Ever Have This Happen To You?

More than once, I've been told by the seller "My family member wants to keep it". Of course they do, because it's worth more than your asking price. Why was it listed for sale in the first place? Quite frustrating.

Also had more than one person agree over the phone to sell a bike to me, then renege because they got more calls and decided they can sell for more money. I get it, it's just frustrating to be told "yes its yours" then five minutes later "I've decided to sell it to someone else because I have a new found understanding of how much the bike is worth". I always ask for the ad to be removed, but that doesn't always work.
 
Re:

There are several sides to this IMO and in some cases it plays out poorly but in others buyers are victims of their own greed.

An ad pops up offering something for 100 that's worth at least 250. Potential buyer gets the usual, exciting, rush of blood to the head and sends a message agreeing to pay the 100 (knowing full well it's worth more). At the same time other, slower, buyers start circling and sending messages. Seller confirms sold so they offer more. Let's say 150. Seller does what a lot of people would do a takes better deal.

Who's at fault here? This isn't a charitable regulated industry remember...

If first buyer is fairer/kinder and offers closer to market value they'd be more likely get the deal but no, they want the bargain so should accept the risk.

The second buyer owes the first nothing so why not make an offer?

The seller should maybe stick to their first deal but if the first buyer is choosing not to alert them to their under pricing then I understand why they'd take the higher price.

Yes they could do better research but if someone's clueless older parent is selling then would they know where to start?

If this was someone selling a car for 1000 that was worth 2500 or 10000 that was worth 25000 I'd expect it to go through offers even if the first was was accepted.

On one hand people want others to act with honour and stick to the first deal but they are less keen to act with honour themselves and tell the seller what it's really worth.

As for flipping it is what it is, again it's not a charity!

All I can say is I've lost out when trying to bag a bargain but never when paying a fair price.
 
Truth is, an older mountain is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Considering there isn't a real strong market for them, all the younger guys want new stuff because they think its "Better" as where I'll take a quality made older model any day since most of my riding happened back through the late 90's early 2000's and I ripped on those bikes. I usually act as quick as I can when it comes to scoring a deal on a bike. Luckily for me I live about 30 to 45 minutes from a college town where all the sweet retrobikes pop up all the time, I'm patrolling Craigslist daily.
 

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