Stores, Places to Post Paper, Not Online Classified Ads? (Centreville: fit in, for sale)

[sprklcl]

Unlike 20 years ago, it is becoming hard to find places in local stores and other brick and mortar places in No. VA, specifically western Fairfax County, where can post a classified ad for a large item for sale. Have a vintage reliable working bicycle trying to sell, which prohibitively expensive and a hassle to ship using eBay, sellers there typically charge $100 for the shipping not to mention boxing up such a large item and getting it to UPS, Fedex, USPS, etc. Craigslist has a reputation, where locally advised to meet any buyer at a police station, busy Starbucks, etc. For a one-time sale of an item, its a time-consuming headache to sign up with an online service, getting unwanted email, etc. For privacy reasons, I do not do Facebook. If I have to pay for an ad such as in a newspaper, its expensive, so free is better.

So where now, can simply post a paper ad or an index card describing the item for sale with a phone number (I would use my free Google Voice number in the ad ringing to my mobile cell phone)? Many stores, such as the local Giant Food stores, have taken down their bulletin boards for such ads years ago. I have seen such ads in recent times in bus stop shelters, but believe posting such ads there is against county ordinance, you can be fined, and ads removed within a matter of days. And for selling an item, not taking the lost dog or cat route posting on telephone or electric poles. And my community HOA frowns on posting such ads in the community.

[RecessionCasualty]

Perhaps something like a bike you can take the ad to GMU, make sure to have it stamped by the desk in the Johnson Center and you can put it on the boards they have there. Also you can take and try to sell it to the little Mom and Pop bike shops. I only know because we went looking at bikes in a small shop Leesburg and they said they buy and sell used bikes as well.

In general though, things have changed so much we save our time and simply donate our stuff and make sure to get a slip for the tax write offs.

[spencgr]

There aren't a lot of bulletin boards because that is not how buyers find what they want. So why the other (online) options might seem inconvenient for you, an inconvenient sale is better than no sale.

[sprklcl]

Originally Posted by RecessionCasualty

Perhaps something like a bike you can take the ad to GMU, make sure to have it stamped by the desk in the Johnson Center and you can put it on the boards they have there. Also you can take and try to sell it to the little Mom and Pop bike shops. I only know because we went looking at bikes in a small shop Leesburg and they said they buy and sell used bikes as well.

In general though, things have changed so much we save our time and simply donate our stuff and make sure to get a slip for the tax write offs.

Thanks for your suggestions!, especially for the one at GMU, as I also had taken some classes there for some time in the past.

As far as the tax write off, other items I take mostly to Goodwill Centreville/Westfield to donate. They take most everything, some exceptions at their website, drive up and drop off in the fire lane in front of their store with store worker(s) with carts giving you a donation receipt. That is so easy.

Back to the bike, I checked the vintage bike's blue book value (yes, there is a blue book for bikes I found online, as well as of course for cars). With what a willing buyer will pay for this bike in a local private party transaction per the blue book, my tax situation, I expect to get way more out of this bike selling it vs. a tax write off.

RecessionCasualty, do you recall the name of the small bike shop in Leesburg you visited that buys and sells used bikes?

[Lemming95]

I suppose you could get a For Sale sign and ride around the town with that taped on your handle bars. Park it in the bike rack at one of the commuter lots.
Or spend the day at a local park on the bike trails. Try not to get arrested.

[ersatz]

Originally Posted by sprklcl

Unlike 20 years ago, it is becoming hard to find places in local stores and other brick and mortar places in No. VA, specifically western Fairfax County, where can post a classified ad for a large item for sale. Have a vintage reliable working bicycle trying to sell, which prohibitively expensive and a hassle to ship using eBay, sellers there typically charge $100 for the shipping not to mention boxing up such a large item and getting it to UPS, Fedex, USPS, etc. Craigslist has a reputation, where locally advised to meet any buyer at a police station, busy Starbucks, etc. For a one-time sale of an item, its a time-consuming headache to sign up with an online service, getting unwanted email, etc. For privacy reasons, I do not do Facebook. If I have to pay for an ad such as in a newspaper, its expensive, so free is better.

So where now, can simply post a paper ad or an index card describing the item for sale with a phone number (I would use my free Google Voice number in the ad ringing to my mobile cell phone)? Many stores, such as the local Giant Food stores, have taken down their bulletin boards for such ads years ago. I have seen such ads in recent times in bus stop shelters, but believe posting such ads there is against county ordinance, you can be fined, and ads removed within a matter of days. And for selling an item, not taking the lost dog or cat route posting on telephone or electric poles. And my community HOA frowns on posting such ads in the community.

If you are looking to sell locally and don't want to bother with shipping, try joining www.nextdoor.com. That functions as a community bulletin board. You join as a member from one neighborhood, but that gives you access to many more neighborhoods around your local area. It's free to join. A lot of people use it for selling items, giving away items, and seeking personal recommendations for various local services (ex: babysitting, lawn care, dentists, etc.) Not everyone in your area will be a member but your notice will reach a number of people regardless. People often use nextdoor to sell furniture, lawn mowers, and other bulky items.

City Data also has a classified ad subforum. I don't use it myself but I see that people will name the item and the location in the thread title. It wouldn't hurt to try it.

Many of the grocery stores in my area still have the bulletin boards, as do laundromats. Most of the notes posted on local bulletin boards are in Spanish though.

[Flamingo13]

The only options, IMO - take it to a local bike shop, spread word of mouth with friends, nobody looks at those old bulletin board ad things, if you even see then anymore. If you aren't willing to post it on Craigslist or FB................

[boyd888]

It is not 1995 anymore; people do not look at paper ads for things.

You can put it on ebay for local pickup only

You could stop whining and put it on craigslist like most people would...literally only need an email (which craigslist hides anyway) and don't have to share any contact information with buyers if you don't want to...this would by far be the easiest way to find out if anyone wants it (blue book is just a book, actual demand is another thing)

Register for whatever forum corresponds to your bike and put it in the for sale section there. Any professional shop is not going to give you much for it as they have to work their profit in too

[22003yo]

I have bought and sold many things on craigslist and have never met in public place to make the sale.