Liz - Yes, it's customary for the buyer to pay in full before shipment. As the seller it's good for you to know the total costs (including packing, shipping, etc.) so that buyer only needs to send one total payment. It stinks to have to send multiple payments.
Once payment is received, promptly arrange shipping and send the buyer the tracking info so they now the bike is on the way. As Eric said you can choose the carrier (many use BikeFlights), just make sure you get enough insurance coverage when shipping. If something major goes wrong with shipping (bike is totaled or goes missing), the buyer should get a full refund from you and it's on you as a seller deal with recovering what you can from shipping insurance. Minor shipping damaage can be negotiated. Julian's suggestion of a phone conversation is a good one. Best with your sale! -Dave On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 9:17:01 PM UTC-5 Julian Westerhout wrote: > Liz, > > Have you talked to the buyer via phone yet? Given the oddities you've > mentioned I'd encourage you to do so -- I think it helps establish bona > fides -- if something feels off after the phone call then I'd cancel the > sale. You might also do a search of the buyer's name and address online, as > well as looking in depth at their FB profile -- again, if something feels > off I'd cancel the sale. > > I've bought and sold a number of bikes at a distance -- and as both a > buyer and seller I do my best to get a good feel for whom I am dealing > with. In my experience the phone call is really worthwhile. I have > cancelled at least one sale and one purchase due to being a bit > uncomfortable -- no regrets. > > Good luck! > > Julian Westerhout > Bloomington, IL > > On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 8:03:09 PM UTC-6 meti...@gmail.com > wrote: > >> I responded to a FB query for a blue, 52cm Clem Smith Jr. L on the >> “Rivendell Bicycles BUY/SELL/TRADE” page. I have that very bike, and now >> that I have a Platypus, I’m willing to sell my Clem. >> >> The potential buyer and I have had a flurry of FB messenger exchanges >> about price, etc, today, and we’ve reached an agreeable price. Now comes >> the tricky part (for me): >> >> My bike shop will disassemble the bike and box it. I know what they’ll >> charge for that. >> >> But I don’t know the best way to have it shipped or how to figure the >> price for shipping…and if the buyer’s gonna pay the shipping, how does that >> work? Does he choose the carrier or do I? >> >> I’m cautious about all of this…I don’t know how the buyer and I can trust >> one another…there have been some ever-so-slight oddities in our message >> exchanges that make me a tad uneasy. I don’t care at all about the oddities >> IF the buyer pays the bill before I send him the bike—is that the customary >> order to these transactions? >> >> I’m pretty comfortable selling what I think are higher-ticket items when >> the transaction occurs face to face, but I’m not at all sure of the process >> online when it also includes third parties like shipping companies. >> >> So, I’m asking for direction from this group, please (and the man I’m >> dealing with doesn’t seem to be a member here). >> >> Liz in Cincinnati >> (And if this deal falls through let it be known that, I’m open to selling >> my pretty Clem) >> >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/830428d6-0e4b-40dd-b609-9cbdf219581fn%40googlegroups.com.
