Everyday I peruse the pages of bike ads on Craigslist. I’m always on the look out for great deals for myself or for friends that are in the market for a new bike. So the other day an ad caught my attention because of its description and its high asking price. I decided to send the seller an email to see if he/she was serious about the sale/price.
Click on the photo to make it bigger.
I fire off the first email….
In a message dated 5/18/2011 5:37:56 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY — AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: _http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html_
(http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html)
Is your price negotiable? $300 is a bit steep.
____________________________________
this message was remailed to you via: [email protected]
Is your price negotiable? $300 is a bit steep.
He then responds:
it is polished aluminum very light, and i spent $80 for the seat post(suspension)… looks and rides like brand new…
best offer will take it… or trade with iphone ipad ps3 etc.
regards,
Anthony
(714 ***-****
I respond to him.
Can you tell me the model of the bike?
He tells me:
see detailed pics
I respond to his email:
MtnBikeRiders.com to Chaz details May 19 (7 days ago)
Wow that’s really a nice bike. Do you know what year it is?
He states in another email that its a “2010”
I then reply with:
MtnBikeRiders to Chaz May 19 (7 days ago)
I don’t have an ipad or ps3, will you take a Sony Walkman for it? I’ve attached a photo of it.
– Hide quoted text –
After a few days, he replies.
Chaz to me May 22 (3 days ago)
Sure- just. Let me know when you want it!
Sent from my iPhone
But from what I gather from his tone in the email, I think he’s being sarcastic….
Hilarious!! I saw the same ad and laughed. I bet a vintage walkman in working condition is worth more than that bike.
I see stuff like that on my local craigslist listings all the time. Most of the time it’s not that egregious… but sometimes it is. I saw someone trying to sell a Walmart bike the other day for $600… I almost emailed them on that!
The other common thing is seeing stuff like, “Trek 820 – $350.” I seem to remember a new 820 being somewhere around $300 back in the late 90’s… who knew an entry-level bike could GAIN value over 15 years??
Here’s another ad that I saw on CL: $2 for reflectors! Wow what a great deal!
Not sure if you knew this, but you can go to any LBS and they’ll give you some for free. Some customers don’t want them on the new bikes they are purchasing, so the shop will either throw them away or set it aside.
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/2403422692.html
Must be the same guy trying to sell tire levers for $15 when you can get them on Amazon for $7:
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/2404534021.html