How to Buy a Bike online using eBay
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Before you Buy (first things first)
I know you're excited about getting that new bike, but following these steps will make the whole process a lot easier and save you some headaches...no helmet required!
You must have an Email Account
It seems like this is a given, but some people do not have their own personal email account. Both eBay and PayPal require an email address. I suggest not using a corporate email account since you never know how long you will be employed by them and to keep those IT guys from snooping at your purchases (sorry if I offended any IT staff…I am one too! ;-). Yahoo has a great email service and the basic version is free or you can upgrade to their Yahoo! Mail Plus free trial offer .
Create an account on eBay
To purchase anything on eBay you must have a registered account. Not registered on eBay? No problem,
Create an account on PayPal
PayPal is a safe and secure method of making online payments for items and services. PayPal is also owned by eBay and is the most widely accepted form of payment on their site. You can also link your PayPal account with a credit card for purchases. This provides the most protection for buyers because sellers never have access to any of your confidential information (i.e. credit card #). It can take a few days to verify your credit card in PayPal so I recommend starting this process ASAP. Click here to create an account with PayPal.
Sizing your Bike
One of the problems with buying online is you cannot sit on the bike before you buy. To make matters worse, manufacturer's bike sizes are not all the same. Some frames have compact sizing, some frames are specified in centimeters while others may have more generic sizing like Small, Medium and Large.
I suggest you visit your local bike shop to size up a few bikes that you like. Once you know what sizes fit, then come back to Great Bike Deals to find and buy your bike.
eBay Auctions vs. Buy It Now
There are two main types of listings on eBay, auctions and buy-it-now (BIN). BIN listings gives buyers instant gratification by filling the need to "gotta have it now". Of course, you still will have to wait for it to be shipped unless you are local and the seller allows pickups.
Auction based listings is what made eBay the largest online marketplace in the world. You can easily get caught up in the excitement of trying to win that bike...but realize there are probably many other bidders trying to win it too.
It's all in the Details...if not, Ask!
Be sure to read all of the details of an item listing before bidding! There are hundreds of thousands of individual sellers on eBay. It is wise to fully understand what you are buying and the seller's terms to complete the auction. If the description is missing something, dont' hestitate to ask the seller.
Don't forget to check out the shipping and handling fees. Complete bikes are large and somewhat heavy. Shipping within the USA should be in the range of $50 - $80. One Last Thing: always check the feedback of a seller to see if they are a reputable person. Look for sellers with a positive feedback ratio of 98% or better.
Bidding to Win
Winning an auction may look easy but you have some fierce competitors out there trying to beat you out. Bidding an auction is like racing your bike in a competition. You don't want to go all out too early or you may lose momentum and be passed at the final stage. My suggestion is to bid towards the last minutes of the auction, bid once and bid with the highest amount you are willing to spend. Sure there may be other biddding action during the last few seconds of the auction but you will either win the bike at or below your bid price or lose it to the next highest bidder. If the later happens then you need to rethink your pricing strategy and try again.
Okay, You won the Auction...What's Next?
Congrats on your winning bid! First. let your adrenaline come back down to normal levels. Next thing you need to do is pay for your item. If insurance is optional...buy it! Don't take chances on a big purchase like this. I also recommend using your credit card via your PayPal account. Once the payment has been made, the seller should get your bike packed and shipped within the next few days.
Good sellers automatically send you emails notifying you the shipping info and tracking number. If you don't hear from them after a couple of days, contact them requesting the shipping info. Open communication is the key to a successful auction.
A few Considerations on Shipping
If the seller is local to you, ask them if they allow a local pickup. Complete bikes are too large to ship fully assembled. Sellers usually partially break down the bike to fit snugly in a large shipping box. Once you receive your bike, fully inspect to to make sure no damage was done during shipment. If so, contact the seller immediately. If you are unsure on how to reassemble the bike, most local bike shops will do it for a nominal fee.