Hey guys, I've ran into something a little odd and I'm not quite sure how to handle it.
A few weeks back, I picked up a 1970 Rupp Roadster. It's complete. As hard as it to find any Rupp bikes around here, I was over the moon. I've already started pulling it apart piece by piece and polishing it up.
Since I have an ad on Craigslist, I used the photo of this bike in my ad. I figured it would be good to change it out from time to time. Tonight, I got a text from a guy. He said that he had a Rupp Roadster when he was a kid. Now, they're not real common around here. Then he mentioned his had a kickstarter. In my picture, you can't see the kickstarter. He also described the stickers on the back side of the tank. Sure enough, they're there, but not in the photo on my ad. This bike was never listed on CL, so I figure he's being honest. Then he says that he is certain that this bike was the one he had when he was a kid and says he wants to come look at it and will "bring cash".
I told him it wasn't for sale and offered to help him find another Roadster, or Rupp Mini Cycle instead. He seemed really bummed out. He wanted to relive this bike with his son and refinish it. He started talking about how his biological dad and he didn't get along. He left for Iraq on a tour of duty, and when he got home, his dad had died and the bike was no longer there. He mentioned that he's a 100% disabled war-veteran. I'm not really a fan of sob-stories, and I'm not even sure I believe it.
Here's the dilemma: I don't want to sell the bike. It would be impossible for me to find another Rupp around here -- much less a complete 1970 Raodster. I also don't want to deprive this guy of reliving his childhood memories. It's complete, but not really in the best condition. The chrome is really bad in a few spots and the paint is in bad shape... BUT without knowing I can find another... You get the idea...
Do I
A) Offer to sell him the bike at what I have in it, which isn't much and be happy with helping someone out
B) Offer him the bike, and make enough that I can buy another one and have it shipped to me
C) Tell him it's not for sale and keep it
I know it's my right do what I want, but I like helping people. At the same time, I don't want to screw myself out of a bike knowing I'll never find another.
:shrug::shrug::shrug:
A few weeks back, I picked up a 1970 Rupp Roadster. It's complete. As hard as it to find any Rupp bikes around here, I was over the moon. I've already started pulling it apart piece by piece and polishing it up.
Since I have an ad on Craigslist, I used the photo of this bike in my ad. I figured it would be good to change it out from time to time. Tonight, I got a text from a guy. He said that he had a Rupp Roadster when he was a kid. Now, they're not real common around here. Then he mentioned his had a kickstarter. In my picture, you can't see the kickstarter. He also described the stickers on the back side of the tank. Sure enough, they're there, but not in the photo on my ad. This bike was never listed on CL, so I figure he's being honest. Then he says that he is certain that this bike was the one he had when he was a kid and says he wants to come look at it and will "bring cash".
I told him it wasn't for sale and offered to help him find another Roadster, or Rupp Mini Cycle instead. He seemed really bummed out. He wanted to relive this bike with his son and refinish it. He started talking about how his biological dad and he didn't get along. He left for Iraq on a tour of duty, and when he got home, his dad had died and the bike was no longer there. He mentioned that he's a 100% disabled war-veteran. I'm not really a fan of sob-stories, and I'm not even sure I believe it.
Here's the dilemma: I don't want to sell the bike. It would be impossible for me to find another Rupp around here -- much less a complete 1970 Raodster. I also don't want to deprive this guy of reliving his childhood memories. It's complete, but not really in the best condition. The chrome is really bad in a few spots and the paint is in bad shape... BUT without knowing I can find another... You get the idea...
Do I
A) Offer to sell him the bike at what I have in it, which isn't much and be happy with helping someone out
B) Offer him the bike, and make enough that I can buy another one and have it shipped to me
C) Tell him it's not for sale and keep it
I know it's my right do what I want, but I like helping people. At the same time, I don't want to screw myself out of a bike knowing I'll never find another.
:shrug::shrug::shrug:
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