RoadWearier

Just got back from my third trip looking at bikes without buying the bike. Why? Because when I asked, "Is it 100% rideable as-is?", I got a "Yes" each time. I even specifically ask about the breaks working, wheels straight, derailleur working, gears shifting. Each time I get there, those things don't work. Last time he told me the bike was 18.5 inches. I get there and it's 16.5. IT HAD 16.5" ON A STICKER ON THE FRAME. Wow. I'm not mad or frustrated, I understand I can always go to a store and buy a new bike, but geez. I guess they think I won't test ride it? Or maybe they don't think.

GeezyRider 

When it comes to a bike not being as advertised, I guess there may be a few sellers who will try to deceive but I really think most are clueless.

indyfabz

You sound mad and frustrated.

3alarmer 

.
...that's pretty standard for Craigslist ads around here. If it makes you feel any better, as someone who has advertised restored, well working bikes on CL in the past, there is a steady stream of potential buyers who never intended to pay anywhere near your asking price. But they waste your time setting up an inspection meeting anyway. Then they look for something they deem to be a defect, in order to "bargain".

It's Craigslist. It's been that way as long as I can remember. I always walk away thinking, "Well, at least I was lucky this time, and the guy didn't kidnap and kill me."

spelger

par for the course buying used. anyhoo...just got done reading about the battle of Chattanooga. maybe you should have a read, it'll put things into perspective.

RoadWearier

I like to make my own luck and always CC. But yeah I guess buyers can be a pain too. I have had buyers throw my bike into their vehicle without even looking at the bike let alone test riding which I don't get, but oh well. I've never really had any haggling once we meet up. I also don't haggle once I'm there unless there is something really wrong that wasn't disclosed. I lucked out and got a Trek FX 7.3 for $140 and I guess I'm trying to find a similar deal but oh well.

indyfabz

I’m reminded of the scene in Gladiator where the guy is complaining that the giraffes he brought won’t mate. Haggling and trying to get over is nothing new.

Iride01 

Are we talking about a bike being sold by Academy Sports or Dick's Sporting Goods? Or are we talking about an established local bike shop that only deals in bikes and bicycle accessories? Only the latter would I expect them to have any real knowledge about the products they sell.

delbiker1 

It comes with the territory when buying used. No doubt there are some lies, or, at least, not full disclosure. IME, many of the sellers know nothing about the bikes they are selling. You would be better off accepting these things happen, try to be more selective with what you are looking at, try to get pictures before you travel to look. I have a neighbor that has a bike from the early 70's, it was a piece of crap when it was new, and most of it is original. He thinks that because it is 50 plus years old with original components, it should be worth considerable dollars, even though it is barely ride able, and surly not safely. Anyone that knows bikes, even a little bit, would likely not take the bike if it was free.

shelbyfv

There's not a lot of $ in flipping bikes, even for folks who have knowledge and a robust market. For every screaming deal profit maker like that Medici, you'll find a couple dozen wastes of time. Gaining some knowledge will be your best defense.

RoadWearier

I have read about it. I have plenty of perspective but thanks, oh wise guru. Glad you are reading.

RoadWearier

Yeah some of the ads are pretty funny. It really wasn't a rant. It definitely goes with the territory and I consider it entertainment. Ignorance I can understand. It's the lying I don't like. But yeah I limit my search to 10-12 miles and I usually arrange it around another errand so no harm no foul.

TiHabanero

I'm going through the same thing as I look for a guitar on FB Marketplace. So many of them are not as advertised. Takes a lot of looking at the pictures and deciphering what is shown to confirm what the thing actually is. If i miss something I usually find it when it is seen in person. In addition tot this the prices are outrageous so I figure the seller is expecting someone to either not know what the piece is worth and pay the ask or they do know and will haggle the price down to where it should be. Those posts I simply skip over.
Honestly, it is a PIA to look for a used instrument!

LesterOfPuppets

Most people don't really know anything about how bikes are supposed to work.

You learn this real quick if you become a bicycle mechanic. People on the phone who say they just need a flat fixed, maybe look at the shifting, then they bring it in and it's basically a basket case.

KerryIrons

Yup. Never attribute to malice what can so easily be explained by incompetence.

Calsun

The problem is with the approach of the OP. Unless someone is under house arrest it is not difficult to go to a bike shop and investigate first hand what they have to buy. Never have I been refused a test ride on a bike.

Frame sizes are relative with the wide variations in frame geometry. A medium from one bike company may be borderline too small but another company's may be just right and the best way to find out which is best is to get on the bikes.

If I ask a restaurant employee if the food is any good the answer is not at all valuable. If I read the reviews on yelp I may learn more or I may not as people's tastes vary as does their food experience and often their prejudices. I have heard people complain about the food in Maine as being too spicy and all that the cooks use is black pepper.

A better question is what's with all the whiners.

genejockey 

Indeed. I picked up a bike a year or so ago, a very original 1982 Lotus Classique that was so original the TIRES were still original. One owner since new, always garaged.

He said he'd pumped up the tires and I could take it for a ride, but I could see that the bead on one tire had come unseated, and it could have been a really short, but possibly exciting ride (seller lived near the top of the Oakland Hills). I'm pretty sure he just didn't think about how old the tires were when he pumped them up, and didn't notice the bulge.

Bald Paul

I'm betting the bike was stolen.

rsbob 

Liars on the internet? Impossible. Now back to my 23 YO dating profile….

teejaywhy

Pretty much.

George Mann

In my years of buying from private sellers in the US, I have found that 8 out of 10 of them knowingly lie about, or conveniently fail to mention any of the problems or shortcommings of the item that they are selling.

It is a culture of dishonesty as well as a culture of neglect (most of their items are unkept, worn out junk).

indyfabz

Funny. A former member here who was posting all sorts of BS (including stealing photos off the Internet and passing them off as his own) had a profile on a local to him dating site. In that profile, he lied about his age compared to what he posted here.

Prowler 

I call these “test bikes”. The customer wants something fixed but fails to mention something (or things) that are so obvious they disable the bike. “Ah, they’re checking to see of us dumb bike mechanics notice this. Testing us, eh?” Just part of the job. The real test is continuing to be professional rather than only caring about the bike as much as the customer does.

Inusuit

Frustrating but not uncommon. I once drove 100 miles to look at a Harley. Guy was selling it "for a friend who loved the bike, always kept it maintained and stored it indoors. Rain water pooled in the tail lights among other faults.

SurferRosa

If you learned how to overhaul a bike, this wouldn't be an issue. I never test ride any of the bikes I buy. I do my research beforehand and thoroughly look them over before purchase.