I’ve seen various threads mention what a pit Craigslist is, but I thought “Seriously… how hard could it be to find something you need?” I shoulda listened to you guys.
As mentioned in one of the bike threads, I’ve been looking for a replacement for my 20 yr old mountain bike. I foolishly thought I could bypass the new price on a decent model at a bikeshop by finding a used one on Craigslist… how hard could it be, right?
How hard indeed. Apparently there is a vast gulf between my definition of “in excellent shape” and that of the online marketplace.
Among the bikes looked at I’ve found:
a broken shifter that would twist off the handlebar if actuated,
covered in mud and grime to the point that the chain actually made grinding noises.
dubious lineage (don’t know how old, can’t remember where acquired and we’ve got 4 more of various types).
Yeah, we’re a bike shop and have 20+ for sale. No, we don’t have a business name and you can look at 'em when my husband gets home with the garage key.
“No problem, I’ll measure it… Yep it’s a 20 inch frame” (actually 16" when I get there).
The last one I kinda felt sorry for. He seemed to be literally a starving student who really didn’t understand how to measure the frame. I took it to be an honest mistake and the poor kid (early 20’s) drove 20+ miles with the bike stuffed in his beater car to meet me. I figured that gas was pretty dear to him so I treated him to a nice sit-down dinner for his trouble. (Still didn’t buy the bike, tho’).
I’ve probably spent enough on gas to cover the diff between new and used, and I just need to bite the bullet and get something from one of the bike shops. :rolleyes:
That’s so sweet. I’m sorry for your frustrations, but I have to say, you sound like a really nice person. Your compassion has given me a smile and a nice mellow feeling for the evening.
I’ve had great luck selling cars on Craig’s List, generally to the first person who show up. I believe the secret is to describe the product accurately and provide pictures. I relate this to your situation by saying a buyer needs to ask and demand the right answers before wasting more time. Only look at items that have pictures. A picture would have shown the muddy bike, for example. Ask plenty of questions. Does everything work? Is anything loose? Tell me how you measured the frame. What is the exact model number? Without the answers, don’t go past the phone call or internet. Craig’s is a great resource, but it can also be dangerous and expensive when not used efficiently.
Craigslist is a cesspool but you can find things. It just takes patience. I have a friend and she goes to thrift shops and gets nice things, but she goes all the time. She may go 8 times a week and find a great item only once a month.
But for her, she likes it. It’s like an adventure, she goes out and comes home all proud to find a steal. Craigstlist is like that. You got to wade through a lot of garbage
We’ve had pretty decent luck with Craiglist, but then again, I only look at ads with pics.
We also sold our boat through Craiglist with minimal hassle. I provided pics with the ad, and there was a lot interest. There was one person who didn’t show when he said he would, but other than that the experience was good.
Last May, we bought a 10X14 outdoor kennel for our dogs from a private seller. It was in great condition, and he even offered to haul it to our house. Seeing his immaculate house and yard sealed the deal for me.
We also adopted one of our dogs through Craigslist. She’s a sweetheart and has been an awesome addition to our family.
Fortunately, everyone I’ve dealt with via Craigslist has been pretty good.
A corollary to the OP’s problem is that, when selling, you illustrate and describe your item with excruciating accuracy (as Al Bundy notes). You want the would-be buyer who examines it to be saying “This item is exactly as advertised.”
IANA cragislist expert. But the couple things I’ve sold have been super easy. Provide an accurate description & pictures & ask a realistic price. You’ll find the item is gone in a few hours tops & you have all the cash you asked for.
I haven’t tried shopping for a GF on it though; I hear that part of Cragslist is notso hotso.
