CliffordK

I've done that, especially when buying things like frames. However, some of the vendors have very complicated serial numbers... 3 or so strings of digits on the bottom bracket. I suppose one should also be very proactive in checking that they actually provided the right numbers.

RoadGuy

My family used to own a market, and a liquor store down in the bad part of Los Angeles when I was young, and both of my brothers and I worked there. People used to bring stuff to the stores that they were selling all the time. Truck Drivers often brought new stuff that they claimed they were given as a substitute for payment in cash, or from a broken box/crate. Less trustworthy looking people brought used stuff. Sometimes junk and sometimes very nice. At times I considered buying some of the new items, but never did. And never bought any of the used stuff. I/we were pretty sure that the used stuff was mostly stolen, and both of my brothers bought car stereos and road bikes. They rationalized by saying that the stuff was already stolen, and them buying it didn't make any difference, as someone else would if they didn't. Myself, being a victim of theft several times, (bicycles, car stereos, and my first Porsche) never did, as I knew how the people who were victims probably felt).

I did get a big smile on my face one day after my younger brother told me that the car stereo he had bought dirt cheap a few weeks ago had been stolen while the car was parked at the store while he was working. I was thinking "KARMA". Also thought that the Thief/Seller knew exactly where to find that car stereo when he was looking for a few quick bucks.

These days I buy used bikes. I haven't bought a new bike from a LBS in over 20 years. I'm usually looking to try riding bikes that I haven't before, or of a type or class that I don't own (yet). The best bargains are usually bikes the need some TLC, not the newest, or latest. As such, the odds of the ones i'm looking at/for being stolen/hot is greatly reduced.

Just be aware that: "What goes round comes around", it really does. The guy that sells you something that is hot, knows exactly where to find one like it when he finds another Buyer who wants one.

CliffordK

That is supporting the thieves... it makes the problem worse. Cut out the market, and the thieves will go away, or move on to easier to fence items.

I still think most of the stuff is legit, but the more used stuff I buy, the more of a chance I'll pick up something that was stolen. How careful are thrift stores at screening their merchandise?

It would be nice if E-Bay and Craigslist would be more proactive at requiring serial numbers (both in a searchable format and visual format), and maintain better searchable archives (which is good for both pricing merchandise, as well as hunting down thieves).

I have wondered if spelling errors are intentional which can knock out statewide and national searches. For example, I recently looked at a "recombinant" bike (which was actually a good description of it).

02Giant 

I bought a motorcycle from a guy for a really good price who was getting divorced, he would rather someone get a great deal than the ex get the money.

Wallonthefloor

Absolutely gold LOL! This is why we have google streetview.

Kimmo 

Ha, we have those horrible things in my city, and I have to work on them. The boss rocked up with one that'd been hit with a spraypak to cover the stickers, as if you can't tell one of these from a mile off.

Dunno what the schmuck was thinking he'd do when it got a flat; these have theft-proof fasteners everywhere.

CliffordK

Stucky

97% of the stuff on CL these days is ridiculously over-priced; 3% is "too good to be true"- which are just scammers wanting you to pay via MoneyGram or similar, and offering to ship the item to you "for free".

Antyhing that seems to be reasonably priced, when you go to see it, there's something (or several things) seriously wrong with it.

On the rare occasion you see a truly good deal, it's gone in 15 minutes.

Most things I see on my local CL are ALWAYS at least an hour away; often two! ONCE, I saw a good deal on a tractor that was 10 minutes down the road from me, I called the guy; got dressed (it was in the morning); hopped in my truck and shot right over....only to see someone just getting ready to pull out with the tractor on their trailer! GRRRrrrrr!!!!!!! (A few days later, they had that tractor back on CL for 40% more than they paid for it.)