pullin' teeth
 

Not listing frame size in a craigslist ad resulted in this
actual email exchange w/ craigslist seller yesterday:

me: "Hi, what size is your raleigh super course listed in craigslist?"

him: "27" "

me: " Hi again, do you mean 27" wheels, or frame? A 27" frame is extremely big!"

him: "wheels"

me: "Hi, thanks, but what is the frame size, in inches, from center of crank to center of top tube, measured along the seat tube?"

him: " From the center of the crank to the top of the bar where the seat post sits in is 23". Does that makes sense to you? If not let me know and I will take another measurement."

me: "Yes, thank you. It's a little too big for me, so good luck with the sale"

sad! I think it's no better when someone asks in response, "how tall are you?"

I just ask how high from the ground to the top bar.

They can get that one right. And since they understand it they'll actually do it with some diligence. Seat tube, they don't get that. We're talking about a lot of people who figure if you can't touch the ground with your butt on the saddle then it's too big for you.

Well, at least he knew it what a bottom bracket and seat tube was.

I met a guy on a bike that cost more than my entire build history combined, and he didn't know his bike's size. He bought it from a shop he trusts, rides it, and they service it. He can't tell you what tires are on the bike, the type of bar wrap, chain lube, or cassette cog range. He truly doesn't care, loves the bike, and rides it.

I have had sellers tell me the bike was a 40 inch size. I couldn't talk them through giving me a real measurement. One ended up being a 19 inch frame.....

This doesn't sound that unreasonable to me. Assuming this conversation is verbatim, you didn't really give him much to work with.

Well I see it as he didn't give me much to work with, with the one word answers that didn't anwer the original question that I shouldn't of had to ask. I first asked for the bike size, not the tire size, so he had something to work with right there.

He's a clueless appliance operator; nothing wrong with that...I guess. I'm like that with cars.:)