Hi Tom ( on-list ) ,
Seems to me that you are getting VERY good advice from everybody here . I thought about the fact that you could easily e-mail , through eBay , to the person eBay THINKS is using that name . I had not thought about the fact that you can just ask eBay for the seller's telephone number . Well yeah , that'd be the most sensible !! Good advice .
Before reading what other list-members had advised , my first thoughts were , e-mail and mention your concern for very good packing . Ask for the name , location , and telephone number , of the bicycle shop mentioned in the auction description . Or , just ask for the name of the shop , and dial information . That's easier for everybody . It also takes away one more chance for dirty tricks . If the bicycle shop is listed with telephone directory assistance , that's one more good sign ! Then call the shop . Explain that you're worried about buying a bicycle , long distance , from one of their customers . Just tell them you've had some bad experiences in the past with bicycles being poorly packed and shipped . You just need a little reassurance . Oh , and by the way , ask the shop if they know that particular Rivendell bicycle . It sure does look great in the photos ! If they remember it , and there's a good chance that they will , that is reassuring . If they don't remember it , that tells you nothing . But , either way , you've made contact with the shop which will be doing the packing and shipping ! My experience has been that you're more likely to get extra-good packing , plus , sometimes the assistant manager says something like , "and I've got some old parts to sell of my own , would you be interested in . . . "
I'd though about e-mailing the seller , and asking for the seller's telephone number . But , take the advice about obtaining the seller's telephone number from eBay !
A direct telephone conversation , with the person eBay THINKS is using that seller's name , would seem to be a great idea !
Now , about the seller's use of the English language . . . Hey ! I resemble that remark ! The auction description looks well written to me . Perhaps the usage might be a bit abrupt in places . But , I do that too ! The author seems to be very knowledgeable about bicycles in general , and that particular bicycle , in particular . And the author seems to be a native of the U.S.A. . . . At least seems that way to me . What does that say about me ??
And , yes , the photos of the frame do look maybe perhaps a tiny bit shorter , for a 58 cm frame size . But , they look pretty close to that size . AND , remember , Rivendell is STILL using the measuring method which WAS used by big companies such as Schwinn and Raleigh . Rivendell measures from center to top . Also , for a variety of reasons , Rivendell head tubes can be confusing , to use as a general guide to guessing frame size . So , that looks pretty much like a 58 cm Rivendell Long-Low to me .
And no , to answer your question , I don't own a Rivendell Long-Low . I've never owned a Rivendell . But , someday soon . . . :^)
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
( where the weather today is warm in the sun , and cool in the shadows ,
so nice ! )
Item #3642013607 is a beautiful Rivendell with only 250 claimed miles on it.
Starting bid with no takers yet is $1500. It seems like a nice buy and I
love the look of the bike. However myself and several other list members
have noted that the bike is claimed to be a 58cm size. Looking at it, it
seems much smaller, more my size. Upon questioning the seller, he sent some
measurements entirely consistent with a bike of the claimed size. His
choice of English words were strangely like those Nigerian scam letters we
all seem to be getting. I go back and look again, he has decent feedback,
but the bike just does not look that big to me or anyone else who has seen
it.
Am I being too paranoid here? Anyone know this seller?
Tom Sanders
Lansing, Mi