Cheddarpecker

I should have linked to the ad, but didn't think of it until now. Someone had posted a Texas Rangerette on our local Craigslist for $200. It was updated all summer. Last week, they updated threatening to throw it in the dumpster if nobody wanted to give $75 for it with original flat tires and faded paint.

Someone must have bought it, because it's gone.

So now we have this guy.

Western Flyer ladies bike, flat tires, $500. I'm sure some sort of illicit substance was involved in the appraisal. It's a perfectly good $10 lawn ornament if you ask me. $100+ Denalis aside, do people ask crazy prices for junk in your market?

canklecat

All the time. Craigslist in the D/FW area is filled with overvalued moderately semi-interesting ancient bikes dubbed "vintage" and, if not completely eaten through with rust, "minty". Mostly lawn ornaments or wall decorations for a 1980s style TGIF/Chili's/Applebee's type restaurant.

It's not easy to find functional older bikes or classics for under $200 here. I see people claiming to have snagged all sorts of treasures for $10-$50. Never seen it happen here. Usually it's $200 minimum for any functional road bike-shaped thing; $100 minimum for any hybrid-shaped bike. Occasionally some decent bikes appear in there, but not often considering the size of this market and the many, many bike shops.

I looked for months before settling on a Univega Via Carisma that was pretty close to what I wanted to try next, and wouldn't demand too much money, effort or parts swaps to suit me. Probably paid too much but after at least six months of poring over Craigslist weekly, and peering at every garage and yard sale I found, I gave up on finding those under $100 jewels folks keep bragging about.

Cheddarpecker

It takes everything in me not to contact these people with stupid questions and comments. Our local bicycle page is full of one idiot's cheesy motorcycle collection from the mid 2000s. Do you think he wonders why he's the only one, or why nobody shows interest? Been there for months now. As to the $500 Flyer, I'm sorely tempted to inform them that there's another one not far away listed for a fraction of their price, and it holds air! A steal at $175 if they want to get into this kind of market.

Must not touch the poop.

I won't give up, but I won't hold my breath either.

KonAaron Snake 

Why would you care? If they're out of line, it won't sell. The market judges these things collectively.

Personally I find the CL police far more annoying than silly prices...who gave you the moral authority to determine what someone can, or can't, ask for something in a private transaction?

hankaye

OP, Howdy;

Thinkin' that maybe they want to dicker and that's their start ...
you counter with what you'd willing to pay for it then the fun begins
y'all may end up near the middle or just walk away ...

hank

jefnvk

A bike is worth what someone will pay. Craigslist is a free resource. Therefore, it costs the person nothing to leave it there at a high price, waiting for an offer or for someone looking for that exact bike to bite.

That, and people have this notion that because something is old, it is valuable. I blame Antiques Roadshow. They probably saw something that vaguely resembled it valued at a high end of $500 one time, and knew that is what theirs was worth too.

I see it from time to time, but it is rare and you have to be ready to move. Thrift shops are a much better bet around me, the flippers can't watch them easily. My experience on CL is similar to yours.

CliffordK

Our local Craigslist is inundated with old Tank bikes. Mostly going for an arm and a leg. Perhaps only a couple of sellers. I "hide" them as quickly as they pop up, but more seem to show up, or the seller is just creating new ads when the old junkers don't sell.

Lots of old Ten-Speeds too, with prices all over the place (and a couple of gems mixed in).

Doohickie

The high prices keep me married. They're just high enough to keep me from seriously considering them and makes me wait for the right deal to come along. Of course, I'm so frugal I'll never see that deal.

StarBiker

The Moral Majority on Bike Forums.

Also what about the opposite. A very clean bike worth every penny of $200 and it sits for a bit.

I refuse to mention the bike on here but I have attempted to trade a nice mountain bike on CL and all I get are goofs.

As usual there is more than one side to the story.

I have never bought a bike on CL. But sold a couple hundred on there.

lostarchitect 

Really, who cares? People are delusional about all kinds of stuff, and in any hobby you can find someone trying to sell junk at high prices. It's a non-issue.

Lascauxcaveman 

Could be the lister is just lonely and waiting for a helpful person start up a correspondence on based on likely selling price.