Originally Posted by
genejockey
Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace, are full of bikes from Walmart Specials to high end bikes. My personal feeling is that if a bike was really good when it was new 10 year ago, and it's in good condition, then it's still really good now. So, really it's a false dichotomy to think you can either get a really good bike, or a bike from Craigslist.
This is the key. IME most people don't look after their old bikes. So you have to know what you are looking for, which the OP doesn't appear to.