adventures on craigslist
Since I'm mostly running, I decided to sell my 2011 Specialized Carbon Era.
Here's how it went:
Friday evening:
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| Sold the bike w/original stock parts - not the components pictured here. |
Here's how it went:
Friday evening:
- Post bike on craigslist for $2200
- Email from Buyer #1 interested in looking at bike
- Buyer #1 and husband come by and thoroughly examine the bike and I let her take it home and have her husband setup the suspension/brakes/seat for her. She rides for an hour at Marshall Mesa
- Buyer #1 brings back bike.
- Buyer #1 LOVES the bike and then low-balls me for $1800.
- I balk and say - no way. The absolute lowest is $2000.
- She then offers $1900.
- I said "no. I don't *need* to sell the bike, I'm not desperate to sell the bike. It's easily worth $2k"
- She goes "then sleep on it and let me know if you change your mind"
- Me "I'm not going to change my mind"
- Buyer #2 emails me about the bike. I'm in Silverthorne until Wednesday and we agree to meet Wednesday after work.
- Buyer #1 - texts and wants to know if I sold the bike.
- I say "no, but I have a potential buyer I'm going to meet on Wednesday"
- (it's pretty obvious Buyer #1 really, really wants the bike)
- Buyer#1 calls me and want to know if I'll take $1950. ( she really, really wants the bike).
- I said "no" and think (seriously, you know it's $2k and you are still low balling me by $50?? You are the one contacting ME, you are the one that wants the bike . I already came off my price by $200 and you are still trying to squeeze out $50??)
- Buyer #1 says "It's only $50. And I know you have an appt with another person, but you know how *craigslist* people are"
- Me (thinking - oh the irony) " Yep - i know how craigslist people are, but if I can't get $2k, then I'll just keep it - end of story"
- Buyer #1 texts me and says she'll buy the bike for $2000.00
- Me (thinking - really?? you could of bought the bike on SATURDAY fo 2k)
- Me - texted her back "If the buyer I'm meeting on Wednesday doesn't buy the bike - I'll sell to you for $2k"
- Buyer #2 backs out of our Wednesday afternoon meeting.
- I decide not to contact Buyer #1 until the Wednesday afternoon.
- Buyer #3 contacts me and offers me $2000. I say - "I have a pending offer of $2000. Will you buy for $2100?"
- Buyer #3 - thinks $2100 is an extremely fair price, pays me cash without haggling. Buyer #3 buy the bike and emails me later in the afternoon to tell my how much his wife LOVES the bike.
- 2.5 out of 4 people are happy. Buyer #3, Buyer #3's wife, part of me is happy. Part of me and buyer #1 are unhappy.
Comments
On a different note: A woman Lucho coaches for Leadman had her expensive carbon mt. bike stolen off her bike in Boulder rack in the parking lot of her work. She's a little thing...said she's been looking on CL for another bike....I wonder if she was bought yours? Worse, I hope she wasn't buyer #1 :). Poor thing has no bike to ride Leadville mtb 100 now. Anyway, I heard via FB whatever type of bike rack she had, there have been many sotolen from it.
I hate Craigslist for that very reason. There is no way to be sure that the people you are buying from/selling to are going to come through in the end so you have to take what you can get. This causes it to be a little back-stabby and wishy-washy. I wish there was a way to get a deposit so you would be sure the person is not going to fall through!