How Not to Sell Your Bike on Craigslist (or Anywhere Else)

Selling an unwanted bicycle has never been easier. Back in the old days, the only way to get rid of one was to either hold a garage sale or post an ad in the local paper. But now it's possible to reach a much broader audience, whether it be through eBay or—even better—Craigslist, where you can post a free ad with multiple photos.

The drawback to Craigslist is this: The person placing the ad can say whatever he or she wants. There is no editing, and apparently no spell check. Anything goes, and often anything does. Which leads to some truly bizarre ads. We scanned the past couple days of bike ads in New York City and found some basic mistakes that should be avoided. So, in order to actually sell that old ride, check out How Not to Sell Your Bike on Craigslist (or Anywhere Else).

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Who needs to know the size of the bike, the manufacturer, the year of production or even what its made of? Granted, some of these things are visible in the photo-and hell, it's just a $40 10-speed, but its still nice to offer something more than "rides good." (And honestly, does it?) Like, is that chain wrapped around the seatpost included in the sale?

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Sure, a straight-on side angle and maybe a couple of detail shots are best, but hell, what fun is that? Take shots from weird angles, maybe shoot it outside on a pile of snow, and-most importantly-accidentally crop off important bits. Forget selling the bike, make more money as an abstract bike photographer.

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What, you think posting photos on Craigslist is free? Wait, it is? OK, fine. But still, we might message for photos just to see whether "Cinelli" is spelled wrong on the actual bike, too. Also, hopefully your friend knows you're selling his bike.

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If it says "HARO" on the seat and on the frame and several other places on the bike, that's probably how it's spelled. But do you, though.

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No amount of exclamation points, emojis, or other symbols will make your department store mountain bike any more desirable.

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Hm, I don't know the size or the manufacturer, but sure, I'll feel free to make an offer! How's $25 sound? Oh wait, I forgot that "it changes gears." Right. OK, $30, but that's my final offer. You're clearly just selling a bike your ex-roommate left, so it's all profit anyway.

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Look, this Felt might very well be worth $2,700, but the seller does an extraordinarily bad job explaining why. That Cosmic wheelset alone is over a grand, and if the frame and fork are both full carbon, that's probably another thousand. But a) it takes someone with prior knowledge to know that, and b) anyone spending that kind of money will not be stoked on the 105 rear derailleur and those sketchy compact cranks. Break it down piece by piece, any would-be buyer is gonna ask anyway.

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For the same price as this Coors Light-branded department store dual suspension bike, you could buy this Wal-Mart Mongoose dual-suspension bike and still have enough money left over to buy four or five 30-packs of actual Coors Light.

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So let's see: No idea what kind of frame it is, and it's been sitting in a storage unit for a year. This does not sound like a $450 bike, even with the Rolls saddle. The three virtually identical photos are a bonus, as is the triple chainring being used on a single speed.

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Here's a hint: When you mention fixed-gear riders' attitudes not once, but twice in your ad, then go on to say something like "[m]any collectors still look for these frames and if I had a way to contact them, I would be selling this bike for $1000 or more," maybe you're the one with the attitude. Also, you do have a way to contact said collectors, it's called eBay. Or, you know, Craigslist.