We all have many stories to tell about dealing with Craigslist, eBay, Flippers, etc. Well...yesterday led me to a couple of "events" around one bike that somewhat restores the feeling...while having some negativity as well! Thought I would share...

About a year ago, I bought several bikes from a guy that was moving and no longer wanted to work on them, deal with them, move them to his new home. While we were talking, I mentioned that I liked Raleighs...and he said, hey, I have one more bike if you are interested. I said, sure, let's take a look. Well, it was a Raleigh Sports in the Army Green color that had seen better days, although it was still very ok. I asked him how much...and he said, hey, you bought the others, just take it. Wow! Ok...thanks!

Got it home and in better light...and it was not in bad shape...needed the basics of cables, tubes, tires and regreasing. But, from a size perspective, even though these are quite flexible, it was just too small for me. So, over the last year, when I had a few minutes not working on "more important stuff"...I fixed her up. I had everything I needed, so the cost was quite minimal. I left all of the patina...well...I did keep the cobwebs off! :-) So, finally, I decide it is time to let her head back out into the world...at the minimal price of $50 (all in, I think I had about $20 in her (at least what I could track). So...decent little profit possibility...to add to the bike fund!

Put her on CL and she languishes for a while...nobody even pinging me...ok...I am in no hurry...so...renew the ad occasionally...nothing, nothing, nothing...well...then a few flakes start showing up..."can I send you the $50 today and pick the bike up in 18 months?" or "can I send you a money order and you bring it to me?" And of course the HUNDREDS of "do you still have it, I will get it on Friday" types. You all know the sort....

Well, this weekend...I got what "felt" like a solid lead, after about 2 months on CL. At this point, I wanted to get her moving...so, was willing to take even more price hit...so, lady shoots me an email...and offers $40...ok...I think that will work for me. So, we decide on a place to meet...about a 20 minute drive for me (but near a favorite restaurant for lunch!), so I agree to meet there. I take off a bit early to assure I am on time with Atlanta traffic...and when I get there...a text from her...she cannot come up with the $40 cash, as she does not know her pin number for her debit card (REALLY????). In the text, she asks if I will take a check...so...uh, NO! How is it that, in today's society, you have no idea on how to use an ATM? Wow! So...major disappointment...but...still had lunch at that burger joint (an aside...they have this "Toasted Marshmallow" sauce for their fries...sounds crazy, but YUMMY!)...so, not a total loss.

Well, while I am eating my burger/fries/marshmallow sauce lunch...I get an email from another young lady about this bike. She is interested...and wondering if still available...but she also asks a couple good questions...size, shape, etc. Seems like a smart young lady...

So...we agree to meet up a bit later in the day for her to look at it. And...not a 20 minute drive, she is willing to "come to me"...at a much closer location. So...we meet...and she immediately likes it...and asks some more good questions..."how does this work?" or "how would I change the tire?"...a novice...but at least interested! Now, this young lady was approximately 19...and she is VERY interested in an old Raleigh Sports in Army Green! I am liking this young lady a lot! Her dad is with her and while she is riding it around the parking lot, he tells me that she "likes things that others her age don't"...and is very much into more C&V type stuff (my words, not his)...she drives an OLD VW Bug, not one of the new ones! Wow...cool young lady!

She is needing a bike to commute around on campus...so the Sports is perfect. It fit her well! Then she comes back to me...and she says...hmmm...I like it...would you be willing to negotiate? Now, part of what I like doing in moving bikes is the negotiation...so, I said, "of course"...she offers $35 (hmm...bit low, but I like her a lot)...I say...how about $30? :-) It took her a moment to realize what I said! She smiled really big and said "I think I can do that!"

So...morale of the story...sometimes those negative things that happen...lead to a better outcome.

Getting this particular bike into this young lady's hands...well...she was just "the right one..."

Makes all of the other troubles seem worth it...hope you enjoyed the story!

That was a nice lunchtime story. Happy ending. I like happy endings.

You meet all types through Craigslist.

I've been fortunate to have met some wonderful people.

You are a lousy negotiator but a good human being (and writer).

Excellent story- I love fixing up bikes to make enough to cover costs and to add a little to the piggy for later finds, but there just isn't much reason to demand more. Get bikes back on the road in good shape- that's what is important.

you done good!

Well done sir.
The story has "made" my Monday.

Nice Monday morning read. Well played!

Sometimes you just become a "negative negotiator"...what a nice young lady this was...hopefully the bike will bring her joy...and she has a great life!

Oh...and I have another good story to write up as well...but...will save it for another day...to hopefully bring a smile to your face on that day as well!!!!

This one involves a 1972 Raleigh Professional...and...more "negative negotiating..."

OK...so now I have to add to this particular thread...the good karma created by working with this young lady came home to me!

I recently ordered a full C Record group (yes, paid a bunch)...well...I sent a quick note to the guy earlier this week, just asking when he planned to ship the parts. Nothing particularly aggressive...or even sounding a bit upset...just really, a request for the information....it is coming internationally, so I expect it to be slow...but...again...just asking. Within a few minutes, the guy sends me a note back, apologizing profusely...and he gave me the shipping costs back! Now, on the whole transaction, it was not that large of a percentage...but...wow! Oh...and, within the day, I had a tracking number!

On the SAME day...I was working with a guy, from a distance, on buying an AD Vent Noir II (in the smoked chrome!!!)...we agreed to a price...and a method of handling the payment/shipping/etc that protected us both. When I sent him a note to confirm the price, he took $100 off of it...he had found a bit of wear on one rim...and reduced the price...SHUCKS for $100, I can BUY new wheels! But, again, no ask, just some money back!

Wow...it MUST have been the great karma for finding "the right one..."

Yay mon

Good atcha !

Well done sir.

In my neighborhood, I am "the guy that fixes bikes" or "the bike guy".

Consequently I get a lot of cheap, poorly used, abused, and abandoned bikes given to me. Some are beyond repair and their parts are essentially worthless; but I know a young mason (brick & block type) that needs recycling metal for additional income - so that takes care of those.

I have put some for sale on CL for cheap or free, and manage to get rid of some of them.

Sometimes "you just can't give it away" - I am paraphrasing the Virginia lottery fairy from many years ago (I couldn't find that commercial, but here's one of her taking her wand in for maintenance at her LWS). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afxNn_htn5w

I live across from a park, so when I have a bike that I cannot give away on CL; I simply attach a "FREE BIKE" sign on it and park it near a well traveled street. I have never seen a bkie last more than an hour.