A different type of Technical !!!!! Know How!!!

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi to you all out there. Now before I commence - I hope that I am not upsetting anyone on this forum by my comments/observations.

Just recently I have noticed the number of sellers on E'bay that advertise their items with absolutely no hint of a clue as to what they are about - other than the minimum description which is fairly obvious by the fact that there is at-least one image of the listing.

Stems advertised without essential details for decision making.
Saddles without the width for knowing whether they are wide enough or narrow enough for 'Sit-bone support.
The biggest pain in the arse :-- cassettes without the tooth count on the individual sprockets.
Frames with either no size at-all or clearly and totally the wrong sizes.
Brake callipers without the minimum/maximum drop range.
Chain-rings without the BCD or BCC dimensions.
Seat posts without the diameter and length of post disclosed.

There are a growing number of individuals that trawl the 'Booties' and cycle jumbles looking for 'Big Names and recognisable kit and even whole bikes with questionable origins and then E'bay it without any knowledge of what they are selling other than the strong possibility of turning it around for a few bob.

Amen.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I think it is all sales sites, some folk just do not get the point. I went to garage sale over the weekend. The fellow had nice bicycles, but seemed unaware that circumstances affect price. I find it hard to believe people think they can charge collector mint price for some of what one sees.

 

[slowmotion]

It works both ways. Some people pick up a Rembrandt for £15 in an Oxfam shop.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Can't argue that, my current panniers came from a mission store. Most places like that are not much good for bikes, but the accessories can be had for a song. Pawnshops are more my place to look for the whole bicycle, because not only do they know the eBay value, but also what the local market will bear. You cannot charge Boston prices for a bicycle located in Dog Walk, Illinois.

 

[screenman]

So can you not just ask them the questions you want answered? Not everyone is a fan of your hobby.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

So can you not just ask them the questions you want answered? Not everyone is a fan of your hobby.

Hi screenman. Yes- that is what I have found myself continually have to do. Asking questions because of the most basic points that would sell an item simply because they have not been provided and in some cases never even considered that they were a necessary piece of detail.
Typically :- A cycle frame with no size given or on occasions an obviously - totally incorrect one.
A cassette with absolutely no reference to the sprocket range other than the likes of 13-28.
A front dérailleur with no band/clamp dimension.
A rear dérailleur with no range capacity or even whether it is a short,medium or long cage and often shown in such a crappy way that even guess work is out.
Brake callipers with no measured drop-range indicated - never mind stating short,medium or long drop.


PS. Are you the same screenman from CT Forum?

 

[winjim]

I have no idea of the tooth count of the sprockets in my cassette beyond the largest and smallest.

If you object to the way the product is advertised then don't buy it! If you're concerned that people are trawling the jumble sales and taking the best stuff then get up earlier in the morning!

Free market economy, innit.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

I have no idea of the tooth count of the sprockets in my cassette beyond the largest and smallest.

If you object to the way the product is advertised then don't buy it! If you're concerned that people are trawling the jumble sales and taking the best stuff then get up earlier in the morning!

Free market economy, innit.

Hi winjim. If others had your attitude/frame of mind then E'bay would slowly sink into the depths of oblivion. I don't have a problem with people trawling anywhere to source anything of any kind but I do have a problem with them not having a clue about what they are selling/recycling. Their leaning is then at the expense of people that need to know educating them as to what is not in/on their listing.
As for cycle jumbles,I gave that up years ago simply because the cost of fuel and running a car in the broader sense of the meaning.
I don't do Booties for similar reasons.
That said,when I put a listing on E'bay - there is absolutely no doubt as to what it is and it is about. I do not have the time to be answering questions because an an omission of the very basic and necessary information/specification.

 

[User33236]

If people choose to poorly describe an item then so be it. They may either lose a sale or, likely, obtain a lower price by someone taking a 'gamble'. I can recall two occasions lately where I have picked up a bargain on poorly described items by simply studying the photo(s).

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

If people choose to poorly describe an item then so be it. They may either lose a sale or, likely, obtain a lower price by someone taking a 'gamble'. I can recall two occasions lately where I have picked up a bargain on poorly described items by simply studying the photo(s).

Hi User33236. I am really of the same opinion - in most cases. Indeed one of my brothers that has had a long standing love affair with Scalextric and has bagged many a bargain simply because some people just cannot spell or more to the point cannot be bothered to look up what they are 'hoping' to sell.
As a consequence the items end up in a totally alien category and get no interest or viewings.

 

[winjim]

Hi winjim. If others had your attitude/frame of mind then E'bay would slowly sink into the depths of oblivion.

People have been trading goods for thousands of years and will continue to do so.

I do have a problem with them not having a clue about what they are selling/recycling. Their leaning is then at the expense of people that need to know educating them as to what is not in/on their listing

No it's not. Just ignore them. If you've such a problem with them why do you want to give them your money?

when I put a listing on E'bay - there is absolutely no doubt as to what it is and it is about. do not have the time to be answering questions because an an omission of the very basic and necessary information/specification.

Maybe you just value your time and effort in a different way to other people.

 

[cardiac case]

I think some brief listings can be blamed on smart phones.
One quick under exposed pic and half a dozen words is at best all you get.

However, as someone else said, "a bad ad means a bargain to be had".
I've been after a ladder to put up the xmas lights and I found a 3.5m long one.
It was actually a 6m extension jobbie and I got it for £26.

I sure it would have made more if a little more time had been spent at a keyboard.

Paul G

 

[snorri]

It's not only Ebay, I have seen complaints on here regarding the knowledge of sales staff employed by a nationwide UK bike retailer. Sellers should know their products, if not customers will move elsewhere, or in some cases take advantage of staff ignorance.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi snorri. Yes,I have also found this out only yesterday with an very obviously lacking in knowledge individual of one of the large UK based cycle specific retail chains.
I rang the Manchester store but not City Centre one to enquire if they had stock of the recently introduced Campagnolo Flat-bar Veloce shifters.
The young man said that they did not carry them nor had they ever carried them,indeed he went as far as to suggest that I was actually getting them mixed-up with the Shimano ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whilst he was prating about looking for them I located them on their website and gave him a stock/article reference number. I would have loved to have been a fly-on-the-wall.

 

[raleighnut]

Hi snorri. Yes,I have also found this out only yesterday with an very obviously lacking in knowledge individual of one of the large UK based cycle specific retail chains.
I rang the Manchester store but not City Centre one to enquire if they had stock of the recently introduced Campagnolo Flat-bar Veloce shifters.
The young man said that they did not carry them nor had they ever carried them,indeed he went as far as to suggest that I was actually getting them mixed-up with the Shimano ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whilst he was prating about looking for them I located them on their website and gave him a stock/article reference number. I would have loved to have been a fly-on-the-wall.

Too new to be let near the Campagnolo display cabinets maybe.