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Rules For Craigslist

Old 02-15-11, 11:50 AM
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Rules For Craigslist

On a concurrent thread, I shared one of
the many rules of self preservation I have
learned through experience with regard to
buying bicycles on Craigslist. Thus:

Rules For Craigslist
SHOOT ME A EMAIL
CL rule #32: Never respond to any ad using
the phrase "shoot me an e-mail".
There have been other attempts at formulating
such codes of behavior over the years by
people who have been variously traumatized:

Craigslist Dating: The Rules

Date: 2003-11-06, 9:28PM EST

Rule One: There are no rules... It's a beautiful thing.

Rule Two: Yes, pictures can be misleading, yet you insist. Be prepared for this and take it like a gentleman and be considerate, you do not need to marry this person. Sheesh... it's only a date. Life's a gamble.

Rule Three: Be as honest as possible. If your life is dull, try to at least have fun with your post, and maybe something fun will come your way. Don't get carried away, just try incorporating one of your interests. Women like honesty. Honestly.

Rule Four: You are not necessarily expected to pay. If you feel inclined, so be it, just don't do so expecting something in return (wink). If the woman you are with is not at all what you had in mind, discuss splitting the bill early on. That should do it.

Rule Five: Be realistic and stay within your league, meaning, if you are Joe Average, don't be so disappointed when only Plain Janes reply.

Rule Six: For whatever reason, when girls mention sex in their postings it's exhilirating to most members of the opposite sex, unfortunately the same does not hold true for our male counterparts. We're girls, we KNOW you like sex, so why not only mention sex if this is something you DO NOT enjoy, otherwise fellas, it's a given. Got it.

Rule Seven: Stay focused. Most people cannot read your mind. For example 'SWM, Professional, Educated, Attractive, Fit, seeks same' is not a whole lot to go on. As a matter of fact, this describes the majority of single people living in this city, it may be an unwritten rule someone forgot to tell all of us about. Anyway, try I like.... a girl who... I consider myself...

Rule Eight: Don't be mean. What's the point? When you meet with someone remember that everyone is doing the best they can. I once met a guy who BEGGED me to meet with him (picture exchange and all) and when we did he kissed my cheek and said "I'm going to have to take a pass". OK, I appreciate his honesty and can handle this, but I have a friend who is on the mend from a broken heart. Something like this would crush her. Something to think about.

Rule Nine: It's only a date. You asked for it, you got it, for better or worse. Enjoy, you never know, you could at least make a new friend (i.e. professional contact). Relax.

Rule Ten: You only live once. Choose your partner wisely. The person you choose to love can make or break you, per se. If you don't take this advice beware, you may someday end up posting a M4W 'Married man in unfulfilled marriage seeking fulfillment in any way'. Follow your hearts gents, 'cause the best thing that ever happened to you may come wrapped in a package that's not 'slender, successful, extremely fashionable, and perfect'. It's a jungle out there...
"Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think".
So here is a thread for all to share the
knowledge gained through bitter experience
in the Craigslist bicycle marketplace.
It would be helpful if they could be formatted
as is the first example (i.e. as a rule, with a
number that has not been already used by
someone else.) It would be much more
amusing if it could also contain a story
or CL ad example quote as part of the posting.

Thank you very much if you choose to
contribute your hard won knowledge.
Remember that we do this for the sake
of history and future generations of bike
weenies.
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Old 02-15-11, 01:05 PM
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CL Rule 5: The bike isn't sold until the person shows up and hands me cash. I keep taking requests to see it.
CL Rule 6: Don't make plans around someone showing up to look at a bike. They come when I am normally going to be around for other reasons.
CL Rule 7: Corollary to Rule 5 & 6:, if they don't email an excuse within 8 hours of not showing up, goes to next on list.
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Old 02-15-11, 01:36 PM
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Craigslist is war. There are no rules.
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Old 02-15-11, 01:45 PM
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Rule 34:
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Old 02-15-11, 02:02 PM
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is your bike still for sale?

edit: sent from my fabulous iphone 5G

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Old 02-15-11, 02:11 PM
  #6  
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Saweeet !

Originally Posted by 3373jones
is your bike still for sale?


____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
CL Rule 41: All fixed gear bikes are "sweet"
(and often "fast").

I want to sell my 56cm Surly Steamroller. This bike is sweet.
Schwinn Single Speed - $175

Date: 2011-01-14, 1:07PM PST
Selling my bike
Its a sweet old Chicago style Schwinn
.

Sweet single speed SE Lager for sale.
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Old 02-15-11, 02:53 PM
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+10 Never change your schedule or make plans to accomodate a C/L buyer. C/L is the land of no shows. First one with the cash wins.

#8. Don't waste time negotiating via email (see rule #6 on no shows). Negotiating via email at best only commits the seller, the buyer has made zero commitment.

#9. Never answer an idiotic email. They are just collecting your email to spam you later. One I recently got on a bike I was asking $220 for was: "$220". Yeah, right....

#10. Have low/no expectations for courtesy/communications, or whatever. It just isn't out there.

#11. Realize C/L is a free outlet to buy and sell items, and reach a very broad market. So what if it is a pain, it also provides a pretty good service at no cost.
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Old 02-15-11, 03:31 PM
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#12 if describing a bicycle use one of the following condition codes:

7 - still in the box from the manufacturer with all original packaging, no tool marks.
6 - has been taken out of the box and assembled, but not ridden.
5 - has been ridden, paint has no chips or scratches, no wear on components
4 - paint has few chips or scratches, but NO RUST, little wear on components
3 - paint has chips or scratches, but no rust, moderate wear on components
2 - missing some paint, has some rust, heavy wear on components
1 - frame is damaged and has missing parts not required for all riding (i.e. cable stops or hanger gnawed off)
0 - frame is damaged, components are damaged, broken or missing, can not be ridden in current condition.

#13, the following terms should are forbidden, NOS, Mint, Rare, fits rider from

#14 Measure from then middle of the crank axle to the middle of the top tube, for mountain bikes and road bikes made before 1982 this may be expressed in inches, for newer road bikes this should be expressed as cm. This is the size and must be included and expressed as stated.
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Old 02-15-11, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Wogsterca
#13, the following terms should are forbidden, (snip) fits rider from

.
This is what many final buyers want to know, so it ain't forbidden.
Flippers? We/they know by the frame size.
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Old 02-15-11, 03:57 PM
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Buyers without phone numbers are time wasters.
Sellers without phone numbers are dangerous.
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Old 02-15-11, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox
Rule 34:
Are you asking for bike porn or craigslist porn? I believe there is both.
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Old 02-15-11, 04:10 PM
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If the ad says a vintage bike is in mint condition, the seller is a liar and should not be trusted.
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Old 02-15-11, 04:54 PM
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There are quite a few sellers that do not know the definition of rust.
Rust, and no rust. I think that is how it goes.
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Old 02-15-11, 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Wogsterca

#13, ...the following terms should are forbidden .... fits rider from
+1 I always include the line: should fit riders from xxx to yyy. I also include the frame size, measured center to center. 99% of the buyers in my area do not understand frame size, and most want to know: what size rider will this bike fit? So I answer this question in the ad, while including the frame size, just because I like to include it.
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Old 02-15-11, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by mazdaspeed
Craigslist is war. There are no rules.
So this would be CL rule #1 then ?
________________________________________________________________________________
CL Rule #? (needs a number)
If the ad says a vintage bike is in mint condition, the seller is a liar and should not be trusted.
Corollary A: Rare means different things to different people

56cm Paletti designed by Ray Dobbins. Rare bike....Dura Ace components, Campy cranks, ultegra shifters. If your looking at this posting im sure you know what your looking at

For more info pls call Tom xxx xxx xxxx or email me


RE: 1980's Paletti Cronos Italian road bike - $1250 DO NOT BUY
Date: 2011-02-15, 11:59AM PST
THIS BIKE HAS BEEN CRASHED AND THE DOWN TUBE WAD DAMAGED SEVERELY. DO NOT BUY!!
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Old 02-15-11, 09:07 PM
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#15(?): if the ad says make offer but does not include a price it will either be a great deal or a major hassle and not worth the time to go see it.

When I post something I'll put in a price and then sometimes add in "if you don't like the price then make an offer".

#16(?): if there is no pic then there might be a reason. If someone can figure out how to post an ad then they should be able to figure out how to post a pic.

#17(?): if the poster writes in texting lingo then the deal iz gon 2 b uh mjr hazl 2 mak
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Old 02-15-11, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by wrk101
+1 I always include the line: should fit riders from xxx to yyy. I also include the frame size, measured center to center. 99% of the buyers in my area do not understand frame size, and most want to know: what size rider will this bike fit? So I answer this question in the ad, while including the frame size, just because I like to include it.
The problem with "fits a rider from" is that I can take 3 guys who are the exact same height and they all take a different size frame, because they all have different leg lengths. Making the descriptive pretty much useless.
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Old 02-15-11, 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Wogsterca
The problem with "fits a rider from" is that I can take 3 guys who are the exact same height and they all take a different size frame, because they all have different leg lengths. Making the descriptive pretty much useless.
That is why I write, "Fits most riders from W'XX" to Y'ZZ" tall".
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Old 02-16-11, 01:52 AM
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Originally Posted by treebound
#15(?)

#16(?): if there is no pic then there might be a reason. If someone can figure out how to post an ad then they should be able to figure out how to post a pic.
I love ads with no pic. It screams, "I don't care how cool this bike is, just get it out of here. Make me any offer and I'll probably bite."
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Old 02-16-11, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by treebound

#16(?): if there is no pic then there might be a reason. If someone can figure out how to post an ad then they should be able to figure out how to post a pic.
Originally Posted by realestvin7
I love ads with no pic. It screams, "I don't care how cool this bike is, just get it out of here. Make me any offer and I'll probably bite."
I bought a bike from an ad with a "stock" picture. He said he didn't have a camera... the positive is that I just had to look at it.

Turns out, the guy is a brilliant computer dude- he actually does consultant work at my workplace- he actually just didn't have a camera.
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Old 02-16-11, 11:33 AM
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#whatever: Don't reply to my ad using "words" like 'u', 'lol', or ellipsis. I don't claim to have perfect grammar or spelling but if you write like a 12-year-old I'm going to assume you're just that and not worth my time.
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Old 02-16-11, 03:13 PM
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Craigslist Rule #1: It's free, and you get what you pay for. Quitcherb*tchin'!! Don't like it, create eBay 2.0.
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Old 02-16-11, 06:39 PM
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Sorry, But #1 Is Already Taken.

Originally Posted by khatfull
Craigslist Rule #1: It's free, and you get what you pay for. Quitcherb*tchin'!! Don't like it, create eBay 2.0.
Possibly a small clarification is in order.

The point here, is really not to complain, rather an attempt
to solicit experience based advice from both sellers and
buyers (and I realize some of us are both), on survival
strategies for dealing with a social phenomenon that,
like all social phenomena, can be a hugely painful cluster-
f+ck for the unprepared.


And regrettably, I must reserve the number for CL rule #1 for:
mazdaspeed --
Craigslist is war. There are no rules.
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Old 02-17-11, 11:44 AM
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Rules Category #33: Various Definitions Of Vintage

Originally Posted by tmh657
There are quite a few sellers that do not know the definition of rust.
Rust, and no rust. I think that is how it goes.
CL Rule #33: For some unknown reason, the amount
of rust on a bicycle is considered proof of "vintage"
status.

Vintage Schwinn Klunker -- A Piece of History -- - $500 (E. Sacramento)

Date: 2011-02-10, 3:38PM PST
Reply to: sale-wct3f-2207984454@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Old Schwinn heavy duty frame converted to a mountain bike sometime during the 1970s.

ACS Kingsting blue anodized hubs and wheels.

Brooks professional saddle.
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Old 02-17-11, 12:26 PM
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It is infinitely easier to bargain someone down in price in person rather than online. I never do it any more. For some reason, people seem to get super offended when you e-mail them and ask them if they'd take less, yet when I look someone in the eye and do the same thing they almost always agree. Why is that?
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