Craigs List Buying Proceedure
10-23-15, 02:57 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,331
Bikes: 89 Schwinn 754, 90 Trek 1100, 93 Trek 2300, 94 Trek 1400 (under construction), 94 Trek 930, 97 Trek 1400
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I've bought and sold bikes by Craigslist over the past couple of years.
Many of the bikes I'm interested in are a 100 mile drive from home. I don't plan on driving back to pick up another day, so I bring enough cash to cover the advertised or discussed price. I carefully inspect the bike, before I confirm the price with the Seller, and often times, I find that the bike is not exactly what the Seller advertised it as on CL. Most common problems are: #1 different frame size from what was advertised, #2 poorer condition than advertised, rust and taco'ed wheels are the biggest offenders, and #3 bike is not the model or the model year that was advertised.
I usually don't test ride, because many/most of the bikes that I buy are projects, and not in condition to test ride.
When selling, I've met Potential Buyers at my home, and across the street in a easy to find parking lot behind a couple of fast food places. I make sure that the bike/s are ready to ride, and allow test rides when the Potential Buyer brings a helmet, and hands me his Driver's License, and the registration to the car he drove up in (must match his driver's license). I take it as a bad sign when someone walks up without a driver's license, with someone else driving the car, that person stays in the car, and no driver's license or car registration is offered as security when requesting a test ride. The Potential Buyer must also show me the money to prove he's able to complete a transaction, after he returns from the test ride. Some Potential Buyers have taken the test ride, and some have declined. All that took test rides bought the bikes.
Many of the bikes I'm interested in are a 100 mile drive from home. I don't plan on driving back to pick up another day, so I bring enough cash to cover the advertised or discussed price. I carefully inspect the bike, before I confirm the price with the Seller, and often times, I find that the bike is not exactly what the Seller advertised it as on CL. Most common problems are: #1 different frame size from what was advertised, #2 poorer condition than advertised, rust and taco'ed wheels are the biggest offenders, and #3 bike is not the model or the model year that was advertised.
I usually don't test ride, because many/most of the bikes that I buy are projects, and not in condition to test ride.
When selling, I've met Potential Buyers at my home, and across the street in a easy to find parking lot behind a couple of fast food places. I make sure that the bike/s are ready to ride, and allow test rides when the Potential Buyer brings a helmet, and hands me his Driver's License, and the registration to the car he drove up in (must match his driver's license). I take it as a bad sign when someone walks up without a driver's license, with someone else driving the car, that person stays in the car, and no driver's license or car registration is offered as security when requesting a test ride. The Potential Buyer must also show me the money to prove he's able to complete a transaction, after he returns from the test ride. Some Potential Buyers have taken the test ride, and some have declined. All that took test rides bought the bikes.
10-23-15, 03:08 PM
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,892
Bikes: Fuji Sportif 1.3 C - 2014
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
As long as we're on the topic, here's a pretty amusing CL ad I think you all should enjoy:
'93 Serotta Colorado Legend TG 58cm Road Bike, Dura-Ace/Ultegra
'93 Serotta Colorado Legend TG 58cm Road Bike, Dura-Ace/Ultegra
GH
10-23-15, 03:40 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 723
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
7 Posts
Maybe. Which is why I'll only sell eBay from now on.
I don't think I've ever test ridden a bike in my life (one that I actually bought or was considering buying). Unless you can get the fit dialed in for the test ride--right stem, setback, etc., it doesn't tell you much anyway. I just look at geometry numbers and order.
I don't think I've ever test ridden a bike in my life (one that I actually bought or was considering buying). Unless you can get the fit dialed in for the test ride--right stem, setback, etc., it doesn't tell you much anyway. I just look at geometry numbers and order.
10-23-15, 03:46 PM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Northern California
Posts: 723
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
7 Posts
As long as we're on the topic, here's a pretty amusing CL ad I think you all should enjoy:
'93 Serotta Colorado Legend TG 58cm Road Bike, Dura-Ace/Ultegra
'93 Serotta Colorado Legend TG 58cm Road Bike, Dura-Ace/Ultegra
https://pvcycling.wordpress.com/
[South Bay is in the Bay Area though ... not Palos Verdes]
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
johngwheeler
General Cycling Discussion
29
07-02-17 11:55 AM
