27motorhead
Old School Grand Master
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Worst/Funniest experiences buying used bikes?
- Thread starter Titiritero
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Was Pyle or Kenfig near Porthcawl and was circa mid 90s
I've only actually managed to buy one bike in Barry. It was an 80s Specialized Rockhopper but with no decals. It had by the looks of it been on one ride and then sprayed in oil twice a year for the next 30 years. I had to take the wheels apart to clean them. Worth it though as they were lovely!
Gtpulse
Dyna-Tech Fan
My Grandad had a friend in the travelling community who unfortunately found he was treated less seriously, often disrespectfully when he went to buy a bike (he had a soft spot for the same era of bikes as my Grandad). Grandad would take him to where a bike was for sale and park the car so his friend could see it without getting out. Grandad would bring the bike out so he could see it as well as inspect it, his friend would then give a hand signal either in favour of or against making the deal!
Splatter Paint
Retrobike Rider
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I sold an old bike on eBay, clearly stated as for parts / not working. It was obviously in a distressed state in the photos and had no saddle.
A young bloke turned up, early twenties with a bag and headphones. He'd got the train and taxi to my house. He looks at the bike and says he's going to ride it away! I reminded him it was for parts / not working. "So it's not rideable then?" I asked if he'd brought a saddle. "No, I thought it'd be ok without one"
Then he says it looks big for a 58cm frame, I said it is 63cm as per the advert. "Oh".
In the end I cleaned up the seat post, fitted a saddle, inflated the tyres and lubed the gears. I asked him if he was happy to go ahead with the purchase and he was, so that was that. I offered to drop him back to a rail station, but he said he was fine and rode it away without a helmet on.
A young bloke turned up, early twenties with a bag and headphones. He'd got the train and taxi to my house. He looks at the bike and says he's going to ride it away! I reminded him it was for parts / not working. "So it's not rideable then?" I asked if he'd brought a saddle. "No, I thought it'd be ok without one"
Then he says it looks big for a 58cm frame, I said it is 63cm as per the advert. "Oh". In the end I cleaned up the seat post, fitted a saddle, inflated the tyres and lubed the gears. I asked him if he was happy to go ahead with the purchase and he was, so that was that. I offered to drop him back to a rail station, but he said he was fine and rode it away without a helmet on.
Lhatch4
Fat Chance Fan
In the 90's I was into GT's. I was always interested in Cannondale because I thought they were pushing the boundaries of innovation. They were also very expensive and prone to failure. We called them crack-and-fail. So I never got one. I think it was 2017 that I found this green one for sale and it was a good price. I bought it but didn't ride it much because, crack-and-fail. Eventually I decided to flip it. I posted it on Craigslist and a short time later someone wanted to meet up to buy it. When I came to the meet-up, I was surprised to find that a little old lady wanted it. She had lot's of questions. I explained everything to the best of my ability. Then she started trying to haggle on the price. She told me that it's too old and she wanted a newer bike. She was acting like she was going to buy it for herself. I'm 6'1" and she's was probably 5'4". There was no way she was going to ride it. In the end I stayed firm on my price and she bought it. The entire thing was very strange. She must have been buying it for a grandson who showed it to her, or something like that. She was determined to buy but wanted a deal. She kept trying to haggle until I told her that it probably wasn't for her and I would just sell at full price to another interested person. I still wonder what happened to that bike from time to time.
Black_puma
GT Fan
I couldn't even check for chain wear as my 2011 Zaskar Sport didn't even have a chain when I bought from the project I volunteer for!
MarinMartin
Marin Fan
OK so first thing that annoys me with ads is when people are selling an expensive bike (like a £700 bike) and they literally describe it as a 'mountain bike'. No details, not even the make of it just expect someone to pay £700 for a bike they don't even know anything about.
The other thing is when they describe a bike as excellent condition and you can literally see the chain rusted solid in the pictures
.
I think the one that got me personally was when I went to look at a Kona back in 2017. It was £200 so not a cheap bike and that would be overpaying but I needed a bike for Mayhem the next week so I was willing to pay over the odds for a decent bike. It was a completely different size to what he said, the bottom bracket was flopping everywhere (apparently there wasn't a problem, it was meant to be like that according to him), the wheels were rusty and to add insult to injury when I said it would be too small for me he told me that I'm stupid because I wouldn't be able to ride a size bigger. Even though all of my other bikes were at least one size bigger. When people think everything they say is gospel and refuse to admit that they're wrong even when someone knows better than them. On the plus side turning that one down meant I picked up a much better Kona in the right size for only £50.
The other thing is when they describe a bike as excellent condition and you can literally see the chain rusted solid in the pictures
. I think the one that got me personally was when I went to look at a Kona back in 2017. It was £200 so not a cheap bike and that would be overpaying but I needed a bike for Mayhem the next week so I was willing to pay over the odds for a decent bike. It was a completely different size to what he said, the bottom bracket was flopping everywhere (apparently there wasn't a problem, it was meant to be like that according to him), the wheels were rusty and to add insult to injury when I said it would be too small for me he told me that I'm stupid because I wouldn't be able to ride a size bigger. Even though all of my other bikes were at least one size bigger. When people think everything they say is gospel and refuse to admit that they're wrong even when someone knows better than them. On the plus side turning that one down meant I picked up a much better Kona in the right size for only £50.
velomentary
Old School Hero
I once sold a Dutch bicycle which I'd restored. Gazelle. The guy turned up in a full funeral outfit - top hat - black cain, the full works - I was so confused as he was so serious. I have a picture of him cycling up the back lane with the bike somewhere so its not a joke. Absolutely mad. He just disappeared with the bike. We still laugh about it now.
Titiritero
Retro Guru
I actually like when the title is rubbish. It gives me a headstart to all other deal hunters. Also wrong spellings, like Treck, Gant, Special, etc that won't show in the alerts of most people...
But I agree that I don't get people selling for a huge asking price with a single terrible picture and nearly no description. "mountain bike. Great condition. 1000€". Would they buy their own stuff if they read their ads?
Uncle Grumpy
Devout Dirtbag
I bought a Giant hardtail off an online auction site which I was planning to rebuild for my daughter. Basically, I wanted the frame, headset, seatpost and wheels. The rest I was planning to toss and replace with better and lighter parts and a modern 1x drivetrain.
I get there, and the bloke was clearly someone who picked stuff up off hard rubbish piles and resold it. His yard was full of junk, as was the trailer and his ute. No big deal, we all have to make a quid and if opportunism is his business model - what do I care. Good for him, his BO and all 6 of his teeth.
Anyway, I get there and he's telling me how good the bike is and how it's one of the best brands in the world. Whatever, Trevor... I'm buying the bike anyway so just get the spiel over with.
Then I noticed the front wheel had a broken spoke taped to another spoke. I said "oh, it has a broken spoke" and he got a bit cranky at me and said "you agreed to buy it, you don't buy it - you're getting negative feedback and I'll have your account terminated... blah blah blah" and while he's ranting I pull the ad up on my phone and calmly say to him "the ad says the bike can be ridden away. It can't. The spoke is broken and the rim is rubbing against the brake - and in all the photos you have turned the wheel around so the spoke is hidden by the fork. Mate, I'm buying it anyway as agreed, but you're still a dodgy pr*ck so cut your attitude."
His tone changed. He breaks down and falls to the ground apologising and begging me not to hit him. Huh? The thought hadn't crossed my mind but if he didn't shut up it was looking like an option.
I gave the poor hapless git the agreed price, knowing I had suitable spare wheelsets anyway.
Bike built up into a nice rider for my daughter using parts I had laying around. Munted wheel still sitting under the house awaiting a new spoke.
I get there, and the bloke was clearly someone who picked stuff up off hard rubbish piles and resold it. His yard was full of junk, as was the trailer and his ute. No big deal, we all have to make a quid and if opportunism is his business model - what do I care. Good for him, his BO and all 6 of his teeth.
Anyway, I get there and he's telling me how good the bike is and how it's one of the best brands in the world. Whatever, Trevor... I'm buying the bike anyway so just get the spiel over with.
Then I noticed the front wheel had a broken spoke taped to another spoke. I said "oh, it has a broken spoke" and he got a bit cranky at me and said "you agreed to buy it, you don't buy it - you're getting negative feedback and I'll have your account terminated... blah blah blah" and while he's ranting I pull the ad up on my phone and calmly say to him "the ad says the bike can be ridden away. It can't. The spoke is broken and the rim is rubbing against the brake - and in all the photos you have turned the wheel around so the spoke is hidden by the fork. Mate, I'm buying it anyway as agreed, but you're still a dodgy pr*ck so cut your attitude."
His tone changed. He breaks down and falls to the ground apologising and begging me not to hit him. Huh? The thought hadn't crossed my mind but if he didn't shut up it was looking like an option.
I gave the poor hapless git the agreed price, knowing I had suitable spare wheelsets anyway.
Bike built up into a nice rider for my daughter using parts I had laying around. Munted wheel still sitting under the house awaiting a new spoke.
