Trying to outfit a couple bikes I bought a couple used cranksets off eBay. In the first one the seller said "there was lots of good miles left." Maybe he meant on the cranks. The chainrings are worn beyond where any reasonable person would consider using them. New rings will bring the cost over a new set. On the second crankset the crank/BB attachment bolts are missing. I'm awaiting the seller's response now. After this experience I doubt I would ever buy "used" gear again. Certainly not wear items.

Danny

IMHO, there are some things that you should never count on buying used. Chain rings, cassettes and shifter cables are few that pop into mind. In other words, if someone is selling a pair of cranks with a chain ring, I would consider the chain ring as a freebie. I sure wouldn't factor into the cost of the cranks.

Also, make sure to ask for and get detailed pictures of everything. If they can't/won't provide them, I would keep searching

Just my $.02

 

Trying to outfit a couple bikes I bought a couple used cranksets off eBay. In the first one the seller said "there was lots of good miles left." Maybe he meant on the cranks. The chainrings are worn beyond where any reasonable person would consider using them. New rings will bring the cost over a new set. On the second crankset the crank/BB attachment bolts are missing. I'm awaiting the seller's response now. After this experience I doubt I would ever buy "used" gear again. Certainly not wear items.

Danny

Used items are not always a bad buy, but as you found out the hard way - have to be very careful of what you are getting.

I've bought some parts that were a bit substandard, and had some parts that FAR exceeded my expectations. I've gotten better at asking questions on what I am looking for and being patient if the right picture or answer isn't there.

I too am leery of buying wear items on E-Bay. If I'm looking at Cranks I'll wait for NOS, or new bike take offs, or something similar. Not perfect by any means, but gives me a starting point to know what to expect. The things I WON'T buy off E-Bay - Helmets, Shoes, Chains, Cassettes (unless new), Chain Rings (Same as cassettes), and tires (again same as cassettes and rings).

For the first set of cranks... check e-bay again, often there are chainring sets that go up that are new, just not the latest stuff. Unless you need all of Shimano's shifting pins, they might work for you. Or just check the mail order blow-outs - often that's the supply for a bunch of those E-Bay sellers.

Good luck on those cranks - hope the seller makes everything ok.

JmZ

 

You really have to look at the pictures good. I recently purchased a wheelset from a guy I know on ebay. Even though it came with a cassette, I didnt figure it would necessarily be any good, so I considered it a freebie. Sure enough, it was pretty much wore out and caused my chain to skip, but at least I got a great deal on the wheels which were in nice shape. I will end up using the cassette to make a single speed spacer conversion kit when I finally get all my parts to build up a singlespeed.

 

I've bought and sold a lot of bike and misc. stuff on ebay from frames & forks to seat collars. The only things I have been less than happy with are the non bike things I didn't research fully.

To make sure you don't get taken you have to ask the right questions and request pics showing enough detail to determine if the part is crap or not. If the seller is legit he shouldn't mind the questions and pics when auctioning "used" parts. If they give you attitude or don't take the pics you want like JmZ said be patient and pass. I've taken as many as 10-12 pics of fork stanchions for potential buyers.

Good deals are getting harder to find on ebay. I've watched a lot of items get bid above full retail prices. The latest was a used but in new condition saddle. It got bid up higher than a new one from jenson would cost with 2nd day shipping.

That reminds me, also watch the shipping and handling fees. A lot of sellers are making some serious money with S&H fees. I find the best deals now from people that aren't good spellers.

 

cranks often don't come with crank bolts anyways, even when new. People seem to take it for granted what is included in an auction of used parts.

 

True. To get a good deal on ebay, you need to find a seller with bad spelling, lousy pictures, and questionable feedback. Then you have to pray.

Also, try some investigation. I saw a guy with good feedback selling a boxxer 'as is' with very little descriptive information - all he said was he took it off a bike he bought. And he didn't answer my questions. Well I looked at his feedback and found a recent transaction where he bought a DH bike. I looked at the pictures of the bike and there was the mystery Boxxer. So I emailed the seller of that bike and he answered my questions about the fork. If the fork fit my needs, I could have gotten a very good deal.

 

Did the seller...

Did the seller say that crank bolts were included in the auction? Were they part of the pictures he provided (did he provide picts?). The thing with eBay is that if you have questions then "ask the seller". This also allows you to gauge how responsive they will be if you win the auction.

 

Yep

cranks often don't come with crank bolts anyways, even when new. People seem to take it for granted what is included in an auction of used parts.

they usually come with the BB, not the cranks

YR

 

Discount houses

Trying to outfit a couple bikes I bought a couple used cranksets off eBay. In the first one the seller said "there was lots of good miles left." Maybe he meant on the cranks. The chainrings are worn beyond where any reasonable person would consider using them. New rings will bring the cost over a new set. On the second crankset the crank/BB attachment bolts are missing. I'm awaiting the seller's response now. After this experience I doubt I would ever buy "used" gear again. Certainly not wear items.

Danny

Pimpbot and Aosty put me on to ediscount. Its all new and cheap.

 

Trying to outfit a couple bikes I bought a couple used cranksets off eBay. In the first one the seller said "there was lots of good miles left." Maybe he meant on the cranks. The chainrings are worn beyond where any reasonable person would consider using them. New rings will bring the cost over a new set. On the second crankset the crank/BB attachment bolts are missing. I'm awaiting the seller's response now. After this experience I doubt I would ever buy "used" gear again. Certainly not wear items.

Danny

in the last few years i have spent a over couple thousand bucks on bike parts on e-bay and have had only 2 bad experiences. one of them was my fault for assuming i was getting something i was not. and the other was very misleading information, (new take offs that were clearly only taken off for new cranks). i have had very good luck and will often reccommend my friends to bargain search on e-bay for back up parts and all out replacements.

never assume you are getting something, and always ask lots of questions. i never bid on something with no pic unless it is new in box. and i often ask for better pics. i usually have good luck because i am ALWAYS lurking for parts even if i don't need them. and if the deal is good enough, i snatch them up.

 

I've never got bolts with BBs. I have got them with cranksets.

they usually come with the BB, not the cranks

YR

Including the crankset I was buying off eBay. In fact, I bought two of the same cranksets. One came witht the bolts. The other did not.

All my experience in the past has been with Shimano and the newer IBIS cranksets. However, even the Shimano square taper BB I recently bought (UN-72) did not come with bolts.

Danny

 

Including the crankset I was buying off eBay. In fact, I bought two of the same cranksets. One came witht the bolts. The other did not.

All my experience in the past has been with Shimano and the newer IBIS cranksets. However, even the Shimano square taper BB I recently bought (UN-72) did not come with bolts.

Danny

most of us also probably have about 10 or so of them laying around

 

True. To get a good deal on ebay, you need to find a seller with bad spelling, lousy pictures, and questionable feedback. Then you have to pray.

I don't think that's anywhere near true. actually, i'd say you're flat out wrong. the key is finding someone with good feedback (and there are lots of us out there). I've never had a bad experience buying or selling on eBay. You just have to be careful about what you buy. want more pictures? more description? email the seller. if they don't respond or they tell you to refer to the ad, then don't buy from them. it's that simple. just because something is cheap doesn't make it a good deal. people treat eBay auctions as if they had no choice but to bid because the item was at a decent price. don't get me wrong, there's a lot of CRAP on ebay, but as a buyer it's your job to weed through the crap.

 

Keep thinking that,

True. To get a good deal on ebay, you need to find a seller with bad spelling, lousy pictures, and questionable feedback. Then you have to pray.

I'm glad you don't know what I mean. Maybe I can continue to get some parts without them being bid over retail. Some of the best deals I've ever got were from sellers that couldn't spell.

 

Woohoo, I got lucky, my new Alivio cranks came with new bolts. I tell you what sucks is when you do need a new set of bolts and the bike shop tried to charge $6 for them, what a joke.

 

Keep thinking that,

True. To get a good deal on ebay, you need to find a seller with bad spelling, lousy pictures, and questionable feedback. Then you have to pray.

I'm glad you don't know what I mean. Maybe I can continue to get some parts without them being bid over retail. Some of the best deals I've ever got were from sellers that couldn't spell.

yo, i know exactly what you mean-
last summer i got an '01marzocchi Z1 because it was listed as (this part has been edited since the person i was responding to has seen it already) almost new for 85 bucks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Dude edit that $hit out, don't let everybody know. BTW I just got a new D3.1 rim. for $29 Same thing as you described and I was the only bidder

 

A Key thing about buying used on EBay is to buy from a reputable seller..review feed

review their feedback. If there pictures are really bad, it is usually for a reason (to hide something). Good auctions will show a few detailed pictures (supersized is a must on more expensive and used items), good description, and the offer to answer and send additional photos is requested.

In fact here are a few excellent auctions I came across to review

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3657101279&category=22679&sspagename=STRK:MESSE:IT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3655216957&category=22679&sspagename=STRK:MESUS:IT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3657098045&category=58082&sspagename=STRK:MESSE:IT&rd=1

 

Here you go!

On the second crankset the crank/BB attachment bolts are missing.

Danny

Here you go!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3657829882&category=56195

 

In fact here are a few excellent auctions I came across to review

But you spelled everything correctly??? Do you have a frame shrinker for that Spicer?? Maybe I could start a collection!....lol

FF

 

i got scammed on eBay

by an "honest" con man - 4yr history only 1 negative feedback. ordered a pair of north face xcr ski pants against my better judgement but figured with excellent feedback it should be a safe transaction. seller contacted me immediately and i paid thru paypal. received pants priority mail in three days - the only problem was the quality of the pants were so bad they wouldn't fool anyone(metal zippers,poor quality stitching,no logo on the snaps,etc) i contacted the seller, fully expecting this to become an issue, and he refunded the full amount including what i paid for shipping and handling - the only thing this lesson cost me was $5.20 to ship the item back.

what i don't understand is how this seller manages to keep his feedback rating so high. i guess alot of people are either fooled by the quality or too embarrassed or busy to ask for a refund?

 

People are afraid to give negative feedback lest they get retailiatory feedback back.

by an "honest" con man - 4yr history only 1 negative feedback. ordered a pair of north face xcr ski pants against my better judgement but figured with excellent feedback it should be a safe transaction. seller contacted me immediately and i paid thru paypal. received pants priority mail in three days - the only problem was the quality of the pants were so bad they wouldn't fool anyone(metal zippers,poor quality stitching,no logo on the snaps,etc) i contacted the seller, fully expecting this to become an issue, and he refunded the full amount including what i paid for shipping and handling - the only thing this lesson cost me was $5.20 to ship the item back.

what i don't understand is how this seller manages to keep his feedback rating so high. i guess alot of people are either fooled by the quality or too embarrassed or busy to ask for a refund?

The only negative feedback I've ever got was from someone I gave negative feedback to when he cheated me. He sent me a RC car that would not run. On the initial emails he seemed reasonable, like he would actually do something. But as soon as I pressed for any resolution at all he started getting defensive and then he said I must have broken it. I only gave him bad feedback after he got verbally abusive. He posted feedback on for me that said "RIPOFF, AVOID, RIPOFF, AVOID." The only consolation is eBay shows that I was the purchaser, but it is still a negative on my record.

 

About the whole eBay feedback - my problem is when I buy something and pay for it right away with Paypal - I think I've lived up to my end of the sale... why the heck do some sellers wait for you to receive your goods AND post feedback for them BEFORE they post your feedback. That just drives me mad! I sell more than I buy on Ebay and as soon as the person pays for an item - I figure they did their part - so I post feedback for them before they receive the item (usually same day I ship it). So the sellers that post feedback "after you receive the item and post their feedback" drive me insane. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of the feedback... the buyer will fearfully post positive feedback - just so they can get positive feedback returned to them....


Ok - I'm off my horse now....
FF

 

Of the 3 used expensive bike parts I have bought off of Ebay, all 3 were misrepresented and completely at the end of their useful lives, these were from 3 different people, and as it turned out the prices for the items new weren't that much more and at least you get a warranty.

 

Feedback hostage...

why the heck do some sellers wait for you to receive your goods AND post feedback for them BEFORE they post your feedback.

That's feedback hostage taking. They do it because they're either sick of lazy buyers not leaving any feedback (I've left a total of 130 feedbacks but only received 116) or because they're dishonest and/or leery of buyers leaving negative feedback.

It pisses me off too. One more good reason to have separate buyer and seller accounts (I don't, but I should).