am0n

It is. I just bought my first road bike, used (so literally NBD for me!), and it was brutally obvious that half the people posting aren't motivated to sell. Fortunately, this guy was, and within 36 hours of his post we chatted, met and exchanged assets. However, it took easily 20 ads, most with no reply, some with a no thanks to my offer, until it happened.

For me, the season over, so I had patience. To the OP, remain patient. It's a buyer's market, not a seller's. I've watched the same ads over the last 3 months drag on and get reposted because the sellers think their bikes are worth more than they are. But figure it what you want, what you are willing to pay, and you'll get it.

bedtime

20 sellers, ugh. Seems I'll be catching up to you pretty soon.

Lets break it down:

- no buyers
- relisted ads
- end of biking season

Anyone with half a brain knows that if the bike hasn't sold by now, there is even less a chance it'll sell over winter.

Perhaps I have over-estimated mankind?

am0n

I had one guy early on who was motivated, but I was hesitating because it was only a Sora and not really what I wanted, so he found another buyer, which was fine with me. Everything since then, up until yesterday, was eh. Lots of people listing things are hundreds more than valued because they are comparing it to new instead of realizing that you lose like 50% of the bikes value the moment you sign the dotted line. One literally takes the ad down daily and reposts, always with "price reduced" in the title without ever changing the price. He's done it now for about two months. Another recently that was fairly valued, but after replying to my first email stopped replying (I didn't even offer him less than he was asking, because it was a fair ask... Just when he was available for me to look at it).

What I did was hit up the LBS to find a style and size that seemed right, did a survey of what was being sold and their BBB values and then settled on what I was willing to pay and the styles I was willing to take and just stayed vigilant. When you find a motivated seller, it's obvious. I told this guy after our first email I couldn't offer him what he wanted, he asked me to make one anyway. I offered him about 2/3 of what he asked and he didn't hesitate. Gave me his number and about 12 hours later it was mine.

Just be patient. And check daily so you can know when people are playing stupid "price reduced" games. And always email and offer what you think is fair. They can say no, no skin off your back.

Edit: become a master of Google. It's typical that people think their bike is a year newer than it really is. Or that they have no idea what they have (one guy thought he was selling a 2014 aluminum, but he actually had a 2013 full carbon bike for sale). Had one recently that I asked how many cogs were on the cassette and the response was "Cogs? Cassette?"

bedtime

This is what makes me not want to buy anything from Kijiji. There are great, honest people out there, but so many dishonest ones too.

I actually bought a bike today. Not the best bike, but it'll do.

In order to get the seller to respond I had to create a new Kijiji account and ask the exact same price he had previously reduced it to ($300 to $260). All of the sudden he gets back to the *new* me, saying the bike is available, and I can see it right that minute. So I go out and buy it. After I get home, I find he has the audacity to email *old* me saying the bike has sold.

Thank you so much for the support. Usually I'd reply a little more, but it's been a long day, and I just want to relax and forget about all this.

Unca_Sam

Hey @bedtime

Did you get the Magna, or the Next?

am0n

Well, hey, NBD for you, too! Enjoy it for what it is. The process sucks, but sooner or later it ends and you move on. Kind of like building a new PC and buying an engagement ring. Crappy experiences you love to have in the past.

teejaywhy

That's not been my experience.

am0n

My experience was most people had no idea what they were selling.

Maslin

Same here, and I've begun exploiting it. Second pair of Eggbeater 2 (or 3?) on the way, under $30. Listed on eBay as Eggbeater 1, with caps on covering the numbers. They clearly aren't 1's.

I bought my LeMond Spine carbon bike complete for $200, the guy just needed to move some bikes to make room. Listed as a 52, LeMond frames are only odd numbers...

Sizes seem too be a complete fabrication as well. 56 medium, 52 small, 50, small, 47 small, 43 small... Or "56cm frame, fits me good at 5'2".

Unca_Sam

Yep. If they can't figure out what they have to price it appropriately, I'll buy it at the price that suits me. I suggest CL sellers that have the time to respond to my questions about size (because they listed their lugged road frame as 'large' or 'mans') to include the better pictures and measurements they gave me when they renew the ad. Some have!

bedtime

Not sure what those are, but I ended up getting a Louis Garneau—19.5" frame. Very decent quality bike; it has no rubbish parts. The seller helped me to switch the brakes, change cables and bar, and even trued the tires! This is an example of an A+ seller; he didn't have to do that, but it seemed he wanted me to go home happy. Makes me confident that there are good people in this world!

The bike below is his ad pic. It has, just today, been converted to a fixie (direct drive), trick bike and looks quite a bit different. I'm going to post it later on in the single speed forum.




I asked a seller what the size of the frame was. He responded, "55 cm equivalent." I then asked him if he could measure it for me and told him how to do it. He came back saying, "52 cm." I have also seen people listing medium-sized bikes under small and extra small. Also, I have little confidence in the spiel, "I'm 5'6" and the bike is a good size for me." Who knows if they know what a fitted bike is. I'd rather just have the measurement.

Maslin

Had to bump this. My $30 “eggbeater 1’s” showed up. Looks like a 3 to me

downhillmaster

You must not be experienced at using CL because other than children’s bikes, around 90% of the ads I have seen over the years list the manufacturer.
I can only speak for the Tri-state area though. Maybe rednecks have a tougher time spelling Trek...

teejaywhy

Is it so hard to believe that my experience is different from yours? Please note that you are conveniently reducing the scope of your previous comment which was: "almost all CL ads I have ever seen list model AND manufacturer name."


I guess you are trying to dispatch some sort of insult. Not sure why that is necessary? I don't know where the Tri-state area is but I'm not sure I want to visit there. What's worse? Rednecks or hate-spewing elitist bigots?

Hope you can find peace and let go of that anger.