Is selling on the classifieds becoming more difficult?

[JuddMan]

I would like some opinion as to whether my feelings/reactions are either to be expected, or if I may be overreacting.

 

Story: contacted a hubber on here as he was selling his bike. Bike was a bit out my price range, so I chatted with him over a few days about that, but he wasn't budging much (absolutely fine in my books, his right to do so). I say to him I will let him know the next day (wanted to see if I could move some money around to make the sale). I contact him the next day as I said to him, saying I've got the money and would like to take the bike from him. He reads the message, no reply. Follow up message the next day after that, same thing, reads the message, no reply. Ad has subsequently been removed from the classifieds here.

 

I feel extremely irritated, and I feel like I should rate him on his profile based on the experience here. However, I don't want to do so willy nilly. Your thoughts? 

[Vetplant]

I would like some opinion as to whether my feelings/reactions are either to be expected, or if I may be overreacting.

 

Story: contacted a hubber on here as he was selling his bike. Bike was a bit out my price range, so I chatted with him over a few days about that, but he wasn't budging much (absolutely fine in my books, his right to do so). I say to him I will let him know the next day (wanted to see if I could move some money around to make the sale). I contact him the next day as I said to him, saying I've got the money and would like to take the bike from him. He reads the message, no reply. Follow up message the next day after that, same thing, reads the message, no reply. Ad has subsequently been removed from the classifieds here.

 

I feel extremely irritated, and I feel like I should rate him on his profile based on the experience here. However, I don't want to do so willy nilly. Your thoughts?

He most probably sold the bike to me someone with cash-in-hand, or had 2nd thoughts. Probably didn't feel like telling you for some reason.

 

Id be hard pressed to give him a bad rating for that. That is not what the ratings are for IMHO.

 

If you guys had closed the deal, then different story. But seems like you just missed out. Sorry bud.

[JuddMan]

Appreciate the feedback. No rating will be given

 

Guess I was just a bit upset/angry. Went from negotiating/talking to no sale and ghosting within 3 days. And my offer was what he willing to accept (R500 less than asking price of the bike) 

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

My opinion, he sold the bike, no obligation to respond and more so since he removed the ad.

I understand your feelings but it would be more of a courtesy for him to give feedback, rather than a necessity. You have more cash now, so a bigger pool of bikes to choose from.

[Dexter-morgan]

I have recently sold some stuff for a friend and I under priced all the items, all of them went quick, got lots of responses even while sales were going through.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I have recently sold some stuff for a friend and I under priced all the items, all of them went quick, got lots of responses even while sales were going through.

 

That's the trick, it is used. It should be priced accordingly.

[Rigardt@Scott]

That's the trick, it is used. It should be priced accordingly.

 Yup.

 

Can't say I struggle anything on the classifieds - but I price my items right. I think a good starting point is that no second hand item should ever be priced at higher than 60% of the new price. Start there and adjust down based on condition/use.

 

The only item I have struggled to sell was a bike I was hesitant to let go recently. I advertised for what it was worth to me - which was a bit more than I would have paid for it second hand, and it sat. So long story short, if you want to sell something - price it for the amount you'd pay for it 2nd hand if you were buying, not what it is worth to you.

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Talking about pricing...

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/road-bike-frames/416480/de-rosa-king-3-full-carbon-frame-and-fork

[thebob]

Second time in a couple months this has happened. Sent an enquiry to a seller with an item that has been listed for several months. Sent the message at 10:00 with my details. It's now past 20:00 and the seller has been online since. Zero response. People say it's difficult to sell? IMO quite a few sellers are just so lazy they can't be bothered to make a deal happen. A little effort and good communication and most deals can be concluded quickly

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Second time in a couple months this has happened. Sent an enquiry to a seller with an item that has been listed for several months. Sent the message at 10:00 with my details. It's now past 20:00 and the seller has been online since. Zero response. People say it's difficult to sell? IMO quite a few sellers are just so lazy they can't be bothered to make a deal happen. A little effort and good communication and most deals can be concluded quickly

 

I gave someone a 2 star rating yesterday after having the same experience.

Ad says call/whatsapp so I mailed using the send message button. I then whatsapped. No response, so 2 days later I called, no answer.

An hour later the ad gets removed.

I am sorry, we don't need people like that in this community.

Decency goes a long way in life......

[Shebeen]

........

 

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/hardtail-mountain-bikes/409133/specialized-s-works-hard-tail-full-carbon

was R12k the original price or has it been shrunk?

I'm guessing this is about a 2008/2009 model,

it must be the most expensive vbrake bilke listed here since about 2014

 

alu stumpy in 2009 was probably about R16k new, so guessing carbon xtr version maybe R26k

I bought a rockhopper in '08 for about R7k and it came with Vees

[CadenceCycles]

I think it’s become more difficult, as people feel the economic economic pinch of what’s job losses etc they’re all looking for the deal of the century. So in my opinion you have to price yourself properly and rather take a smaller profit.

[Baracuda]

I have sold a bike and parts recently in a quick and efficient manner using this site. They were reasonably priced and went quickly.

I would advise many to have a look at the new price of bikes, especially the price on lockdown sales, old stock sales and overseas online shops (CRC etc). These guys trying to sell 4-5 year old carbon bikes for 70-80% of the new price can forget it. Likewise, your mtb parts you have "only done two Epics on" are not worth 75% of the new price. Perhaps 30%,

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I get both you, I really do

 

I've had experiences like that on here more than a hundred times and it sucks but I just try to ignore and move on

 

BUT

 

Isn't the unspoken rule that a transaction has to happen before you can rate someone?

 

Communication, I feel, is a key part of any transaction.

If my rating will help someone to not waste their time in the future then that is a positive for me.

While waiting you may pass on other bikes, and in doing so lose out on those bikes too.

I just feel I would want to know before hand that there is a good chance that I might be wasting my time.

The rating system is for specific sales BUT I believe it is also vouching for the person involved.

[Kalahari Vegmot]

was R12k the original price or has it been shrunk?

I'm guessing this is about a 2008/2009 model,

it must be the most expensive vbrake bilke listed here since about 2014

 

alu stumpy in 2009 was probably about R16k new, so guessing carbon xtr version maybe R26k

I bought a rockhopper in '08 for about R7k and it came with Vees

I think the original price was around the 20K mark...

[Hairy]

I think the original price was around the 20K mark...

even at 12k that is a very steep price for a old 26'er hardtail with a 3x drive train, V-Brakes and even worse, a terrible logic shock