Selling a bike on Craigslist, a BUYER's perspective....
05-13-12, 01:56 AM
#1
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Selling a bike on Craigslist, a BUYER's perspective....
if you are a cheapskate like me, craigslist can be a treasure trove of bike goodies. but sometimes, it can be downright maddening as well. here are some simple pdxtex certified hints for sellers to make our collective cheapskate perusing more enjoyable and to get their stuff sold faster....
1) don't take a picture of the bike sideways, with your cellphone, in your kitchen, in the dark. likewise, take the damn bike off the hook if its hanging from the rafters in your garage, ie UPSIDE down.
2) don't say the bike is "tuned" and expect that is a selling point. i don't know your mechanical aptitude, if you took a good picture in the first place, id probably have a good sense of whether or not your bike was a piece of crap. or awesome...
3) don't post a stock photo and say, oh my bike looks like this one...
4) do some research on comparable prices. im glad your bike is what you call NOS but not all of us see bike from the 1990s that way. it not an antique, and its not as rare as you might think it is. so adjust your price accordingly.
5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.
6) don't ask me to meet "downtown". that means its stolen.
7) if you are selling the bike on behalf of somebody else, maybe you should have them write the add, but im glad it has ultigre breaks!!
thats all, feel free to add some.
1) don't take a picture of the bike sideways, with your cellphone, in your kitchen, in the dark. likewise, take the damn bike off the hook if its hanging from the rafters in your garage, ie UPSIDE down.
2) don't say the bike is "tuned" and expect that is a selling point. i don't know your mechanical aptitude, if you took a good picture in the first place, id probably have a good sense of whether or not your bike was a piece of crap. or awesome...
3) don't post a stock photo and say, oh my bike looks like this one...
4) do some research on comparable prices. im glad your bike is what you call NOS but not all of us see bike from the 1990s that way. it not an antique, and its not as rare as you might think it is. so adjust your price accordingly.
5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.
6) don't ask me to meet "downtown". that means its stolen.
7) if you are selling the bike on behalf of somebody else, maybe you should have them write the add, but im glad it has ultigre breaks!!
thats all, feel free to add some.
Last edited by pdxtex; 05-13-12 at 07:52 AM.
05-13-12, 02:41 AM
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no picture or 1 crappy picture gets on my nerves
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05-13-12, 03:56 AM
#3
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
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Or worse, a non stock photo...
He originally had a picture of a fixie up.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=463770334
He originally had a picture of a fixie up.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=463770334
05-13-12, 05:56 AM
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You blink and it's gone.
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Guess I did it right, sold my 2008 Tarmac Expert in less then 2wks...
05-13-12, 06:57 AM
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Where do you meet, then? I always meet at a neutral location and certainly hope you don't invite strangers to your house. Bike shop is always the best place to meet in my experience.
EDIT: Didn't read before answering - CapeCodder dupe.
EDIT: Didn't read before answering - CapeCodder dupe.
Last edited by RT; 05-13-12 at 07:03 AM.
05-13-12, 07:56 AM
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frame size! good one. yes, frame size is often omitted. the "downtown" thing is just a peeve of mine. ive never actually met to look at a bike in the central city. but any add with no picture, sketchy details and a newer bike is always some tweaker with a stolen bike.
05-13-12, 08:16 AM
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Newer bike= Bought on a whim
No picture= zero internet skills.
I've found some really nice bikes advertised with no pic, and horrilbe description. Not everyone is a bike nut.
05-13-12, 08:36 AM
#10
Riding like its 1990
You apparently know as much about buying on CL as most know about selling on CL.
Just means more bikes for me
Just means more bikes for me
05-13-12, 10:12 AM
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[QUOTE=pdxtex;14216270
4) do some research on comparable prices. im glad your bike is what you call NOS but not all of us see bike from the 1990s that way. it not an antique, and its not as rare as you might think it is. so adjust your price accordingly.
5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.
[/QUOTE]
Amen.
Also... Calling you old POS rustbucket "Vintage" does not mean you will get near the cost of a new bike for it..
4) do some research on comparable prices. im glad your bike is what you call NOS but not all of us see bike from the 1990s that way. it not an antique, and its not as rare as you might think it is. so adjust your price accordingly.
5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.
[/QUOTE]
Amen.
Also... Calling you old POS rustbucket "Vintage" does not mean you will get near the cost of a new bike for it..
05-13-12, 10:41 AM
#13
Hogosha Sekai
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Better yet, post the right frame size!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those guys ruin it for me and my C&V brethren, people see like a 78 huffy listed for 200 and think of gee of course I can sell my slightly better old bike for 400!
Want to buy a pink and brown 78 huffy?
Just FYI I consider everything you listed in the OP as red flags and don't interact with those sellers.
Want to buy a pink and brown 78 huffy?
Just FYI I consider everything you listed in the OP as red flags and don't interact with those sellers.
05-13-12, 12:02 PM
#14
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I don't have anyone come by my house. I don't want anyone knowing where I live. I also meet in public when buying. Craigslist is full of scammers & thieves.
There was a link a couple of days ago to a southern California stolen bike ring that used Craigslist to scan ads for high-end bikes for sale, then no-show at the sellers house. The thieves then cased the house and broke in, stealing the bikes.
My thought is that if someone won't meet in public, then that person is up to no good.
There was a link a couple of days ago to a southern California stolen bike ring that used Craigslist to scan ads for high-end bikes for sale, then no-show at the sellers house. The thieves then cased the house and broke in, stealing the bikes.
My thought is that if someone won't meet in public, then that person is up to no good.
05-13-12, 12:11 PM
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8. Don't buy from anyone with a crappy ad.
05-13-12, 12:26 PM
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iab for the win!! yeah, basically....my favorite are also ads where the seller has modified their bike in some kooky fashion to suit their riding style. apparently lots of people ride like herman munster.....i always see road bikes with super tiny frames and realllly long seat posts and stems.
05-13-12, 12:31 PM
#17
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concerning the "downtown" thing, if the ad is short, like "specialized allez, real fast, meet jimmy downtown" yes, in portland, oregon its probably stolen.
05-13-12, 12:41 PM
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Also, your Schwinn Varsity sucks and it isn't worth $175 and no, your Continental isn't any better.
My favorite place to meet is at the starting point for a group ride thirty minutes early.
My favorite place to meet is at the starting point for a group ride thirty minutes early.
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05-13-12, 03:04 PM
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5) tagging along with number 4, don't keep posting the same p.o.s. at its unreasonable price day after day, after day. obviously everybody thinks its too high because you have not sold it.
The "your bike is not an antique" response is classic too, not everything's worth a gazillion dollars, like you say, do research. I LOL whenever I see someone overpricing a supposed "antique", because most likely it's NOT.......
Last edited by LemondFanForeve; 05-13-12 at 03:15 PM.
05-13-12, 03:05 PM
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Umm, a public place, like: a mall, a coffee shop, bike shop, etc.
Last edited by LemondFanForeve; 05-13-12 at 03:15 PM.
05-13-12, 03:09 PM
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Sketchy details= Most people know nothing about bike including frame Size.
Newer bike= Bought on a whim
Has to be one of the dumbest things someone can do. Do your due dilligence BEFORE pluckiing down big $$ for a bike you probably wont be riding in 2-3 yrs anyways. Go to target and buy a bike there.
No picture= zero internet skills.
05-13-12, 03:11 PM
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Also... Calling you old POS rustbucket "Vintage" does not mean you will get near the cost of a new bike for it..
05-13-12, 03:12 PM
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05-13-12, 03:13 PM
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Wow, do you have the link?
05-14-12, 12:45 AM
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