sschoe2 wrote:
> On Jul 12, 2:50 pm, Road Dog <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Hell and High Water wrote:
>>
>>> I'm looking for a slight step up from my ~mid 80's steel Bianchi.
>>
>>> What I see on Ebay, at least, frustrates me.
>>
>> Screw ebay. craigslist.
>
> I check out craigslist here in Chicago often. Very often what is see
> is either worthless junk bikes (walmart/target) or older bikes for
> huge prices. Someone has an old 7 speed with downtube shifters they
> sell it as vintage and lists $400 as their asking price. The chances
> of finding a bike that is;
> A. What you are looking for in terms of quality and configuration.
> B. The correct size for you
> C. Being sold by someone who doesn't have his head up his rear end
> and then beating the competition to said bike are rather slim.
Yes, it happens though.
I'm not really an expert at this, but I've bought 1 bike off Ebay and two
off Craig's list in Chicago.
In neither case was I looking for a bike to buy; that helps because at any
given time you are unlikely to find what you want (see evidence earlier in
the thread). As sschoe2 says above, many of the prices provide amusement.
Ebay has a lot of disadvantages relative to Craig's list:
1. Shipping cost
2. Waiting for the product to arrive (and reassembling it)
3. Inability to test ride the product
4. Time spent figuring out auction strategy, as opposed to just negotiating
a purchase in person.
5. Inability to judge flaws in person: will you need new tires right away?
Are the wheels true? Does it look like the bearings need an overhaul?
If anyone's curious as to what I bought:
Ebay: 1976 Schwinn Super LeTour in mint condition. Seller was a guy I
recognized off the Phred touring list, so I figured he was OK. As expected,
I spent more for shipping and to get the bike back in working condition than
I did on the bike itself. The bike's here, on my trip across Utah:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/pic/?o=QzzM&pic_id=68057&v=3Z&size=large
Craig's list #1: I saw a Raleigh Twenty up for sale. Sheldon Brown speaks so
highly of them that I got curious. I verified that this ancient lump of
metal was actually in ridable shape. Did 50 miles last Wednesday (that's a
LOT for a folder). Main problem: I need to find a case for it so I can take
it on public transportation -- until I do, it's mostly taking up space in
the basement.
Craig's list #2: Breezer folder, bought for my daughter. Prettty much new;
Northwestern prof had used it while on sabbatical at OSU so he wouldn't need
another car. I saved $; he got back some room in his condo storage area.
Buyer and seller both accomplished their aims.