Bike valuation

[ChrisV]

Hi there,

Having never sold a bike before, I'm not sure of the best way to go about it or the price, or indeed if it is worth.

Have a Whyte Suffolk 2014, bought August 2014 for £1300. About 1200 miles on it, in pretty good condition but obviously signs of use from the mileage done. Nothing major though.

How do I go about pricing it and is it best to just offer 'pick up only'? Posting it might be challenging?

I have used it maybe 4 times this year so it's sell it or stick it up the loft in case I suddenly get the bug again. It's taking a space in the hall at the moment.

 

[User32269]

I have sold quite a few on ebay offered as pick up only, but added that I'm willing to arrange pick up if buyer pays for a courier. This involves getting an old cycle cardboard box from Halfords for free and packaging up securely. Can be bit of a pain waiting around for courier to arrive. This option ensures you get more interest but requires a little effort.
Valuation? I just use Google or past classifieds to find out what similar bikes have fetched, this enables you to put a "buy it now" or reserve price on listing.
I use Gumtree to sell old beater bikes, but
1. I have never found it much use for selling "decent" bikes.
2. There are security concerns if you give out your address for potential buyers to view.

 

[Ben Reeve]

In terms of pricing I would used the 'advanced search' on eBay, to search for bikes like yours that have already sold. Gives you a great starting point.

Pick up only does work, but your obviously going to get more interest if you can send it anywhere.

There are loads of amazing videos about packing up a bike on the Internet. Get yourself and old bike box, pack it up and arrange a courier.

I would also think about your listing. The more photos the better. Come across as really human, not a big shop. Give as much info as you can. Allow people to come and view in advance. All will give you the chance of a better price

 

[Dogtrousers]

If you want to post/courier it, go to your local Halfords or similar bike shop and they will probably give you a bike cardboard box, or you can find one in the skip at the back. A bit of a hassle, and expense but not all that challenging.

 

[vickster]

I'd guess at £600-800

Make sure you have all the paperwork

eBay is your best chance with the widest audience but you pay 10% in fees

 

[midliferider]

Be careful about the courier option, you are probably aware of the scam where a courier come and pick up the bike but money never reach your account.
Make it absolutely clear that bike will not be despatched till the money reached your account.

 

[velovoice]

All good advice above.

I would just add, if you agree with the buyer that you will wrap it up (either for a courier pick up or for safety in transit when they collect it themselves), also agree with them when you will wrap it up. Usually the buyer will want to have a good look at it first.

(I got burned on this once, buying from someone and going to meet them to collect it and bring it home by train (it was vintage, riding condition unknown). They had enshrouded it in bubble wrap and packing tape, so I couldn't see it. Didn't realise til we got it home that the immaculate (but incredibly fragile) Bluemels mudguards had of course snapped off inside the packaging. They were intact in the photos on the ebay listing. Fortunately, I had a NOS set, but I was still annoyed.)

 

[ChrisV]

Thanks for the advice.

Decided in the end to put the bike in the attic and concentrate on the gym over the winter.

It will be a different body that sits on it in the spring, but not because I've sold it!

 

[vickster]

Why aren't you riding it? Its a perfect winter bike

The gym won't prepare you for cycling.

 

[midliferider]

Why aren't you riding it? Its a perfect winter bike

The gym won't prepare you for cycling.

I agree.
You need to discover the joy of winter cycling.

 

[Leodis]

I have sold a few bikes, I tend to advertise on eBay but with 15% lost through eBay & paypal fees I tend to offer the best price bought via Gumtree for cash on collection, as I can sell slightly cheaper so both parties are winners.

You get no medals for cycling in Winter, its tough, cold and can be like pulling teeth.

 

[RichardB]

Living out in West Wales, offering something for 'collection only' is a bit self-defeating. There simply aren't enough people within a reasonable distance to make it feasible. If I sell something on ebay that I can't post, I usually offer delivery (within reason) or meet half way for the cost of fuel only. That seems to work OK. I sold my 1992 Galaxy to a guy in London this way. He sent me the cash for the fuel to Bristol and back, and we met at Temple Meads. Bike inspected, cash handed over, job done. It's a bit of a risk (mainly of wasting time) but the guy seemed genuine when we communicated prior to the sale, and he turned out to be sound.

(It was actually quite a nice experience. He was planning to take the train from London to Bristol, but at the last minute he came down in a car. A Renault Clio, with four strapping students in it and no bike rack. The one in the front took the front wheel, and the two in the back had the rest of the bike on their knees. They were all students from Cambridge, who were planning a ride down through France to Switzerland, and one of their number didn't have a suitable bike, so they clubbed together and bought him mine. Nice teamwork. I asked what they were studying (PhD Mathematicians, oo-er) and what they would be doing in Switzerland. "Well, we have some friends who work in CERN, and we are rather hoping to get a guided tour of the Large Hadron Collider." I couldn't have been happier to wave the old Galaxy off on what would be quite an adventure.)