We've often joked about using eBay for some of the nice parts that
have shown up, but don't want to go there. I did use Craigslist in a
roundabout recently do get rid of a Norco tandem. It ran fine, but
was no great quality and paint-wise a bit ugly. It was listed as a
private sale and said "proceeds go to the re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op".
It was not complete subterfuge, as the bike was not exactly sold from
the shop. My brother had taken the bike from us in an incomplete
state and added parts and got it running, and I had said don't pay us
for it until you've actually got it done (he was doing us a favour
getting that beast out of storage room). He and is wife rode it a
few times and decided a tandem wasn't for them. So instead of having
them return it to our shop we just posted the ad. So theoretically
it was his to sell. ;)
That said, I doubt we would sell bikes straight through local
channels like Craigslist for the reason Simon mentioned. We pretty
well sell every bike we make ready for sale (some are donated
elsewhere), and it was only this ugly, awkward tandem that needed the
extra help. Quality parts stay in our shop, and excess standard
parts either become part of our shipment to Africa, or simply
recycled as metal scrap (and now that our local MEC store takes our
dead tires for recycling our garbage now is mainly old seats and
other plastic bits).
Mark
On 26-Oct-07, at 2:05 PM, Simon Z wrote:
We've talked many times at collective meetings about using
craigslist as we have a huge inventory of used parts and bikes, but every time it
gets shot down.It comes down to the fact that in trying to be an affordable community bike shop, we are priced below the market value for parts, frames and used bikes. If it became widely known via craigslist that we were, speculators would descend on our project and buy up all the decent
stuff for resale online. We'd make more money but it would deprive those who use our shops for repair or bike building, which is our mission. Craigslist is definitely populated by bike speculators, at least in
our town, so we are hesitant to be a presence there.However, for a less established community bike shop looking to
build up capital or promote services, craigslist could be awesome.Simon Yellow Bike Project, Austin, TX
Rich Points wrote:
Hey All, Craigs has been a great way to clear the showroom when it's
overstocked or you need to raise some quick cash. I just posted a couple of our bikes on Craigslist and thought I'd share it with you. Please have a look at it and respond with your comments. How is your collective
using Craigs?
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