[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I've shipped a number of guitars for the cost of shipping - the more you ship, the more friends you make, the more likely that someone's going to return the favor. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 6:54:42 AM UTC-7, Mark Wilkins wrote: > > I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a > CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this > involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, > or maybe something else. > > What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift > certificate? Payment in bike parts? > > I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really > looking for your experiences (on either side). > > All opinions welcome. > > Thanks! > > Mark Wilkins > Camp Hill, PA > > -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
Wow! Thanks so much for the many comments and opinions. Would have liked to chime in throughout the day, but things have been crazy. I like the advice from Bobby (and Napoleon Dynamite!): Just follow your heart. That's what I do. I still haven't contacted the seller about shipping (sorta hoping he drops the price a smidge), but I did get in touch with a bike shop in his neighborhood. They said they would pack the bike for shipping for $45. I should have asked what size box they'd have to use (to help me estimate shipping costs), but I forgot. I'm guessing shipping might be ~$80 - $150. Perhaps I wouldn't need any assistance at all...just have the seller get a shipping label, take the bike to the shop, and off it goes. Now to go sleep on it! Thanks again, everyone. Mark On Tue, Mar 24, 2015 at 9:54 AM, Mark Wilkins wrote: > I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a CL > (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this involves > transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, or maybe > something else. > > What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift certificate? > Payment in bike parts? > > I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really > looking for your experiences (on either side). > > All opinions welcome. > > Thanks! > > Mark Wilkins > Camp Hill, PA > -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I'd like to clarify that when I was musing about a shop charge of maybe one hour / $75 for packing, I wasn't suggesting that as compensation, and I wasn't implying that I would ask that. I was, rather, thinking aloud about what a buyer would have to pay if I didn't do the boxing, and I was thinking to myself that perhaps I should consider that as an option. I've been offered compensation, and I've never accepted, but I've done the task often enough that I now hesitate slightly. Long work weeks and short weekends make time scarce and precious. I gotta do something about that. :-) ~pb -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I would offer some kind of reasonable payment for someone facilitating shipment to me. Going to look at a bike for someone is fun..I would feel silly getting paid just to look. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 4:26:48 PM UTC-7, dougP wrote: > > I've been on both sides of transactions, and actually the thought never > occurred to me. In both cases, however, the other parties were known to me > so it was just doing something for a friend. A couple of times listers > have solicited someone "in area" to look at something, and I've made the > offer to do so but someone else was already on the case. Over the years, > I've gotten a lot of help & knowledge on these lists, so it just seems > right to return the favor. > > dougP > > On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 6:54:42 AM UTC-7, Mark Wilkins wrote: >> >> I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a >> CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this >> involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, >> or maybe something else. >> >> What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift >> certificate? Payment in bike parts? >> >> I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really >> looking for your experiences (on either side). >> >> All opinions welcome. >> >> Thanks! >> >> Mark Wilkins >> Camp Hill, PA >> >> -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I've been on both sides of transactions, and actually the thought never occurred to me. In both cases, however, the other parties were known to me so it was just doing something for a friend. A couple of times listers have solicited someone "in area" to look at something, and I've made the offer to do so but someone else was already on the case. Over the years, I've gotten a lot of help & knowledge on these lists, so it just seems right to return the favor. dougP On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 6:54:42 AM UTC-7, Mark Wilkins wrote: > > I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a > CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this > involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, > or maybe something else. > > What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift > certificate? Payment in bike parts? > > I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really > looking for your experiences (on either side). > > All opinions welcome. > > Thanks! > > Mark Wilkins > Camp Hill, PA > > -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
The "economy of community" is a beautiful thing, and in my experience always comes round in the end. With abandon, Patrick -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I'm going to make some rambling observations and comments. I can't count all the bicycle transactions I have facilitated for other people. Thirty? Forty? Many. The most recent one shipped out last Thursday. I'd say that the whole process takes an absolute minimum of five hours. - Travel to the seller, inspect the merchandise, call the buyer and discuss and confirm, take care of the buy, take the bike home. Yes, I have fronted cash when the deal has been urgent. - Find a box that will fit the bike but not create a windfall for the carrier. So, trips from bike shop to bike shop, looking for the right box, and it may not present itself immediately. Yes, I realize an over-sized box can be cut down. It still may not happen immediately. - Disassemble and pack, pad and secure the bike so it doesn't move in the box. - Take it to the carrier. Easy five hours all in, probably more. The transaction that just about finished me off a few years back was a very interesting and obscure early 60's Italian bike that I found on CL, outed on Classic Rendezvous, and then shipped to NYC. I lost ten bucks on the deal -- shipping cost more than anticipated. I never heard from the recipient again. No "thank you", and no ten bucks. Thank you, A***, you're a class act. It's possible that I need to adjust what I am willing to do as a favor, maybe it's as simple as that. Pick up a bike, and drop it at a shop for packing and shipping? Maybe that makes more sense. That's easy. That's cake. What's a reasonable shop rate these days, maybe $75 an hour? So, figure the shop will charge for about an hour of time, on top of the shipping cost. Anyway, I'm just rambling on the subject. Having said all of that, I had two favors done for me in recent months by BOB listers. One was a pick up and shuttle of a frame from LA to San Diego, and one was a pick up and shuttle of a bike from Sacramento to Marin (which actually turned into a simple hand-off to a friend of mine in Davis). Both shuttles took some time, as the guys waited to fit the trips into their normal travels, and that, of course, was fine. I owe both parties, and thank you very much! :-) ~pb -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
Way to take the high road, Bill !!... Still I wouldn't remove the razor wire from HIS side of the fence quite yet. just sayin...:) On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 1:54:35 PM UTC-4, Bill Lindsay wrote: > > I'm involved in a very similar transaction right now, but not bike > related. My fence was falling down. I told my neighbor I wanted it fixed, > and told him I would get quotes. I came up with a design, and got a quote > from a tradesperson who has done a lot of work in the neighborhood. He > estimated $1000. $500 materials + $500 labor. When I told my neighbor > about it, he objected. "I've had that guy do work for me before, and I was > not happy". I already had the design done, and I'm also kind of a > perfectionist, so I told him I'd build the fence myself and split the > materials with him. > > I built the fence last weekend while my neighbor was away. He came back > and is just delighted at my work. Turns out that I spent $606 on > materials. I gave him the receipts, and I have a feeling he's going to add > something on to his half, for my trouble. He's very old and very charming, > so impressing him with my work is already a good enough reward, but I was > willing to do the labor for free. So whatever he gives, even if it's > nothing, is fine. I volunteered after all. > > On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 10:30:06 AM UTC-7, Philip Williamson wrote: >> >> "Keep it real" is probably the best advice. >> >> Don't offer something you'd think the other person greedy for accepting? >> Don't accept something that seems out of line with the effort? >> Last time this came up, someone offered, I declined, and I got to feel >> good on both counts. ;^) >> >> It's a hobby, not a business, and bikes are an interesting end in >> themselves. I drove across town to look at a Cannondale (not interesting to >> me) for an out of town friend, and the seller had old French bikes, >> Rivendells, and tandems hanging from the ceiling, so we had plenty to talk >> about. >> >> Philip >> www.biketinker.com > > -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I'm involved in a very similar transaction right now, but not bike related. My fence was falling down. I told my neighbor I wanted it fixed, and told him I would get quotes. I came up with a design, and got a quote from a tradesperson who has done a lot of work in the neighborhood. He estimated $1000. $500 materials + $500 labor. When I told my neighbor about it, he objected. "I've had that guy do work for me before, and I was not happy". I already had the design done, and I'm also kind of a perfectionist, so I told him I'd build the fence myself and split the materials with him. I built the fence last weekend while my neighbor was away. He came back and is just delighted at my work. Turns out that I spent $606 on materials. I gave him the receipts, and I have a feeling he's going to add something on to his half, for my trouble. He's very old and very charming, so impressing him with my work is already a good enough reward, but I was willing to do the labor for free. So whatever he gives, even if it's nothing, is fine. I volunteered after all. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 10:30:06 AM UTC-7, Philip Williamson wrote: > > "Keep it real" is probably the best advice. > > Don't offer something you'd think the other person greedy for accepting? > Don't accept something that seems out of line with the effort? > Last time this came up, someone offered, I declined, and I got to feel > good on both counts. ;^) > > It's a hobby, not a business, and bikes are an interesting end in > themselves. I drove across town to look at a Cannondale (not interesting to > me) for an out of town friend, and the seller had old French bikes, > Rivendells, and tandems hanging from the ceiling, so we had plenty to talk > about. > > Philip > www.biketinker.com -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
"Keep it real" is probably the best advice. Don't offer something you'd think the other person greedy for accepting? Don't accept something that seems out of line with the effort? Last time this came up, someone offered, I declined, and I got to feel good on both counts. ;^) It's a hobby, not a business, and bikes are an interesting end in themselves. I drove across town to look at a Cannondale (not interesting to me) for an out of town friend, and the seller had old French bikes, Rivendells, and tandems hanging from the ceiling, so we had plenty to talk about. Philip www.biketinker.com -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
It's real simple... follow your heart. Make it real, make it special (for a special gesture) and keep it heartfelt. And most of all, don't forget to pay it forward. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 9:54:42 AM UTC-4, Mark Wilkins wrote: > > I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a > CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this > involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, > or maybe something else. > > What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift > certificate? Payment in bike parts? > > I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really > looking for your experiences (on either side). > > All opinions welcome. > > Thanks! > > Mark Wilkins > Camp Hill, PA > > -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
I would consider this to be a brokerage and if you want somebody to do it, cover their trouble, and still like you for it after they're done, 10% is marginal. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 9:09:49 AM UTC-5, Anton Tutter wrote: > > Ok, I realized the absurdity of my suggestion. Duh, the guy's located far > away. Never mind... Now I feel stupid. > > OK, so in the case where the facilitator is out of state, my earlier > comment still holds true (the gratis part) but you can always offer to > paypal the facilitator a gift, even if he refuses. If he is looking for > compensation, it really depends how much out of his way he goes to complete > the facilitation. How far does he have to drive to pick up the bike? Is he > fronting cash for it? Will he ship it himself or drop it at a bike shop? > He may appreciate receiving the fee that the bike shop normally would for > shipping, and ship it himself. > > I once bought a bike from a CL seller out of state, in NYC. The > facilitator in this case, who worked in NYC, biked cross-town to see the > bike, and when he realized there was a lot of interest in the bike from > other parties, he FRONTED the $700 for the bike in order to pay for it > there and then... no questions asked. He didn't even know me. He then rode > the bike to his home in NJ for me to pick up at a later date. > > I drove down to his home in NJ the following weekend to pick the bike up > from him. We chatted, I payed him back and tacked on $40 for his help and > for trusting me to pay him. We've since become friends, and he's hosted > several rides of which I've participated. A great guy. > > Good luck. > > Anton > > > On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 10:00:51 AM UTC-4, Anton Tutter wrote: >> >> On most other forums I'm on, this type of thing is done gratis... one of >> the things that make these online communities so great. >> >> That said, it NEVER hurts to show your gratitude... buy the guy a beer. >> Maybe you'll not only end up with a successful transaction, but also a new >> friend. >> >> Anton >> >> >> >> On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 9:54:42 AM UTC-4, Mark Wilkins wrote: >>> >>> I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with >>> a CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this >>> involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, >>> or maybe something else. >>> >>> What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift >>> certificate? Payment in bike parts? >>> >>> I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really >>> looking for your experiences (on either side). >>> >>> All opinions welcome. >>> >>> Thanks! >>> >>> Mark Wilkins >>> Camp Hill, PA >>> >>> -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
Ok, I realized the absurdity of my suggestion. Duh, the guy's located far away. Never mind... Now I feel stupid. OK, so in the case where the facilitator is out of state, my earlier comment still holds true (the gratis part) but you can always offer to paypal the facilitator a gift, even if he refuses. If he is looking for compensation, it really depends how much out of his way he goes to complete the facilitation. How far does he have to drive to pick up the bike? Is he fronting cash for it? Will he ship it himself or drop it at a bike shop? He may appreciate receiving the fee that the bike shop normally would for shipping, and ship it himself. I once bought a bike from a CL seller out of state, in NYC. The facilitator in this case, who worked in NYC, biked cross-town to see the bike, and when he realized there was a lot of interest in the bike from other parties, he FRONTED the $700 for the bike in order to pay for it there and then... no questions asked. He didn't even know me. He then rode the bike to his home in NJ for me to pick up at a later date. I drove down to his home in NJ the following weekend to pick the bike up from him. We chatted, I payed him back and tacked on $40 for his help and for trusting me to pay him. We've since become friends, and he's hosted several rides of which I've participated. A great guy. Good luck. Anton On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 10:00:51 AM UTC-4, Anton Tutter wrote: > > On most other forums I'm on, this type of thing is done gratis... one of > the things that make these online communities so great. > > That said, it NEVER hurts to show your gratitude... buy the guy a beer. > Maybe you'll not only end up with a successful transaction, but also a new > friend. > > Anton > > > > On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 9:54:42 AM UTC-4, Mark Wilkins wrote: >> >> I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a >> CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this >> involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, >> or maybe something else. >> >> What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift >> certificate? Payment in bike parts? >> >> I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really >> looking for your experiences (on either side). >> >> All opinions welcome. >> >> Thanks! >> >> Mark Wilkins >> Camp Hill, PA >> >> -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
[RBW] Re: Appropriate compensation for help with a Craigslist sale?
On most other forums I'm on, this type of thing is done gratis... one of the things that make these online communities so great. That said, it NEVER hurts to show your gratitude... buy the guy a beer. Maybe you'll not only end up with a successful transaction, but also a new friend. Anton On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 9:54:42 AM UTC-4, Mark Wilkins wrote: > > I know that some folks on the list have helped or have been helped with a > CL (or other) purchase where the seller wouldn't ship. I suppose this > involves transporting the bike to a nearby shop that would pack and ship, > or maybe something else. > > What's the going rate for assistance like that? Cash? RBW gift > certificate? Payment in bike parts? > > I suppose it all depends on the effort involved. I guess what I'm really > looking for your experiences (on either side). > > All opinions welcome. > > Thanks! > > Mark Wilkins > Camp Hill, PA > > -- 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 post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
