So often we hear of craigslist deals gone bad. Seller sells right before you get there, another buyer offers more money, buyer or seller a no-show, yadda, yadda, yadda..............you get the idea. I have'nt really made alot of CL transactions this year, but this week I made 3 and they were all fairly pleasant.

#1 Early this week I called on a Schwinn Traveler at a rock bottom price about 10 minutes after it was posted. It was about 30 minutes away and I told the seller I could come right away. When I arrived the seller told me that he got about 5 more calls since we'd spoke on the phone. One buyer offered him more money and asked the seller to tell the first caller (me) to take a hike. Seller told him he does'nt play that way. I've been scooped enough times to know this is a rarity.

#2 Mid week I found a mid 70's Super Course nearby. It was listed as a parts bike. Chrome fork socks have some pretty heavy corosion that has compromised a large section of the chrome. Otherwise it is complete and original with a salvagable wheelset and a Brooks B5N that responded very well to a saddle soap treatment. Seller was very pleasant and offered all he knew about the SC's past. My size and should be a great C&V rider......I'm thinking it's a keeper, at least until that SC TT with Capella lugs comes along in my size.

#3 Today I took a Trek Elance 310 into the city. The buyer was'nt 100% on taking it from a pic and was honest about it. He also wanted to barter some. Well, I told him that if I bring it 60 miles for you and you like it, I'd like to get my asking price..........fair enough. Everybody's happy.

I will say it's frustrating, I responded to many ads, no return responses...I mean really, I was offering to give them money for their unwanted stuff...at least they could respond.

But...maybe it was better they didn't. I picked up a Fuji Allegro and a Fuji Espree the other day. Slowly rehabbing them. When all is said and done, I will have two nice, functional bikes for about $100.


https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...er-Fuji-Espree

2 years ago I responded to a CL ad for a mint 72 Super Course for below market value. Way below. I was the first person to respond.

We made an appointment for a few hours ahead and when I got there the seller said, "maybe he should have asked for more as I was the first of about 15 emails he had received about the bike. ." I checked out the bike, bought it for the asking price, and went home. The bike ended up being too large for my wife. I sold it, took the profits, and bought my wife a 531 framed Raleigh step thru.

Months later I ran into the seller at a local book store. We chatted for a while and I asked him to join us for some club rides. He took me up on the offer and now a good friend a frequent riding partner.

I've had a couple of people hold bikes for me through a barrage of phone calls. A couple of my favorite bikes. I've got a couple of CL buddies, too. We buy each other's bikes every now and then.

nothing but positive experiences for me...cept the time i was attacked by a sellers pit bull

Mostly positive here too. Sure, lots of people don't show up, but I've also sold bikes to people I am still in contact with. Bikes are a very personal thing and when you are able to provide a bike that is *just right* for someone it's a nice experience all the way around.

I admit to being one of those sneaky 'I'll pay more' guys. But in that case, I had been corresponding with the seller since he first put up the ad, told him I was serious and would come RIGHT NOW. Finally he emailed 'someone's coming to look at it tomorrow afternoon.' Which led me to say 'I'll come tomorrow morning and pay $50 more.' I have no shame about this, 'tomorrow afternoon' is longer than I would want to wait as a seller, esp as there are lots of flake-outs on CL, and the bike was certainly worth $50 more. And the seller, young guy with few options, was about to report to basic training, so I was all the more glad to pay him more.

Mavic Open 4 CD rims laced to tricolor wheels last month, listed at 75. Dropped the guy an email, he called me promptly at the time I listed.. turned out he basically lives around the corner from me, got them at 75 no haggling great wheels in great shape.

Earlier this year I scored my GT off CL, got it for a song from a mtber turned roadie, another nice guy, punctual and honest!

I have had fairly good luck selling bikes on CL. The majorty of the time the buyers have been pleasant and paid full asking price without a lot of hassle. I have found giving a good honest description with pictures along with reasonable firm asking price eleminates most of the problem buyers.

Picked up a rare Univega Alpina Pro with Tange triple butted Prestige MTB tubing and Deore components for $80 today.. seller told me another buyer was scheduled to come about an hour later.. SWOOPED!

Earlier this week I lucked out and a buyer flaked which allowed me to grab another MTB with Tange double butted MTB tubes and Deore bits


Never really had any bad luck buying bikes.. sellers have all been great. Worst buying luck on CL was one time I wanted to buy a laptop and the seller flaked literally at the last minute, when I was already at the meeting location and had no cell phone.. not really that bad in the scheme of things

I've had people not show when I'm selling, but as a buyer I've had good luck. I had someone out of state hold a bike for me while he had numerous other offers, and I haven't yet run into the last minute price hike. I've even bought items from out of town sellers, paid with paypal and had the seller mail the item. Risky for sure, but they weren't big ticket items and I had good feelings from the sellers, which proved warranted.

that reminds me of this RockCombo I saw listed for "$200 OBO".. soon that ad said "due to response not going sell for less than 200", and then list price jumped up to 275 lol

Yep, pricing it out of the "looking for any bike" market, good pictures and a coherent ad listing all attract the kind of buyer you "want". Bike buyers have all been great.. I only had one person give me a hassle and he didnt even end up buying.

A few years back I called on a Schwinn CrisCross listed at $15 I told the gentleman I would. Be right over. In the thirty minutes it took to get there he had been offered ten times his asking price! He let me have it for the original asking price. A few changes (Northroad bars, and a different saddle), and my wife loves her Schwinn!

Cheers,
Chris

I picked up my Colnago C40 HP from a local Craig's list add. It was a great experience, the picture showed the bike with no pedals so I figure there wouldn't be any. Well when I show up there are some nice titanium spindle speedplay pedals on it, he says oh yeah those come with the bike. Then he proceeds to throw in a new set of cleats for the pedals a nice floor pump, a high pressure pump for a MTB shock, 2 brand new Twin 6 jerseys, 2 new Michelin Krylium carbon foldable tires, an extra tube, cold weather cycling shoe covers and a used pair of MTB eggbeater pedals.

I was totally shocked, he said it would be good karma for him, I would tend to strongly agree with him.