ryansu

I once did a blog post about horrible pictures on CL, do you folks really want to sell the item? I titled this one " bike parked at camp fire, seller snapped picture as they ran by it" and yes that really is the photo that was on the CL ad...Cheryl I can't believe that bike ain't selling

I too notice errors on postings, mostly I just keep on moving, I was happy someone pointed out an issue with an item I had posted on ebay once and I avoided selling something that had an issue I had missed and I was grateful they helped me in avoiding unintentionally sending out a item that I shouldn't have.

The Golden Boy 

I used to drop people lines about incorrect stuff, not trying to be a dick- just attempting to be helpful- but the amount of hostile replies just has me going on to the next one.

francophile 

Yeah, I mean, I got bitten with this one recently. I've had a rather obscure European-manufactured SLX frame. I purchased it off eBay but totally overlooked (what, in hindsight, is) such a basic and obvious detail. Well, fast forward to this month, I saw an interesting frame for trade here on BF and shot the BF'er a message with a basic pic.

Within minutes, got a reply back to inquire about a detail missing on the fork. Sure enough, they were right, fork isn't original and I totally overlooked it. Seller made no claims about the originality of it, but man ... I was really kicking myself and pretty damn embarassed I missed it!

I know there are some of you who love to seek out lesser-known builders and brands from various outlets, just like I do. This is just a friendly reminder that sometimes it's worthwhile to consult with a fellow BF'er before purchase. Another pair of eyes (or dozens) can be very worthwhile to avoid embarrassing mistakes

I'll still probably make my money back off that purchase, but still ... kicking myself.

merziac

Always hard not to have (insert favorite, rare,obscure marque/builder here) colored glasses when we "find" what we think we have found.

I always plan to be disappointed by something unseen, undisclosed, unknown by self or seller and balance with price, want and fate, it usually works out.

I know when I pay too much and try to factor that into the outcome, sometimes you just think you have to have it.

CyclesMakaron

Sending information with a revised item description to sellers (in my case Eddy Merckx bike/frame) is my favorite activity in my free time. This applies not only to ebay, but also to bicycle shops and local auction sites. About 20% of retailers improve their descriptions, the others don't even try to... As a result, about half of the EMC frames/bikes are offered with a false description, and the retailers know about it.... Sometimes very reputable vendors....

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator

jamesdak 

LOL, I actually posted about the Lemond frame a few days ago. I have one of those and the seller is so off on that one.

Miele Man

I see a lot of Ebay and Kijiji ads that claim FIORI or MIELE bicycles are Italian bicycles. I've told a few such sellers that their ads were wrong and should be corrected. Most are NOT happy to hear that.

Cheers

randyjawa 

Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do if done in an attempt to help others (so much more to that but you get the idea). If a seller's price is way out of line, that is none of my business and I keep my mouth shut. Sellers can ask what ever they want. However...

Sometimes, I do see an error on a listing and, given some thought at the time, I might offer a bit of, hopefully, useful advice. Sometimes, I am thanked and sometimes I get gunned off by someone who can only be considered to be a donkey's butt (what's another name for a donkey and then think hole). But those donkey butt guys and gals are truly important to the rest of the people on the planet. Why..?

Because those donkey butts make the rest of us feel good about ourselves!-) That is not to say that I have not had my own, personally generated, donkey butt moments.

jamesdak 

I have been messaging the guy with the Lemond. He seems legit and interested in having the right info. Even asked if the price was right. What's interesting is the original fork has a Excell GL decal on it yet is clearly stamped GLx on the steerer.

jamesdak 

Seller responded again on that Lemond in question. Said he bought it directly from Greg's dad. Supposed to be an actual team bike.

I do wonder about these. Mine looks the exact same but what's always been odd about it is that it's not the classic Lemond geometry like my other 7 Lemond bikes. It's more square as is made to a team rider's specs or something. Purely speculation on my part. Any, just sharing what the seller told me.

abellanti

interesting...if there werent so many mistakes in his listing, I might be plausible. I would need more proof . I have the same GLX with the number tab, its a 54ct by 54cc.

Narhay

I told a guy once that I wasn't interested in buying his Raleigh Record but it was an entry level model based on the steel rims, high tensile steel, etc and that it was probably worth closer to 100 to 200 cad, not the $1000 he was asking for.

He told me a month later to poop on someone elses dreams and some other things about my dear mother.

jamesdak 

Nice, funny thing is these are good bikes perfectly capable of standing on their own merits. No need to embellish.

Here's mine. Mine does have the rear brake bridge backwards from every other Billato built bike I have or have seen. QA issue or...?

Essthreetee

well if 1 x 5 = 5
and 1 x 10 = 10
then 1 x 10 to the 7th = 1 x 10,000,000 = 10,000,000

Sorry. It’s the math teacher in me.

BFisher

In the real world, sure. Call b.s. face to face.

Ebay is not always the real world. Sellers may not give a single Frank what's right.

gugie 

Yeah, but it’s still one Robbietunes

;-)

Essthreetee

Hahahaha

ltokuno

When I see something really wrong on ebay, and I want a bit of online entertainment, I ask the seller questions about details not in the pictures. Then tell them what their answer means, and how it effects the price.
According to some of them, my mother has led an interesting if less than pious life, and I can achieve highly improbable body positions.
Strangely enough, I've had the same response from a few sellers where I thought the price should go up. I think Mark Twain had it right on the difference between men and dogs.

gearbasher

I've sold a bunch of stuff on ebay and if I'm not 100% sure of something I will state that fact in my description and ask (in my description) for input from anyone with better knowledge. Then I will revise it accordingly. What gets me, is people who try to "low-ball" me. I can't count the number of times someone offered me half of my asking price saying that was all it was worth. And then I get my asking price two days later.

francophile 

I get this on CL regularly. There's one person in particular in the ATL area who appears to have keyword alerts setup for "Reynolds" specifically. Any time I use "Reynolds" in my ads whether because it's a Reynolds frame or the tubing is comparable and I namedrop to say that, they inevitably send me a message within 24 hours of listing to tell me the item is garbage and/or way overpriced. I get more messages about the value/price within 24 hours of every 'renew' bump on the ad, either the person is a complete idiot or they just don't know there's some information on their messaging which uniquely identifies them so I can clearly tell it's the same guy.

And - of course - I never fail to sell the bike within 10-15% of my ask price. Sometimes it takes a few weeks, but I always manage to get roughly the sale price I'm aiming for.

SurferRosa

For me, ebay and craigs are the greatest bike shops that ever existed ever anywhere in this or any alternate universes.

Dave Mayer

Craigslist translation guide:

Peddles = pedals
Helmut = helmet
Breaks = brakes
Rims = wheels
Tires = wheels

Needs repair = was police evidence in a vehicular homicide hit ‘n run

Gears need tuning = entire drivetrain is worn out and will cost more to replace than an entire new bike

Tuned = chain was lubed with some old motor oil left at the recycling depot

Some rust = bike was fished out of the creek during community trash clean-up day

Will meet at <Insert local public transit hub here> = stolen

Leave your phone number = stolen

Will meet you = stolen

Quick sale = stolen

Western Union = Nigerian scam

Dave Mayer

Some more:

Needs some TLC = A mechanics nightmare of corrosion, stripped bolts and cheap components.

Vintage = A 1992 department-store mountain bike that was fished out of the recycling depot.

Road bike = A 45-pound full-suspension downhill rig kitted out with slick tires.

CyclesMakaron

This is the norm - more funny are the reverse situations: still for 36 hours on evilbay will be offered "Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra SLX 7-Eleven Dura Ace etc". (dudes from the Netherlands sell it - I don't know them, no connections). The bike looks average, it is repainted (on average again, but in cool colours), but it has an incomplete description. I sent the seller a full description - no reaction (it's also a norm). The frame was built for the Panasonic team for the 1986 season for a fairly famous guy (Eric Vanderaerden) - he might have used it to visit France in July '86 with a green T-shirt.... The seller probably considered it to be an unimportant trifle, which will not interest the buyers and will not affect the value of the frame.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator