Nine tips (and one random thought) for Craigslist bliss....

[MichiganMan]

Some tips, tricks, rants, and raves for selling bikes on Craigslist…

• Tip #1 – listen to Jules:  "English, mother******, do you speak it?"

To elaborate:  You have a bike for sale, not for sell.  “You” is spelled with 3 letters.  Similarly, you should practice “please” “for” “thanks” etc.  When in doubt, repeat this to yourself:  Classified ads are not text messages, classified ads are not text messages…

• Tip #2 – It is always wise to include pertinent information about the bike.  Potential buyers may well be dazzled by your command of “leet speak,” your opinion of how “awesum” your bike is, or why you are selling your bit of two-wheeled nirvana.  However, they just might want to know the make, model, and mileage of the bike, as well as little things like whether you have any service history, or where the bike is located.

Custom Katana - $2700 (eastpointe)
Must go ASAP, this is a 600cc custom pipe and paint with strobe lights. Perfect for a rookie rider. Call at 313-477-4957 ask 4 Brian. 2700 or B.O.

• Tip #3 - Including contact information is likewise encouraged.
• Tip #4 - Practice math, specifically this equation:  X ≠ Y, where X = what you owe and Y = your sales price.  This equation is true for 95% of bikes for sale.  Yours is almost certainly not in the other 5%.  Note that this equation is similarly applicable to RV’s, cars, and boats (as I can personally attest)
• Tip #5 - Corollary to the above equation:  Rare ≠ Desirable in many cases.  Many bikes are “rare” because not many were produced.  There are usually reasons for this…
• Tip #6 - www.kbb.com and www.nadaguides.com are your friends.  Pricing your bike 50% above market value will not typically result in a large response.  Note:  this strategy may be useful if you are selling due to a request/demand by the S.O.  “Gee honey, I’ve had it for sale for 2 months now, but no takers.  Must be the economy.  I guess I’ll just have to keep it for now.”
• Tip #7 - Post pictures.  Now.  Telling me that “pics will be added soon” will not get me hitting refresh just waiting for that wonderful occurrence.
• Tip #8 –

(Addendum to #7)  When you do post pictures, take 30 seconds to wipe the dust off the bike.  Trust me, nothing says “this bike is my baby!” like a shot of a bike stuffed away in a junk-filled garage, with a nice half-inch of dust to really show you care.

• Tip #9 - I think it is great that you spent umpteen gazillion dollars on “upgrades.”  It does not, however, make your bike worth umpteen gazillion dollars more than similar models.  Similarly, that custom neon fuscia/lime green candy-flake paint job with the glow-in-the-dark Xtreme skull graphics might cock your six-shooter, but don’t believe it will bring the $4K you spent on it.
• Random thought - WTF are “original miles?”  Are they really that much better than aftermarket miles?  Are imported miles only equal to .62 of a regular old domestic mile?  Enquiring minds want to know…

Anyone else have some CL thoughts?

[kevin_stevens]

Actually it can take several hours for rosy-fingered Dawn to wipe the dusk off the bike.  

KeS

[MichiganMan]

Actually it can take several hours for rosy-fingered Dawn to wipe the dusk off the bike.  

KeS

  Doh!  While I would like to say that was a completely planned and very subtle swipe at the ads on CL, I can't in good conscience do so.  I plead guilty to fat fingers!

[county]

I think you are preaching to the choir.  You need to post this on all the craigslists all over the country.  On here we make fun of the ads.

[falconati]

I actually prefer it when I get an ad that an idiot made.  It lets me know not to buy the motorcycle.

[MichiganMan]

I hear ya - I followed up on one ad, the guy printed (paraphrasing) "[manufacturer] for sale, you won't find a better one"

No model, no price, no mileage, nothing.  I sent the guy an e-mail politely suggesting that he might want to ad such pertinent details, his reply was that he was keeping the scammers away by not putting that sort of thing in his ad.  And he still didn't provide any of the info I asked for...  

I posted this less as a set of instructions and more as something to laugh at.  Didn't want to clutter up the CL find of the day thread, as that seemed to me to be more geared toward specific ads, some of which were pretty cool bikes.

[roadthing]

I learned that there are multiple ways to spell "helmet":
                                                                                   helmit
                                                                                   helment
                                                                                   helmut

Craigslist is a repository of "Only worn once" (read: rashed out shit) gear, and truly abused moto-abortions. It is a place where drooling mouth-breathers try and get one over on each other. I will admit, sometimes there are good people selling absolute gems. Sadly, the good stuff is few and far between.

[rgbeard]

Why on Earth do you want to educate these unwashed masses?  

They exist for our amusement.    

(this unwashed person edited to correct a missing letter.)

[roadthing]

Why on Earth do you want to educate these unwashed masses?  

The exist for our amusement.    

EXCELLENT point! I didn't look at it that way.  

[chesthing]

Those are all great tips. Here are a few for CL buyers.

1. Look up NADA value before you throw a dipshit offer 30%+ less than sellers asking price (which is right around NADA). Not all CL sellers are desperate for rent money.

2. Sight unseen low-ball offers via email make you look like a dipshit (see above).

3. If you are curious how a bike rides, find a friend/acquaintance who can let you ride his. DON'T pose as a serious buyer just to get a free ride. If you do this you are (you guessed it) a major dipshit.

4. Don't call asking if the seller would trade for a pickup truck or other such pos. If you don't have cash don't call - email is a more appropriate waste of both of your time.

[JimWilliamson]

When selling - list only a phone number (no e-mail contact info).

It, IME, dramatically lowers the worthless, time consuming "what color is the inside of the brake lens" questions.

[kniepm]

Now let's get out there and flag some ads!!

Some tips, tricks, rants, and raves for selling bikes on Craigslist…

• Tip #1 – listen to Jules:  "English, mother******, do you speak it?"

To elaborate:  You have a bike for sale, not for sell.  “You” is spelled with 3 letters.  Similarly, you should practice “please” “for” “thanks” etc.  When in doubt, repeat this to yourself:  Classified ads are not text messages, classified ads are not text messages…

• Tip #2 – It is always wise to include pertinent information about the bike.  Potential buyers may well be dazzled by your command of “leet speak,” your opinion of how “awesum” your bike is, or why you are selling your bit of two-wheeled nirvana.  However, they just might want to know the make, model, and mileage of the bike, as well as little things like whether you have any service history, or where the bike is located.
• Tip #3 - Including contact information is likewise encouraged.
• Tip #4 - Practice math, specifically this equation:  X ≠ Y, where X = what you owe and Y = your sales price.  This equation is true for 95% of bikes for sale.  Yours is almost certainly not in the other 5%.  Note that this equation is similarly applicable to RV’s, cars, and boats (as I can personally attest)
• Tip #5 - Corollary to the above equation:  Rare ≠ Desirable in many cases.  Many bikes are “rare” because not many were produced.  There are usually reasons for this…
• Tip #6 - www.kbb.com and www.nadaguides.com are your friends.  Pricing your bike 50% above market value will not typically result in a large response.  Note:  this strategy may be useful if you are selling due to a request/demand by the S.O.  “Gee honey, I’ve had it for sale for 2 months now, but no takers.  Must be the economy.  I guess I’ll just have to keep it for now.”
• Tip #7 - Post pictures.  Now.  Telling me that “pics will be added soon” will not get me hitting refresh just waiting for that wonderful occurrence.
• Tip #8 –

(Addendum to #7)  When you do post pictures, take 30 seconds to wipe the dust off the bike.  Trust me, nothing says “this bike is my baby!” like a shot of a bike stuffed away in a junk-filled garage, with a nice half-inch of dust to really show you care.

• Tip #9 - I think it is great that you spent umpteen gazillion dollars on “upgrades.”  It does not, however, make your bike worth umpteen gazillion dollars more than similar models.  Similarly, that custom neon fuscia/lime green candy-flake paint job with the glow-in-the-dark Xtreme skull graphics might cock your six-shooter, but don’t believe it will bring the $4K you spent on it.
• Random thought - WTF are “original miles?”  Are they really that much better than aftermarket miles?  Are imported miles only equal to .62 of a regular old domestic mile?  Enquiring minds want to know…

Anyone else have some CL thoughts?

[MichiganMan]

Now let's get out there and flag some ads!!

Gah!  Life's too short to even begin the effort, especially now that the weather's starting to break.  Of course, in mid-January....

CL can certainly be some cheap amusement.  The "Best of..." section has some truly funny stuff, some of which is actually intentional.

[zer0netgain]

The point of "original miles" is that the miles were put on by the current owner.  Perhaps it should be worded more accurately.

It's also attesting that the miles on the odometer are correct and not rolled back or a replacement odometer.

[chornbe]

• Random thought - WTF are “original miles?”  Are they really that much better than aftermarket miles?  Are imported miles only equal to .62 of a regular old domestic mile?  Enquiring minds want to know…

This one struck me as very amusing.  

[MichiganMan]

This one struck me as very amusing.  

Sometimes you get "actual" miles - not to be confused with "virtual" miles, which are the ones put on when you're sitting on the bike in the garage and making motor sounds.

[LitzerSki]

Anyone else have some CL thoughts?

Yeah..."always garage kept" and/or "never ridden in the rain"

I prefer my bikes not to still smell like the pussy who owned it before me.

[Mastros2]

To add to #7: If you think you added enough pictures, put 10 more in.  No cell phone pictures but decent digital pictures uploaded to a sharing site (photobucket, etc) so I can see detail.  Photobucket is free, so is craigslist.  Abuse it!  Give me everything!  Pet peeve #1

Honesty wins points.  If it has rash, take a picture and explain.  The one thing I hate is going to look at a "mint" bike only to find its f-ed up in some way.  The bike does not have to be mint for me to buy it but now I have to do some extra research.  Pet peeve #2

#3 comment: In the fall, I was shopping for a winter car.  I must have e-mailed 10 owners. 1-2 responded. I believe that all 10 listed an e-mail address in their ad as well.  I am usually on the internet all hours of the day. I am not going to call all hours of the day.  I would rather shoot an e-mail, ask a few basic questions and set up an appointment to see the vehicle.  If you put an e-mail address as a contact point, RESPOND!!!  Pet peeve #3

Otherwise, I like it!  I laughed at some of the tips!  Thanks! Wow, got that off my chest.  I feel better now. Like counseling I guess!  

[Bender]

I just sold a bike this week on craigslist.....  

Of the first 10 calls.... the first 3 questions were..

1...... is there anything wrong with it ??  
 add said serviced ready to ride...

2....... How fast is it ???
 add said it was a 600 Seca II...

3..... will it pop a wheelie ??
 again... add said it was a Seca II  

But hey.... I did sell it for $300 more than KBB said it was worth.  

[kendenton]

I just sold a bike this week on craigslist.....  

Of the first 10 calls.... the first 3 questions were..

1...... is there anything wrong with it ??  
 add said serviced ready to ride...

2....... How fast is it ???
 add said it was a 600 Seca II...

3..... will it pop a wheelie ??
 again... add said it was a Seca II  

But hey.... I did sell it for $300 more than KBB said it was worth.  

It's AD, not ADD