Karim Cycle

"This place looks abandoned, yet full of junk. There's a sign on the window posted about a proposed building project, of building an apartment building. If you want to steal back, it seems you could just reach over the gate and go fishing. ;) It was closed at a time it should have been open, according to the hours posted in the window. I must have got there at 5pm friday, supposed to close at 6pm?"

"Everything is stolen. If you want to contribute to Bay Area bike theft, shop here."

"Ashby BART -> thief’s hands-> Karim -> Buyers who don’t mind being part of the problem Makes me so sad that he’s still in business 15 years after I paid him $25 for my stolen bike back. I’ll never forget him yelling at me that i had ruined it by taking the derailleur off (when converting it to a single speed) as he conceded it was stolen and told me he’d give it back with no argument for $25."

"The owner was at the cafe at the other side when I reached the shop, but was happy to open the shop for selling a bike to me. Since I’ll only be in Berkeley for 2 months, he agreed to buy the bike back for a lower prize two months later. Overall I had a nice experience."

"Karim is interested in one thing, your money. No, no,no... None of this customer service nonsense or local business mentality. He has some valuable bikes and parts (amidst his disorganized heaps of trash and treasure), and you come there to plead a bargain. I feel as if his strategy of a disorganized, closed off space allows him to tailor his selection and prices to the customer presented. Is he rude? Yes. Is it impossible to navigate his stock? Yes. Are there some good deals to be had? Yes. Bought a decent bike there, but not without it coming out originally half assembled. I had to plead and bargain with him to add a seat, pedals, brake pads.... Turned into something good, but not without the equivalent of a triple root canal in displeasure. I needed transportation ASAP, and fate really made me work for it. Take your money elsewhere."