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Confessions of a Craigslist Bicycle Trader
By spokesman | April 1, 2008
Let me start by admitting that I had an obsession, but I am better now. I have not sold a bicycle on Craigslist in over a year. There is nothing wrong with making a profit and it is not illegal to be serial seller on craigslist – yet both run contrary to the underlying philosophy of the site and the expectations of many of the buyers. Most people who turn to Craigslist expect to buy someone’s used item at a fair price. They don’t expect to be buying from someone running a business out of their garage; marking up junky items to whatever price the market will bear.
It all started innocently. Several years ago, I was dating a girl who owned a mountain bike but she wanted to do some road riding. I had looked at the Craigslist bicycle listings before but had never purchased anything. I found a listing for an older road bike. I bought it, cleaned the drive train, replace the tires and tubes, trued the wheels, tuned it up and give it to her. It was too big. I re-listed it on Craigslist with the story of how I got it for my girlfriend and fixed it up, only to find it was too big. (I know that I could have kept the bike and gotten a taller girlfriend, but at the time, parting with the bike seemed like the right decision.) I asked a fair price, far below the price of other similar listings and I received over 50 e-mails. I quickly sold it. Then I saw another listing for a small frame road bike that I thought would fit. This time I took my girlfriend with me to get the bike. She did a quick test ride and we realized that it was a good fit but the bike needed some work. I bought it, took it home and fixed it up. The next weekend we went riding. It turned out that the position of the brake levers were too wide for her hands and she was not comfortable riding the bike. So, back on Craigslist it went along with another essay on how I got it. Again, I was again inundated with e–mails. I was hooked. I realized that there was a thriving market in the Washington
The roommate or boyfriend that who moved and left a bicycle – This is the source of some of the greatest bargains. The owner of the bike is gone and the remaining roommate or former lover just wants the bike gone and has no idea of its true value. Once I got a Serotta for $10. Another time I got a Trek for free - all I had to do was remove the 2 Kryptonite U-locks on the frame. Look for moving sales, especially at the end of the school year.
Garage sale classics – Garage sales in older establish neighborhoods are gold mines. You can find high end bikes that were bought for high school kids and then were never ridden once the kid got a drivers license. Some gems include Chicago Schwinns, Motobecanes, Peugeots, Fujis, Celeste Green Bianchis, Raliegh Techniums, Cannondales, and anything with a Brooks saddle. Usually encased in dust with rotted tires, these bikes can be purchased for a few dollars. As long as there is no rust, they fetch an excellent price on Craigslist. I would clean them up, install a new set of cheap tires from Nashbar or Performance and they are ready to go. In the rare case that I couldn’t repair the bike because a wheel or derailler was shot, I would just list it on Craigslist as a fixed gear conversion candidate.
Free or cheap to someone who will love the bike as much as me – These are bikes that are owned by a bike lover and he is moving or his wife wants the bikes gone. He will sell them at a low price or give them away if he believes that the buyer will fix up and treasure the bike. I have gotten several free bikes this way – only to sell them.
Owner dumping it because the bike shop gave a really high estimate to fix it (also known as the bad STI shifter) - In this case, the owner had the bike for a few seasons, feels he has used it enough to justify his purchase price and now since it needs an expensive repair (according to the bike store), he sells it a ridiculous price. I once got a LeMond Tourmalet for $50 because it had a bad left shifter (that I was able to replace for $75). The bike store probably told the owner that he needed 2 STI shifters, and since the 7 speed right STI shifter was out of production, the owner would need to upgrade to 8 or 9 speed and have to buy new chain rings, cogs and a chain for a total of $600 with labor. An unneeded and unrealistic estimate from the bike shop was my gain. Sometimes people even abandon these bikes right at the bike shop. I have gotten several just by calling bike shops or asking bike shop employees to contact me (in exchange for a six pack) when something is left behind.
I feel better now that I have shared my secrets. If you buy used bike, be a smart buyer. Don’t be an April Fool by overpaying for a used bicycle. Look at garage, moving and estate sales and you’ll get a better buy than on the Craigslist bicycle listings. Always inspect the bike and test ride it if possible. One of the other sellers that I ran into put together a website for buyers at http://www.usedbicycleguide.com It has good information, especially if you are not a bike expert. Good luck and happy April Fools Day.
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Topics: Flotsam, Maintenance and Repairs |
April 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Great post and thanks for the advice. This weekend I got a specialzed allez road bike at a moving sale for $20. I followed the inspection info at the usedbicycleguide.com to make sure it didn’t need any big repairs. The bike needs new tires and the handlebar needs to be re-tape, but even with that I got a great deal. Thanks again
July 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Any responsible discussion of used bicycle trading needs to mention the ugly topic of STOLEN MERCHANDISE. www.stolenbicycleregistry.com is an excellent resource to check serial numbers/photos.
Every stolen bicycle is a heartbreaking story, with
the rare potential of a happy ending. That modern,
cool machine you’ve just been offered at a too-good-to-be-true price may just happen to not be so good or true at all.
If you hope to run a legitimate business in used
bikes, you need to insure the legitimacy of your inventory.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Few weeks ago, on 23 street someone stolen my wheel, I have Trex 3900 , 26 x 2.0 , what is the best way to buy a wheel,Or if someboday have one to sale.please send e-mail
licferreira@aol.com
September 25th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
The NY CL is the same. Lots of crap bikes form the 70’s selling for twice what they cost new. I see the same sellers, it’s obvious by their style of writing and the pictures who they are, selling, or trying to sell, one crappy bike after another. I have to ask if people are actually buying those bikes?
October 18th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I like much of what you had to say and I have a similiar affliction, though I have a community service in anchorage ak (insert Palin jokes here).
I rent out bikes for $1 day (multi day contract) and hold a hefty cash deposit (to insure bike gets returned and to cover potianial damage) usually full deposit returned except a few time where they rented it longer and extra days taken out of dep.) I has been both fun and rewarding for me to connect with others who appreisiate the bike as a local form of fun transportation. Its not unusual for them to bring me 6 and 12 packs as tips which feeds my other afliction , but I will not go into that now. I also sell some of the bikes. all have been inspected so new owner goes away feeling good about their new ride. When buying bikes I get a receipt to prove my purchase. Its good to keep old bikes rolling
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:21 am
I really enjoyed reading this. I buy stuff and flip it on eBay. Every once in a while I’ll use Craigslist for larger items. I pass on low priced bikes ALL the time because I’m not equipped to haul them easily. I might have to reconsider the point.