“Best practices” for selling bicycles online without getting hoodwinked?

[meti...@gmail.com]

I responded to a FB query for a blue, 52cm Clem Smith Jr. L  on the “Rivendell Bicycles BUY/SELL/TRADE” page. I have that very bike, and  now that I have a Platypus, I’m willing to sell my Clem. 

The potential buyer and I have had a flurry of FB messenger exchanges about price, etc, today, and we’ve reached an agreeable price. Now comes the tricky part (for me): 

My bike shop will disassemble the bike and box it. I know what they’ll charge for that.

 But I don’t know the best way to have it shipped or how to figure the price for shipping…and if the buyer’s gonna pay the shipping, how does that work? Does he choose the carrier or do I?

I’m cautious about all of this…I don’t know how the buyer and I can trust one another…there have been some ever-so-slight oddities in our message exchanges that make me a tad uneasy. I don’t care at all about the oddities IF the buyer pays the bill before I send him the bike—is that the customary order to these transactions?

I’m pretty comfortable selling what I think are higher-ticket items when the transaction occurs face to face, but I’m not at all sure of the process online when it also includes third parties like shipping companies.

So, I’m asking for direction from  this group, please (and the man I’m dealing with doesn’t seem to be a member here). 

Liz in Cincinnati 

(And if this deal falls through let it be known that, I’m open to selling my pretty Clem) 

[Eric Daume]

My experience selling is that I (as the seller) choose the carrier and get a shipping cost. The buyer pays that along with the bike price before I send anything out. And use Paypal goods and services, not friends and family--buyers can retract F&F money after it's sent.

Pirate Ship is my current go-to for the best shipping rates.

Eric

Plain City, OH

who would be interested in that Clem if only it were a 59cm

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[meti...@gmail.com]

THANK YOU, ERIC! And Plain City is close enough to meet half way for a ride together! 

[Julian Westerhout]

Liz, 

Have you talked to the buyer via phone yet? Given the oddities you've mentioned I'd encourage you to do so -- I think it helps establish bona fides -- if something feels off after the phone call then I'd cancel the sale. You might also do a search of the buyer's name and address online, as well as looking in depth at their FB profile -- again, if something feels off I'd cancel the sale. 

I've bought and sold a number of bikes at a distance -- and as both a buyer and seller I do my best to get a good feel for whom I am dealing with. In my experience the phone call is really worthwhile. I have cancelled at least one sale and one purchase due to being a bit uncomfortable -- no regrets. 

Good luck! 

Julian Westerhout

Bloomington, IL 

[DavidP]

Liz - Yes, it's customary for the buyer to pay in full before shipment. As the seller it's good for you to know the total costs (including packing, shipping, etc.) so that buyer only needs to send one total payment. It stinks to have to send multiple payments.

Once payment is received, promptly arrange shipping and send the buyer the tracking info so they now the bike is on the way. As Eric said you can choose the carrier (many use BikeFlights), just make sure you get enough insurance coverage when shipping. If something major goes wrong with shipping (bike is totaled or goes missing), the buyer should get a full refund from you and it's on you as a seller deal with recovering what you can from shipping insurance. Minor shipping damaage can be negotiated.

Julian's suggestion of a phone conversation is a good one.

Best with your sale!

-Dave

[meti...@gmail.com]

Julian, I haven’t yet spoken to the buyer, and I plan to do that before this goes any further. Today was simply a ZOO with Thanksgiving tomorrow, so I was juggling his messages with cooking pies, etc. :) I I HAVE searched for him online and have found him located in the town in which he tells me he lives. I have an address because of my google search, but he has a very limited FB presence. His only (three)  posts on the Rivendell page where I found his query all occurred within the past two weeks…one query for a 50cm Rosco, and another for a Tosco or a Bosco bar. He joined that page only three weeks ago. 

Also, he asked for an invoice. Is that customary?

On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 9:17:01 PM UTC-5 Julian Westerhout wrote:

[meti...@gmail.com]

David, thank you for contributing more detail…I really appreciate it. I have one question, though…logistically, to figure shipping costs, I need to know the size and weight of the box I’ll be shipping. But I can’t get those numbers until the bike and the accessories are packed, right? So I have to trust this enough to break the bike down and pack it before I get paid. And if it falls through at that point, I’ve got a small mess on my hands, don’t I?

[D D]

Liz, 

Check out BikeFlights.   https://www.bikeflights.com/

You drop the bike off at a reputable bike shop and inform the buyer.  You can of course instruct the bike shop not to send the bike until they get approval from you, once you have the funds.  The buyer benefits by being able to call a shop and see if the bike is really there.  

Then have the buyer arrange shipping via BikeFlights from the shop. This leaves it up to the buyer to invest as much as they are comfortable with in insurance or to deal with the consequences if they don’t. 

The local bike shop is acting like the broker here. They get the business of packing and hopefully you come back for more. 

I’d also consider a phone call with the buyer if you have any doubts about their validity. 

Good luck with the sale, 

Dustin in VA

On Nov 27, 2024, at 9:12 PM, meti...@gmail.com <meti...@gmail.com> wrote:

THANK YOU, ERIC! And Plain City is close enough to meet half way for a ride together! 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/53357b47-f311-46bb-9391-1b0599d3b260n%40googlegroups.com.

[meti...@gmail.com]

That makes SO MUCH SENSE, Dustin! I love my bike-shop family, and they seem to love me back…we take good care of one another (they mostly deal in high-end carbon fiber and titanium, so when my big ol’ steel Rivendell’s roll in, they all laugh.)

The buyer says he’s located a shipping outfit that’ll handle the shipping for $100, which strikes me as questionable. He seemed to balk at paying much for shipping, so I don’t know that I can encourage BikeFlights, but if/when I speak with him by phone, I’ll strongly suggest that. 

[Joe Bernard]

He's not getting that bike shipped for $100; it's a long, heavy Rivendell and even the carbon wonders cost more than that to ship these days. What I do is tell the buyer how much shipping will be, period. If they don't want to pay it I sell my bike to somebody else. 

[Don Lee]

Liz, I suggest completing the transaction with the buyer without arranging shipping. Afterward, have the buyer contact the shop directly to handle shipping.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 27, 2024, at 9:03 PM, meti...@gmail.com <meti...@gmail.com> wrote:

I responded to a FB query for a blue, 52cm Clem Smith Jr. L  on the “Rivendell Bicycles BUY/SELL/TRADE” page. I have that very bike, and  now that I have a Platypus, I’m willing to sell my Clem. 

[meti...@gmail.com]

Joe, right…I mean, it’s one thing to say he THINKS he can get it shipped for $100, and another thing to report that he’s FOUND a shipper to handle it for $100…and without identifying the shipping company  (and only  minutes of my giving him that responsibility)…this was one of those red flags. 

Having now paused, listened to my intuition, and having asked this group for guidance, I’m prepared to break up with my buyer. Next step is to speak with him. I’ll certainly keep you all posted about how it plays out, but no matter what occurs, I’m REALLY grateful for your suggestions! 

Happy Thanksgiving, all. 

Liz

[meti...@gmail.com]

I’m delighted to report that the Clem sale that led me to post here a few days ago has ended successfully. The buyer (who IS a member of this group after all and who read the thread with some amusement as it all unfolded) and I reached a very fine conclusion. I’ve been paid, and the Clem is in the hands of my LBS being packed for shipment later this week. 

I’m happy to say that I really like the buyer and am very very pleased that it all went so smoothly and with such good faith.

Thanks to all of you for guiding me when I got lost in the weeds. :)

Liz in Cincinnati