pointyhead

So... I went this weekend to 3 large Goodwill/Salvation Army sites looking for bikes. I thought I might hit upon an old vintage or some beater to use to do the tour de neighborhood, but I didn't find the first bike in any of them.

Then as I was passing the local Cop Shop, I happened to see something shiny in the back fenced area, and took a long look. They have probably 100 bikes in lock-up, I suppose from recovering them from thefts, or finds, or whatever.

My question is this: Do most police have an auction or sale of some type to get rid of these. I wouldn't mind having a shot at one or two if there's something good in there.

Has anyone any experience in getting a recovered bike from the lawmen?

Jay H

I think the cops eventually do hold auctions for the merchandise that they get when they can't find the original owner. Best bet is to simply contact the cops and ask.

Can't help you with the recovery of one, I'd imagine they'd want some kind of proof of ownership, i.e. receipt or perhaps a film picture of you and the bike in a way to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you truly are the owner.

Jay

Bikedud

I am involved with a community service project where we repair/refurb bikes and donate them to various service agencies.

We received our local governments inventory of confiscated/collected bikes last year. Forty-seven total, most of which were in relatively decent shape. Three or four were decent low end bike shop bikes. They normally auction them off, usually as one lot for a ridiculus amount of money. Around here flea market folks buy stuff like that from police auctions for resale. The mayor of our town happened to hear about our service group and decided that the community benefitted more from having the bikes refurbed and given back to the community so thay gave them to us instead of going the auction route. We were very grateful.

I have seen a few police depts. using ebay to auction merchandise.

Ebbtide

https://stealitback.com/

(smile)

diamondback

they just had an auction here, had a couple hundred bikes, sold them all for under $300 to one guy who threw them on a trailer and hauled them off to mexico.

i had a chance to look at them, they were all junk, abused xmart bikes, very few with a used value of over 20 and nothing with a used value over 50. your better off going to xmart and buying a $50 bike adjust it, ride it, and when it breaks leave it.

chip

Yup they have tenders every year or auctions.You need to check your local newspaper for this,I think It is usually In spring...In very small print so you really got to watch your newspaper...You might also check with a auctineer they sometimes aquire a huge amount of bicycles you might be able to wheel & deal there.Buy the whole works?Check with the pawn shops they usually have bicycles maybe more expensive thou
I have bought many from garage sales over the years myself and fixed up?
Right now I got a small 20" kids five speed ready to sell,I got some old standard bicycles all fixed up any one could buy one if they wanted to?

Dahon.Steve

I know a guy that does the auction thing and sells them at a flea market in New York City. He sells those 3 speeds for anywhere between 75 - 125 dollars! There is a market for those bikes but the Xmart bikes are basically junk.

A 1970's Schwinn or Ralliah gets big time money in Manhattan if it's not too rusted.

mindbogger

ive seen crazy people bid a huge amount on deparment store bikes at auctions.......makes me sad how uneducated they are....

Dave Stohler

Police auctions are terrible. Either some idiot is bidding $150 on a $79 bike, or else the bikes are cheap, damaged, and basically junk. Don't waste your time.

Pat

My experience has been similar. I went to a police auction in East Lansing, Michgan years ago. The bikes were found pretty much at Michigan State University. Most of the bikes seemed to have been left out in the weather for a LONG time and they were cheap bikes to begin with. The amazing thing was that people were paying the same prices for these distressed bikes as they cost new! Or even more! It was astounding.