Uncommon Cents

I’ve occasionally discussed Craigslist on this blog as a potential way to make money or get items on the cheap. Craigslist is kind of like the Internet’s classifieds. It’s mostly free with very few exceptions and can be for anything from personal ads to help wanted. In my case, it was for a replacement for my stolen Cannondale.

Many people worry about dealing like this; to me, Craigslist is no less or more safe than regular classifieds. In some ways, because you’re dealing through email, it can be far safer, particularly because you could use disposable email addresses. There are some advantages and some disadvantages to dealing with things through Craigslist. I’ll relate my own story regarding the “new” (to me) used bike–which is a Bianchi.

I first spotted an ad for this bike last Wednesday, but the ad, despite including a picture, was relatively sparse. The description with an asking price of $400, was:

Selling because I have no time to ride it. Make an offer but don’t low ball…this is a quality bike and worth more than selling price. It is a 2004 model, quality components…email me with contact info if interested.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough information or a large enough picture to tell me a whole lot about what kind of parts were on it. I tried to research it but didn’t find out a whole lot, so I wrote it off.

Two days later, the bike was relisted for $350 with the following description:

Bianchi Road Bicycle
53″
Campione
18 speeds
campagnolo veloce components
distance/speed computer

I am selling this bike because I don’t ride it anymore. Here is a pic… don’t be afraid to make an offer but don’t lowball me. This is a quality bike.

This was a much better description, and the price was down $50. I could do at least a little research and discovered that the bike was a little older than stated, but it helped me get an idea of the quality of the parts on it.

So I emailed the seller on Friday night who promptly emailed me back asking when I could come by to look at it. I replied by saying I was working over the weekend and couldn’t come until the evenings, or possibly Monday after I was finished with the Great Aloha Run.

What occurred over the next few days was one of the pitfalls of dealing with things like Craigslist or classifieds. I made attempt after attempt at contact and received no reply. I even asked that the seller just let me know if it was already sold and I would move on to finding another bike.

I had essentially given up before I got an email from the seller on Tuesday. Tuesday night after I finished my part time job, I went over and we settled on buying the bike–in decent condition, really–for $250. Less than a quarter of the original price a few years back, and $150 less than his original asking price.

So the moral of my story is that sometimes, Craigslist buys can work out, but it can also be frustrating when you can’t reach the seller or you don’t get adequate response. I still believe that Craigslist can be great for both buyers and sellers, but it’s not nearly as straightforward as a Buy It Now on eBay or ordering off of Amazon.

Tags: Frugality, Social aspects, Technology

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