You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Following on from my earlier thread about selling my heckler, thought i would ask the question - do full suspension bikes sell? We moved last week and as yet haven't been to my new lbs. I rang them today to see if they traded in bikes for new ones, here is the conversation.
Me: Just an enquiry, do you take bikes in part-ex for new ones?
LBS: Yes we do, what bike are you after?
Me: Something to replace my Santa Cruz Heckler, i find it a bit too big so wanted something similar but in a medium sized frame. Do you have similar bikes there i could come and see?
LBS: I haven't heard of that bike before, is it a road bike or a mountain bike?
Me: A mountain bike.
LBS: Ok, is it full suspension or front suspension?
Me: Full suspension.
LBS: Not interested in that, full suspension bikes don't sell. But if you want to buy one we will sell you one.
Me: Ok, Thanks. Will try to pop in soon.
I didn't want to finish the conversation in a bad way so tried to end it politely. I can understand that the shop might not have wanted to trade my bike in. I also understand different types of bike sell better in different locations and a lot is to do with price, just found it a bit odd he said they don't sell.
So back to my original question, do full suspension bikes sell?
LBS: I haven't heard of that bike before, is it a road bike or a mountain bike?
Whut?
I think you are talking to the wrong shop.
[quote=gnusmas ] I also understand different types of bike sell better in different locations That's the answer to your question, right there. Remember also that many shops develop/inherit a speciality. Maybe the one you spoke to is heavily involved in road riding, CX, XC or simply just commuters.
The shop I work in has sold none in 15 months since I've worked there (ha ha).
We just sell other stuff.
Ok, so they really should know what the bike is, but I don't know of many, if any, good bike shops that take trade ins.
Chatting in my lbs the other day, they've sold a few big money full bouncers over the last week or so.
According to one post on here last week, [i]everyone[/i] is riding Santa Cruzes now.
LBS: I haven't heard of that bike before, is it a road bike or a mountain bike?Whut?
That was my first thought too
Sounds like one of the following
New Guy/Kid
Roadie
Not into bikes
In terms of trade in there are a heap of downsides
Takes effort to sell
Wrong wheel size (Not to start a wheel size thread but in terms of current stock)
Detracts from current stock
No guarantee of a sale/return in a decent timescale
So it can be an expensive process to shift a trade in, I've met bike shops who pointed out most of that as to reasons why they didn't like doing trade ins.
What I do with trade-ins is bung them on eBay - it's the fairest way to get a realistic value for them. However whenever I've done it with MTBs, especially full-sus ones, they fetch a fraction of their new cost - they depreciate like mad.
Not forgetting that if they offer you a fair price, that's about the price they'll be able to sell it for(minus parts & labour costs of sorting any problems), but if they put that money into a new bike they'll make a profit, and be covered by a manufacturer's warranty.
I've just put my current frame on ebay, if you don't mind waiting a week if it sells I'll take your frame off your hands. You'll be halfway there then!
Sounds good to me, what frame are you selling? Will sort out some pics for you, what's your email for me to send them?
Selling this
[img] 
[/img]
Just bought a new shock linkage as well to bring the rear end up to modern standards (110mm/130mm) but it's only a medium so too small for me. Gutted as they're supposed to be awesome frames to ride but then again so are Hecklers!
Email is in my profile if you click my username.
Isn't there a theory that full sus bikes can be problematic 2nd hand due to pivots/shocks and the extra technology that needs regular maintenance?
This shouldn't be an issue for a LBS obviously but may put people off buying 2nd hand, especially when you consider how good some of the new but last years models that are around at the moment.
It does sound like the bloke you spoke to was a bit short on knowledge though, hopefully it is just him and not the whole shop.
Don't forget those pics man!
haven't forgotten, will sort them for you later 🙂
We sell far less big full sus bikes now , just dont get asked for them much anymore.
And a 26 wheel one would be a real pain to get any good value from
Our business (8 shops, lotsa £) is seeing mtb sales decline.
[quote=cynic-al ]Our business (8 shops, lotsa £) is seeing mtb sales decline.
Al - are you seeing other sales increase as a result or do you think it's a net decrease? I'd say we're doing hybrids, hardtails, road bikes, full sus (i.e. in that order of sales)
cynic-al » Our business (8 shops, lotsa £) is seeing mtb sales decline.
different country but my mate is shifting more than ever (5 went last week) I think it's very area dependant.
isitafox, email sent 🙂
Al - are you seeing other sales increase as a result or do you think it's a net decrease? I'd say we're doing hybrids, hardtails, road bikes, full sus (i.e. in that order of sales)
but considering there's one of the most sought after bikes that's sold out for the year,and hasn't shifted yet,with virtually no interest, sitting at the end of the dark line-up..
you have to question why.