Internet Dating

I bet I can guess what just went through your mind.  You saw the title, and you thought something like,  “OH NO!  Please tell me that idiot didn’t!”  That was followed very shortly by thoughts of all the folks who put up profiles of themselves that are somewhat…  exaggerated.  And then your thoughts briefly flickered to the grimmer side of the subject, the scams, creeps, stalkers, and the occasional psycho who lurk out there in cyberland.

Isn’t that pretty much what we all think about “internet dating”?  Is this a reasonable thing to think?

Okay, before we go on, let me take you off the hook a bit.  I am not doing anything involving internet dating.  But I do have some strong parallels to make, so please do read on.

The usual objection to internet dating is summed up with the phrase,  “You don’t really know what you’re getting into.”

So what on earth would cause otherwise sane people, people who would never dream of going online for a date, to attempt to buy a bicycle online?

Sure, she looks good in the picture.  But is the picture real?  And is it really one of her?  Is it recent?  Or is that a picture of her gorgeous cousin, taken 15 years ago?

I see it far too often.  That brand new shiney bike, the one that looks so good online, and the price is so reasonable.  Just a bit of assembly required, and anyone can do that.  Right?

Well…

Two cases:

One)  They start the assembly and I finish it.  Costs twice as much, and the bike is still basically junk.

Two)  They bring it to me.  The assembly costs less, but the bike is still junk. 

In both cases there is some jewelry (admittedly somewhat dated jewelry), but the frame is pretty mundane, and the support parts are garbage.  It’s still junk.  And the price is not so much a bargain as it looks.

Then there are the used bikes!  Your shiney “date” turns out to be a bit older, with dubious personal habits, bad manners, and a social disease.

Folks, there ain’t no diamonds in the bottom of a Cracker-Jack box, and no one ever wins at Vegas.  Beware of the deal where you can’t see what you are getting before you buy.  Always have a trusted mechanic evaluate a used bike before you buy it.  (Even if this service costs a bit, it’s well worth it.)

Remember:  Caveat Emptor!