Danolink

So, when all is said and done, it's worth what someone will pay. I've seen a number of bikes listed on eBay for rather ridiculous prices and get no bids, then get relisted at a more reasonable price later. That's how the market works. And while I respect and often seek the opinions of my esteemed forum brethren I don't always agree with their price estimates. Sometimes we start sounding like those old guys you used to hear back in the day talking about how everything used to cost 2 bits.

+100

fender1

I recently picked up a Trek 850 (1987) for $50 off of Philly CL. The seller told me she received 47 requests to buy/see the bike. It is not in bad shape but it is no garage queen. It will need some work to make road worthy.

Things have changed quite a bit in the last 6-8 months. I think the prices will continue rise if fuel/energy costs continue to do so. If we end up bombing Iran ( I hope not) then things will go truly crazy regarding pricing on everything, as oil cost will skyrocket. Start stockpiling old, steel, hardtail mountain bikes as hedge to you 401(k) plan.

KarmicPedals

I bought a 1978 Raleigh mixte (in very, very good condition) the other day off of CL for $125 -- probably double or triple what most of you would pay for the same bike.. the seller had calls/emails about it while I was buying it -- and had had some before I bought it... no doubt it was going to sell for the $125.. I looked at him as I was buying it and said "this is the time where I'm supposed to haggle you down by 20 or 30 bucks -- but, I'm not going to try -- you've saved me the gas money and time of finding it -- I like it -- it's what I was looking for -- and if I get it home and the chain breaks by morning, I suspect, because I see you regularly sell bikes here on CL, that you'd probably help me out".

I saw him list an identical Mixte (in brown as opposed to my green) for $135 the next day -- the ad was gone within hours.

My theories:

A) Those of us who don't already have lots of bikes to ride or who are looking to purchase something specific are willing to factor in the many gallons of gas and time required to scope out garage sales, flea markets. thrift shops, bike shops, and more just to find "that one bike". We also factor in the price of the cheap caca available at the big box stores -- afterall, what will $100 buy at Target or Walmart? If, on the other hand, you are the type who is more open to what you find (i.e. you're flipping bikes or you aren't actively looking for that next bike)-- you'll wait for just the good deals.

B) There are, also, more people coming into the market to purchase bicycles than before (because of gas prices/going green concerns), and they aren't truly educated as to value.

C) Prices do vary substantially by region of the country -- your $40 bike in Missouri might be a $150 bike here in Miami.

fluidworks

I was reminded of this thread when I saw this CL ad.

https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/bik/756741202.html


Insane, people think any piece of crap without a freewheel justifies a 200% markup.

duffer1960

It's called 'inflation', it's what govts do to fiat money. Get used to it. $200 is the new $100

mishmashmusic

I just flipped my third bike, and I've noticed a recurring theme in the buyers. They all got sticker shock when they realized they had to pay at least $400-$500 for a decent entry-level bike, so they went straight to the used market to look for something cheaper. With gas prices going up, expect vintage bikes to do likewise...

-holiday76

last time i checked the definition of inflation is not "to sell a crap bike for three times what it's worth"

cs1

Not really. Just because you believe something is worth more than it really is has nothing to do with ethics. The value of any item is whatever someone is willing to pay. If nobody buys it then it isn't worth what he is asking. I can't believe this post has gone 3 pages. The seller puts it up for more than it's worth. Item doesn't sell. End of story.

not_jason

I feel that people who do not research and shop around, are making a CHOICE not to research and shop around. While I do feel sorry for people who get scammed, there is a limit to how sympathetic I can bring myself to feel. If you can't spend a few minutes on the internet to potentially save yourself 100 dollars or so, then I don't really see much of a reason to mind. If you can afford to make mistakes, then go for it. I know on more than a few occasions, I've overpaid for things that I could have gotten cheaper. I've never seen it as my right to blame anyone but myself. Through no special or unique experience, I know the risk of blind purchases, so why doesn't everyone else?

-holiday76

+1

i agree with you. Like I said, it's buyer beware. I just do feel sorry for some people who get ripped off, but it's really not that big of a deal.

At this point I just think it's funny to watch people complain about the thread contents and question why we're discussing this, then contribute to the thread

dynodonn 

So far, the average person will probably only get stung for no more than hundred dollar loss when making a used bicycle purchase, which is fairly easy to recover from especially when compared to losses of purchasing a used car or a used home in the latest housing market fiasco.

not_jason

And also, consider the following. Person that doesn't know what they are doing goes out and buys some used bike for 200 bucks, when it was probably realistically worth less than half that. ASSUMING it's reliable and in good repair, they probably STILL got a better bike than they'd get at a department store for the same price.

KarmicPedals

Bingo.

solveg

Here's another angle. Don't know if it's really relevant, but hey....

I just ordered new steel fencing. The guy said the price of steel has tripled in the past 8 years.

I heard on the radio that if you go to france and give them $100, they would, based on the exchange rate, give you back $60.

So consider our bikes are steel, and the parts are foreign, the replacement cost alone has doubled or tripled in the past 8 years if the above facts are correct.

Blue Order

If I may, without knowing you, I think the difference is you're offering good value for the money to the unsuspecting college girl and the like, while the seller who is the subject of this thread is either seriously deluded about the value of his bikes, or he is in business to fleece the unsuspecting college girl and the like. And I think that latter possibility is what offends people here.