How to get a craigslist bike home, 2000 miles away
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
How to get a craigslist bike home, 2000 miles away
I found a bike on craigslist that I have been searching for but it is 2000 miles away. How do I get that bike home? Has anyone have any experience with buying a bike like that, then having it shipped? My guess would be that I would fly out there, look at the bike then buy the bike. Then I would take the bike apart then box it. Then either take it on the return flight with me or ship it. Are there other ways that I dont know about? Buy time I fly across country, rent a car and ship the bike, the cost just makes it unrealistic.
Tom
Tom
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 503
Bikes: Way too many
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 900 Post(s)
Liked 607 Times
in
364 Posts
It depends on how valuable the bike is.
I think if I thought it was valuable enough, I'd find a local bike shop to the seller (looking independently rather than asking the seller), and see if they can give it an inspection. If the inspection was OK I'd pay the seller and get the bike shop to pack and ship it to me. It'll cost you maybe an extra $100 or so but more peace of mind that getting the buyer to ship it.
If it's a really expensive bike, and I had access to a bike box, I'd do what you suggest in flying there, view bike, box it and fly home. Of course, if the seller is nowhere near an airport, you've then got the expense of getting between the seller and the airport with a bike.
I think if I thought it was valuable enough, I'd find a local bike shop to the seller (looking independently rather than asking the seller), and see if they can give it an inspection. If the inspection was OK I'd pay the seller and get the bike shop to pack and ship it to me. It'll cost you maybe an extra $100 or so but more peace of mind that getting the buyer to ship it.
If it's a really expensive bike, and I had access to a bike box, I'd do what you suggest in flying there, view bike, box it and fly home. Of course, if the seller is nowhere near an airport, you've then got the expense of getting between the seller and the airport with a bike.
#3
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
Facilitators on this forum do exactly that. Volunteers who'll check out a machine for you and then fetch, pack and ship it. I've done it. Look around. When I did it the buyer paid the seller directly via Paypal and then tossed me a little for my trouble.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ling-able.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ling-able.html
Last edited by thumpism; 04-01-22 at 07:00 AM.
Likes For thumpism:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2333 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
Find a shop local to the seller who will box and ship it. They have the boxes, skills, and many shops routinely perform this service for tourists.
Likes For GhostRider62:
#5
Newbie
Thread Starter
Facilitators on this forum do exactly that. Volunteers who'll check out a machine for you and then fetch, pack and ship it. I've done it. Look around. When I did it the buyer paid the seller directly via Paypal and then tossed me a little for my trouble.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ling-able.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ling-able.html
Tom
Likes For Indytriumph:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,261
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18428 Post(s)
Liked 15,582 Times
in
7,337 Posts
OP: If you can get the shipping label to the shop I would price shipping either through Shipbikes.com or Bikefligths.com
Likes For indyfabz:
#7
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
#8
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
If they're willing, I would pay the seller to have the bike boxed and shipped to you, with the understanding that you have 48 hours to inspect and approve the bike. If it doesn't meet your approval for any reason, you box and ship it back at your expense.
This requires good communication via phone conversations, as well as sharing physical addresses and other personal information to guard against scams.
I've done a few expensive guitar deals this way, with zero complications.
This requires good communication via phone conversations, as well as sharing physical addresses and other personal information to guard against scams.
I've done a few expensive guitar deals this way, with zero complications.
Likes For Rolla:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,767
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
761 Posts
Ask the seller if she would be willing to deliver it to a bike shop. Contact a bike shop and see if they'd be willing to receive and package the bike for shipping for you. I'm sure there'd be a charge for that: boxing, handling, shipping charge.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Yucatán. México
Posts: 6,257
Bikes: 79 Trek 930 is back on the road, 80 Trek 414, 84 Schwinn Letour Luxe,87 Schwinn Prelude, 92 Schwinn Paramount PDG 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3206 Post(s)
Liked 1,848 Times
in
1,165 Posts
You could ride it. That's what I did, but it was only a few hundred miles.
Likes For seedsbelize2:
#11
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Today, many people have become aware of how great the site is and use it regularly to buy or sell stuff. Most sellers are honest and some even provide pictures of their vehicles. However, sometimes things don’t go according to plan.
Likes For Inhoullear:
#12
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 19
Bikes: Merlin Odyssey, Marin Fairfax 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
First off congrats on the find. How does one search multiple CL adds at once? And what bike did you find so far away? Let me guess something from the late 90’s era ! Cheers
#13
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,517
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2747 Post(s)
Liked 3,401 Times
in
2,058 Posts
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
I can tell you from this experience, I learned something that surprised me. I did a google search and did not come up with any results of a bike that wasn't already sold. A friend of mine out East did the same thing, a google search. His results was completely different than mine. His results showed several for sell on CL. Thats how I found it. I always assumed that anyone would get the same results from a google search.
The bike I found is a 1987 Schwinn Prologue
Tom
#15
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Springs, California
Posts: 462
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 460 Times
in
176 Posts
Likes For krakhaus:
#16
Full Member
https://www.searchtempest.com/ works also
__________________
Longbikes Slipstream
Longbikes Slipstream
Likes For Wilbur Bud:
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,692
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 432 Post(s)
Liked 461 Times
in
318 Posts
I've done this a few times for bikes I really wanted. Important to establish a rapport with the seller, and make it easy for them to want to ship you the bike. There's a lot of risk on your end as the buyer, but if you really want the bike you assume that risk. I basically offer to cover shipping, give them instructions on packing and shipping (either suggest a LBS or bikeflight), and pay up front with some kind of electronic payment method, and maintain consistent communication until the bike arrives at my place.