Testing The Waters For A Possible Sale

by **wheelhorseman** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:34 am

About a week ago i posted about a brand new never ridden 1981 model Murray beach cruiser a friend of mine has that i was thinking about buying to possibly resell. I can get it for no more than 60.00.

Since i can go get the bike and have it at the house within an hour i decided to run an ad on CL to see if it even would draw any interest before i made the plunge to buy. Well the ad has ran for 24 hrs. and has had no interest whatsoever. My selling price was 100 firm and to me thats a deal. If the wife will let me i think i will go get the bike and keep it if it still shows no interest.

by **LarzBahrs** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:42 am

You ran an ad on a bicycle you havent even bought? Im sorry but thats not right. Your putting bait out there. Thats like stealing someones pictures on clist and putting them in an ad on their bike to call you before you even buy it to see if you could one up them.

by **Rat Rod** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:50 am

The bike is no collectors item.

Whether it's been ridden or not, it just an old 80s Murray cruiser...not in big demand.

Now if it were a Schwinn 80s cruiser that had never been ridden I'd say you found a heck of a deal at $60.

But I agree though....running an ad for a bike you don't even have yet is sort of goofy.

by **wheelhorseman** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:56 am

My intention is to resell the bike and i am not gonna buy something i cant sell and be in a hole. I have dealt with the public enought to tell who is serious and who isnt. My methods may be odd but they work. Its not deceptive bucause the bike exists and can be shown but i wont waste my time on duds. Since i havent had any interest that kinda tells me it aint such a hot deal as far as resell goes. If i get a serious intere from someone i will go get the bike and have it here r

by **Green P1** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 9:57 am

If I'm your "friend" who's selling you this bike and I see this thread or your craigslist add... We're not "friends" anymore.

by **wheelhorseman** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:04 am

why???? he doest care what i do with it. He knows i want to try and sell it.

by **Rat Rod** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:12 am

Typically people educate themselves on a market by watching other ads or seeing what similar items have sold for on Ebay or other online outlets.

If you feel that spending $60 on a bike to resell it is a big risk then it's probably not worth the time, effort or money.

Not sure what you're wanting from the group here in regards to the situation, but I can tell ya, your approach isn't going to get a whole lot of positive feedback.

by **outskirtscustoms** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:14 am

I don't see anything wrong with this, as long as the bike actually is for sale and your friend is okay with you listing it.

Matter of fact I have done worse, When I used to fix and flip mopeds I'd post adds that said I was GIVING AWAY a moped. Some of the time I actually was other times I wasn't. Everyone knows it'd be gone FAST. I'd e-mail back with "Sorry but it is gone, I do have a few more that are for sale that are in better condition though." I'm not proud of it but it got RESULTS and put money in my pocket, so if you can hate me for trying to make a living OH WELL. Also it would cause people with mopeds and scooter projects sitting around to post them making it easy for me to find the next project.

by **wheelhorseman** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:28 am

I don't see anything wrong with this, as long as the bike actually is for sale and your friend is okay with you listing it.

THANK YOU I know this will have mixed opinions but as a member here i am not "expecting" anything here i am simply posting as to what i am currently trying to do. Like i said my methods work for me and makes selling much easier. At one point i sold over 60 riding mowers in the summer of 2010 using my unique methods. Some were sold to repeat buyers for resale. NEVER had any problems with anyone.

by **outskirtscustoms** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:37 am

Same here, I probably had a different moped every day or every other day for 3 years! Even through the winter. Only had ONE call back due to a scooter that was stolen and I refunded the guy out of my own pocket. If it WORKS for you then your method is fine. Who does it hurt?

I also used to run adds that really made competing scooter / moped fixers mad. I said I could fix ANY scooter or moped and offered a "FIX IT OR FREE GUARANTEE" Had one of the competing scooter shops drop off a Yamaha Chappy that he pulled out of a creek. Case was filled with swamp water, Motor locked up solid, 6 hours later I was riding it around the block. Then just to rub it in I put before, during, and after pictures on Craigslist and said I can fix ANYTHING! :mrgreen:

by **Rat Rod** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:42 am

Here's your answer...don't buy the bike. :lol:

by **BlackJack** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:43 pm

It's sort of like a guy a I knew in the Army who would make deals with soldiers who wanted to sell things. He would find out what the person wanted for the item then ask EVERYONE if they were interested in buying the item and tell them a higher price. He got anything over what the seller originally wanted for the item. The difference is he would direct people to the seller who would make the sale and get his commission. When buyers found out that they could have gotten it cheaper it wasn't good for him. The only person I could see getting burned in your situation is you. Craigslist responders are the most low-ball offering people I've seen so If you buy it for $60.00 get calls at $100.00 and buy the bike then people show up and take a look at it and offer $50.00-$60.00 for it, then you lost the game. Then winter comes and the $30.00 offers... But if it works for you then go for it. I don't see anything illegal as long as the original seller doesn't care. If the seller changes his mind he could at least flag the ad or at most have you investigated for fraud.

by **aka_locojoe** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:51 pm

I don't know... just doesn't seem right selling something you don't have ownership of.
Why even bother to go get it. If it sells on CL, tell the buyer to paypal you and pick it up at your friends house. Save you gas.
Sorry I know the ethicalness (I don't know what the proper word would be) of this wasn't what your question was.

If the bike is not worth $60 to you then don't mess with it. There are probably better ways to turn your $60 in to a profit.
This is coming from the perspective of someone who buys bikes because I like and want them. I've never bought a bike to flip.

by **wheelhorseman** on Fri Jul 06, 2012 3:01 pm

Got a call after lunch from someone wanting to view the bike. They explained that if the bike was truly in the condition as described they would buy it . While they were in route i went and got the bike.

To make a long story short the bike sold for my 100.00 asking price and my friend has his 60.00 and everyones happy. Like i said my methods may seem odd but they work.