Bill, you're totally right. There's no point to writing that stuff as it will be ignored by scammers and makes the seller sound like a hothead. It doesn't do any good.

Simple, If they use the item it gets deleted.

To be straightforward, nice looking but non standard, the vast majority of potential buyers want original appearing and better yet original paint examples in good to great shape.
The fork was painted, it was most undoubtedly chrome to start, so the chrome went sour, not too hard to imagine on these, but it tells a story.

I do not think you should be surprised.

I just bought a Medici frame that appeared here on the ebay/CL list. Not the best pictures, but it was in pretty good shape (some minor surface rust). He had a lot of trouble selling it and I waited a few days (really do I need another project???). Of course Medici is a kind of under appreciated marque, but still seems really slow to me.

There're a lot of good deals on CL, but you have to be fast. With the most recent purchase, I responded within 10 minutes of it being posted with: "I want the frame and am willing to pay your price. I can be at your location in 1 hour with the money". The seller took a few hours to respond, but I got the frame. He told me 5 people responded before I did, but they were wishy washy, asking questions etc. To get good deals on any used merchandise, you have to have a roll of bills in your pocket and car keys in hand.

I have a lot of leftover parts, some bike frames, as well as other stuff to sell on Craigs. I plan to post it all in a single Yard Sale ad with the tags for the individual items. I'll post it on Thursday evening, and have people come by over the next 3 days.

Medici's can be terrific bikes. The El Dorado or El Camino sub brands are rougher. They don't get the interest.

Only one I saw that went for handsome money went to France, it looked terrific. A Ray Dobbins build and detail job.

On my ads, I ask the buyer to describe the item they want in a couple words.

Montello frame presently on E-Bay already at $750 with 2 days left.Yes original paint and nice chrome but such a discrepancy?By the way I built that frame up.It's gorgeous and rides like a dream!

My experience as well, as both a buyer and a seller. Some assume the first responder to an ad gets the deal. Not so! Be a PITA, ask a lot of questions, propose a trade, ask for delivery, ask can you hold til Friday, and you go to the bottom of the list. I had 4 quick responses to a recent posting. Response #1: Will you take less? Response #2: Can you deliver? Response #3: Can you send me more pics? Response #4: Can I come by tonight, here is my phone number?


Guess who got the first email.... Clue, they bought the bike that evening.

As a buyer, my typical response: "My name is Bill, here is my phone number. I am available now to come buy it or at your convenience. Thanks!"

The latest from CL:
Is your object still offered? Umm...this may seem off topic but you sound incredible in your list. Do you want to hang out anytime? I'm not a weirdo, just feeling bored. If you're curious, connect with me on my exclusive dating profile (it's like facebook for adults), without charge to sign up! My pix and my phone # are all on there. After you log on, Im going to deliver a private message so you'll know it's me. There are too many liars on here so if you're legit, text me and become acquaintances and maybe more? It's up to you! All right, I won't hassle you again!

(suspicious link and pictures not included!)

Very extreme case of the toxic atmosphere of CL!

Stick to your practice of insisting on a phone number before responding. I recently sold several bikes, both mountain and road on CL and insisted on a phone number. I got a few responses that did not list their phone number but I just don't need the hassle of starting a communication with someone who just doesn't read the ad. Besides, I've run into too many Nut Cases by ignoring that rule. Serious buyers have little trouble providing a phone number.
As for the comment "Is it still available", as long as they include their phone number, they get a call if the bike is still available. One thing to consider, I always price my bikes to sell. I recently sold an excellent condition Raleigh Record from the mid 80s for $140. I know some folks here would say that's too low, but the bike sold quickly and I managed to flip a Nishiki that I did no work on to one guy who want something less expensive. If you want to sell a bike, you've got to price it to sell.

Yes. For a Montello; original paint, original graphics and good to great chrome are worth every dollar. A quality respray AND rechrome will be in the four figures, and not be original.
I had 2, sold one for a handsome sum.

I get a few of these a day. Maybe a local thing, only in big cities?

I got a variant of that about 8-10 times in the three weeks after listing and selling a St. Etienne. Ignored, of course. Used my tablet to satisfy my curiosity on the picture, it was a nice PG-13 rated pic of some 20-something hottie. Like that'd be interested in a guy old enough to be her grandfather.

Not really sure what the actual intent was, though. I'm confused.

i have some vintage components to sell, and i thought i'd try craigslist before attempting my first sale on ebay. i realize cl will net me less cash and be more of a pain due to meeting people and dealing with any sketchiness. but recently, the pseudo trouble has been worth the effort, if only to meet some fellow cyclists into the vintage thing. i've found a lot in common with three recent buyers, and we all seem to use the same co-op on occasion. today i met a guy at a seedy little bar, and we had a couple $1.75 olympias and shared build stories. it's kinda fun helping out complete strangers and offering/receiving some advice on our builds. i was stiffed recently when a guy left me hanging one sunday morning at a coffee shop, but the coffee was good and i had a nice conversation with an old man that had just retired. i gave the retiree some advice on an upright city bike, and, who knows, i may have changed his life. (hopefully for the better and not in an e.r./full body traction sort of way.)

It's free! For being free, take the bad with the good.