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Hey all...well my bike search continues...the fitting last night on the 54 dolce comp proved to be a failure..it is too big and thank goodness the lady I bought it from will let me return it...so I found a 06 bianchi eros donna on ebay in a 50 and wondered if buying a bike on ebay is an ok thing to do...it is a steel frame which I know nothing about...it looks awesome what should I do???
Thanks
Angel
that's how i got my Bianchi
all i can say is check the feedback of the seller - if they sound trustworthy, the bike is probably as represented. Good luck.
A nice thing about Bianchis is they hold their value.
good luck!
I bought my mixte on ebay and I was pleasantly surprised. It was better than described! Make sure it has good pictures so that you can check out the condition, and yes, watch the seller's feedback. Hopefully they have sold bikes before and know how to pack them for shipping or they take them to the LBS for packing. All stuff you can ask the seller ahead of time.
Ditto what the others said about feedback.
Also, please ensure that you get proof of original ownership and/or check the bike's S/N against known stolen bikes. A lot of people sell their bikes on ebay, a few sell stolen bikes there too.
Anne
Am I correct in assuming that you would get fitted for the bike BEFORE buying it? If so, then go for it! If not, you may end up with the same problem you had with the Dolce. Rather than continue to buy and then get fitted only to find out the bike is not the right fit, I'd suggest going to get a professional fitting and then shopping for your bike.
This was my experience (take it for whatever it's worth, if anything):
Tried out LOTS of bikes . . . finally went for a professional fitting on a "fit bike." Took in specs/geometries of the different bikes I was interested in and the bike fitter then matched my fit measurements to the bikes that would fit me. Keep in mind that his shop did not sell all the bikes I was interested in, and he did not pressure me to buy from his shop. In fact, I ended up with a bike from a different shop.
At the time, I was not interested in Bianchis although his shop carries them. However, I knew I would be riding a Bianchi on a summer tour. He pulled up my bike fit measurements and let me know what size and model Bianchi I'd need (I had two models to choose from on this tour). He also told me that I'd need a different size stem to make it really fit, so I bought that from him and brought it along for the tour. Much better than hoping the tour people would guess the correct fit . . . I wanted to enjoy myself on our daily rides and not end up in pain!
Good luck to you in finding a new bike! I believe you CAN find a good deal through e-bay or whatnot, but you need to know sizing, etc. first . . . unless you want to go through the hassle of returns . . . or, maybe you'll just luck out and the next bike will fit like a glove! :D
Assuming it's in good shape and the price is right, I don't think it's a bad move. I have a 2006 Bianchi Eros Donna and after putting over 7000 miles on it, I still love it. I made a few changes to it, but they were more out of my own vanity than anything. Steel, while not light, provides a nice ride and the components work just fine.
My first road bike (as an adult) was a Bianchi I purchased on eBay. I loved that bike! It was too big for me, granted. I swapped out the stem, lowered the seat, and rode it anyway. That bike lasted me almost ten years before I finally spent money on a new bike.
As long as the price is fair and the bike is in good condition, you can't go wrong. Sizing is important, of course. It probably won't be perfect but then again my semi-expensive "new" bike isn't perfect either.
Check out the seller's feedback, see if this is a business or if he/she is just getting rid of stuff. I asked my seller questions and found that he was an honest enough guy, he just had this bike he never rode. I was really lucky in that he lived about an hour away so I could go pick up the bike when I won the auction :D