curbtender

As a bike hobbiest, I often flip bikes to maintain my keepers. I take trades and also receive freebies. I took some bikes from a guy in a hoarder type situation that I usually wouldn't, but it helped him get going on moving a lot of other stuff. One bike, a Magna 15 speed, I posted for free in a local app. Everything worked on this bike, but the canti brakes were pretty useless. I let people know this and the first responder wanted the bike for his grandson. He told me the brakes wouldn't be an issue but I didn't get the feeling he would do anything about it. With that in mind, I pulled the ad and texted him the bike was gone. Ended up replacing with an Exage brake set I had, but still feel like I pulled this guy's chain. Did I act reasonably or do you feel I screwed this guy?

KraneXL

"Never make a promise you can't keep." Or in this case, a deal.

Colnago Mixte

Considering the quality of the bike, you "did him a kindness" as far as I'm concerned.

WalMart or whoever sold the bike originally should have never sold a new bike with brakes like that in the first place. I doubt the brakes worked any better the day the bike was sold. Besides, if you sold that bike and someone's kid gets hit by a bus because the brakes failed . . . I personally worry about stuff like that, unlike WalMart.

You were trying to CYA, nothing wrong with that, especially if you want to be able to sleep at night, and have anything at all to lose if sued.

MoAlpha

Good ethics case with an interesting subsidiary question about our estimates of others' competence and conscientiousness and how they should affect our actions. No question in my mind you did the right thing on balance.

dennis336

Sounds like you were making an ethical judgement based on the information you had. The alternative was just just gave the guy the bike and said "not my problem" if he doesn't have it fixed before letting his grandson ride it. Or, I guess you could have very specifically asked him if he was going to have it fixed pulled back if the guy was ambiguous in his answer. But that could have resulted in a a potentially difficult situation. From what you've said, I think on balance, you did the right thing.


As an aside, perhaps a way to avoid that kind of thing in the future is not offer a bike that has a safety issue with it on an app where a stranger may accept the offer. That would 'cut off at the pass' the potential for an ethical conflict.

CliffordK

So, what are you going to do with the new and improved Magna?

I find it exceptionally rude to have Craigslist sellers make a deal, then sell the item out from under oneself. I've had that happen a couple of times when I was actually on the road heading to the meet spot.

In this case you didn't even sell it, you simply lied to the person, and now have a bike you don't want.

Hoopdriver

I think you handled it ok. It would better if you told him that you felt uncomfortable about the brake issue and were going to fix it, but then you would be charging a small fee.

Anyway, probably moot because I'd bet that had you given him the bike, it would turn back up on CL within weeks.

curbtender

Yes, didn't get to him coming by, but I've set up for free bikes before and was told a neighbor picked it up. Think that's what bothered me on that end. Good question on what to do with it now that it's road worthy. I'll let it sit for now and see if anyone has a need. Bike...

Ironfish653

Usually any bike i've sold has been rideable. I've had a few that needed a chain (rusty) or had tires that were past their 'shelf life' but i make sure the brakes and what gears it has are functional. Usually with a >$50 bike, I don't tune it to climb and descend the Pyrenees, but enough so it goes down the road with no drama, and stops when i expect it to stop.

If you didn't feel right letting the bike go in that condition, I wouldn't feel bad about pulling the sale.

Myosmith

Ethically, as long as you disclosed any known significant defects, you are in the clear whether you sell the bike or give it away.

Morally, if you believe that giving the bike away would put a child at risk, you are fine in deciding to keep or repair the bike.

KraneXL

Is a car dealer that sell someone a car responsible if you decide to use that car to rob a bank? Or for the damage you cause in an accident? What you imply is true for a minor or someone incapable of making mature decisions.

The worse possible person is someone that make a deal and then reneges on it. The only exception would some unforeseen circumstances/hazards to society or legal restrictions.

Chris0516

You should have asked him. Why he felt the brakes wouldn't be a problem. Because he may have known how to fix/replace the brakes. Because, The bike was going to be for his grandson.

TheLibrarian

Useless because they were canti brakes or useless because they were broken? People stopped just fine or fine enough before all the new fangled technology. I also knew a lot of kids as teens who didn't have brakes or intentionally removed brakes (idk why). You'd stop with your foot on top of the back tire. Dan Dan the motorcycle man didn't have brakes and would bunny hop over 4 of us. Some fixies don't have actual brakes but you can lock up the rear wheel. You could have spoken more honestly with him and found out why its no big deal. A friend in the process of buying a house according to the lawyer until money changes hands no one is obligated to stick to any verbal or even signed contracts.

curbtender

Ha, I guess I could have thrown in a pair of 12 shoes to jam between the frame and tire. They seemed to lack leverage to stop. Design, pot metal, pads? Just know they didn't stop in a safe manner. I get kids coming by for air and the handlebars are loose, front wheels not tight, crank arms about to fall out. Guess you need the foresight to why it could be a problem. Hell, we rolled down grass hills in 55 gal drums and thought nothing of it until one guy went off an embankment and landed in front of a car.

BobbyG

Brilliant! This makes for a great example to use to explain the difference between ethics and morals.

BTW...I think it was wise not to give the bike away with sub-par brakes in this case.

mconlonx

Bike with bad brakes should not have been listed as rideable in the first place. If you made it clear in the ad that it was parts-only because it needed repair to the brakes, go for it.

If it didn't cost you anything, or much, to fix up the bike, maybe contact the buyer and give it to him, all fixed up, if it would assuage your conscience. Small price to pay for peace of mind.

MikeyMK

Sold as 'for parts' because "brakes are fkd, mate" is perfectly suitable.

If i sell someone a mains radio and they drop it in the bath and die, it's not my fault. Too many snowflakes in this world being all emo about things that frankly just equates to people being controlled, and restricted from learning. When i was 4yo my bike didn't even have brakes.