to tell.

i almost always meet in a public place.

maybe it helps living in a very civilized, bike friendly, major west coast city.

Azekii2

Leather seat broke and front brake line broke while riding to meet up with someone.

He didn't buy the bike. Haha.

gomango

I used to sell a "couple" of bikes at the local universities and on CL.

Many years ago I advertised a very nice Gazelle mixte and several parties converged simultaneously at a local coffee shop to view the bike.

Obviously cash is king and two of the guys wanted to buy it for their wives.

Turned into a screaming match between hubbies and they kept outbidding each other.

I settled it by giving it to the first person that actually showed (at the original asking $) and went home to pick up a Batavus mixte for the other party.

Worked out fine, but I got better at arranging "showings."

Bobray95

I spotted a nice old Cannondale Road bike on CL. I texted the guy and set up a time to meet. I had to drive a couple of towns over so he told me to text him back when I got off the interstate. When I got off the interstate he texted me directions and told me it was lot #26 . When I got there all of the trailers in this lot looked to be 40 years old. Several men were sitting in the yard next to Lot 26. The door was open so I knocked without getting too close to the door. The guy yelled "come on in I'm just cleaning it up a little. He had the back wheel off of it. Luckily I had already taken the money out of my wallet and put it in my pocket. As soon as he put the wheel on it I handed him the money and headed outside with the bike.While I was putting the bike on my bike rack the guy explained that he's a handyman and bartered the bike for some work he did for someone. I quickly threw it on my bike rack and took off. I stopped at a gas station down the street and finished tying it down. The sale really went well but looking back on it I see so many ways it could have gone bad! ps. I love the red and white Cannondale.

D1andonlyDman

Scripps Ranch, in a very nice development. But the good news is, the seller was selling because he was moving out of town.