Selling bikes nowadays - best tactics?

Watching with interest as I’m about to try and sell my old one.

I’ve one in the classifieds that hasn’t gained any interest at all, and of the 15 contacts I got from FB market place 14 were scams.  EBay charges have got pretty ridiculous.

I’m taking my bike to races and events with a handy cardboard FS sign currently.  Still no bites

You'll usually get more split that complete, though it means more trips to the courier, and you'll need dedicated boxes for the frame and wheels, which can be a bit of a pain finding.

If you can get shot of the frame and wheels thats 1/2 the battle, and squirreling away the rest is easier.

I used Gumtree for the last four I sold, and they were in the multi-thousand price bracket. Just requires careful response to messages, unemotional filtering of ‘bestprice’ idiots, and in one case (an S-Works Epic) a couple of phone calls with prospective purchaser first. Happy with the prices I got.

You’ll usually get more split that complete, though it means more trips to the courier,

I just use Royal Mail for everything these days, as when you book online you can also book free collection.

First port of call is Pinkbike for me. Always get a sale, even if it takes a while. Just make sure you put it in the right section and don't be daft with the pricing. Offer postage too, at buyers expense.

Advertise the bike as complete and also advertise the wheels and frame induvidually in seperate adverts

This is what i do, sometimes the whole bike sells and other times the frame or wheels go first, then its just a matter of listing the other parts

When selling as parts i use Royal Mail as they collect from your door and bring the label with them, you can even nominate a safe place for them to collect from if your not in

If im posting a complete bike then id use Paisley Freight

Best way to advertise is Facebook Marketplace (you will have to weed out the scammers) and ebay when they have a 80% off final value fee weekend

I bought and sold a few last year.

eBay for two sales eventually

eBay for one purchase, no one else was bidding. Probably as it was very specific and collection only from Cardiff.

I put the slowness down to all the bikes being XL in size and a limited market.

I had one bike in an 80% off fees eBay deal. I sent an offer to buyers and got charged 100% of fees because I hadn't read the conditions of send offer to watchers button.

I'd try it on here with a paid add if you are prepared to post it.

Start with a stealth add on a popular mtb forum, late at night while the mods are asleep.

I might see how that goes with a Geometron G16 frame 🥷

Struggled to sell a 2013 Orange Five last year for what I thought was a decent price.... Had essentially zero interest.

Broke it down to parts, still have the seatpost/bars etc left over, but managed to sell the parts for my original asking for the whole bike without struggling much at all.

I sent an offer to buyers and got charged 100% of fees because I hadn’t read the conditions of send offer to watchers button.

You what, never been charged 100% fees from an 80% listing I've sent an offer on. Only clause in the offer terms I can see that might explain it is 'auction ended early' (auction with offers?).

There are some gotchas where if the listing renews automatically then it is no longer eligible for the discount (easy to avoid) and that multiple qty listings do not qualify. In all the cases where I've been charged 100% fees (due to an error in my part) eBay have refunded the difference and patiently explained why I was charged.

@jimmy748 what size and price? 😜

I don't sell often, but when I do it's just on here. In the past it would be very fast, but now it's a little slower, but still selling ok. Just be realistic with the price. I try and encourage a test ride for full bikes so suggest a meet at a trail centre if possible.

@nixie YGM (by the way it’s the worst messaging platform I’ve ever used, beginning of the message is hidden by the privacy button, and half the time the message disappears while typing or just doesn’t send)

I've got 2 quite similar bikes at the minute and I need to shift one or both of them to get something better. The market looks dead though and I'm scared to find out what they're actually worth.

Always used Pinkbike in the past but the bikes I'm interested in have been up for months and months.

Things have definitely changed since the last time i sold something pre covid. Usually shifted in a week or so. Trying to sell on here just now but no interest. I'm going to try FB marketplace and some gravel groups on FB. I might try pink bike but as its a gravel bike might not work. Might also try a paid add here too once I've worked out whether to sell as complete bike now or stick with the split F+F and parts option. Same issue as TallPaul too as XL which alway take a bit longer anyway, also i might have pitched it slightly too high now having done a bit of research so i think pricing is also key.

not keen on using eBay but will if needs be as new bike is here and limited space in the shed!

I still find eBay useful for selling stuff but not necessarily a full bike - also only 'useful' when there's a 80% final value weekend deal or similar. By far the widest audience you'll reach, so it has it's place for me.

PinkBike's being my most successful route but even that's slowed down. No joy selling a bike or a frame-only for me recently so I'm going to need a different approach. Unsure I can be bothered with the pain that FB marketplace will result in.

Again, similar to others, what I'm selling is XL sized and fairly niche so a limited audience.

I was considering the same question. a load of parts and a frame. I've bought a couple of bits to make up the gaps, so am now committed to selling as a whole bike, or at least try to sell as a whole bike first. I'd question whether I'd list all of the parts if I were to go separately, but I could do with the space.

generally on here it can be quiet, unless priced very competitively. pinkbike gets some traction, and ebay is a much larger pool, and you just have to accept the fees.

Won't do facebook marketplace as its full of WOFTers, and gumtree is not quite as bad, but not far off.

(also a XL bike size seller)

I think the main thing is to be realistic about the price. plenty of bikes out there not selling. Ebay sold listings is usually a good indication of actual pricing. Intense don't seem to get a lot of love on the second hand market so I'd be inclined to split it. Being 29 and boost, the bits will still be desirable. 650b stuff appears to be pretty much worthless now.

I used facebook last year.  2 bikes with no action for two months then on a sunday,  they both sold within 30mins ???:|  just have to be patient and make sure you're not asking too much.  lower weekly until you find interest

lovewookieFull Member
I was considering the same question. a load of parts and a frame. I’ve bought a couple of bits to make up the gaps, so am now committed to selling as a whole bike, or at least try to sell as a whole bike first. I’d question whether I’d list all of the parts if I were to go separately, but I could do with the space.

Advertising as full build vs frame only is a tough one. Me, personally, I'm a fussy, untolerant git and would likely be put off many folks' full bike builds, but equally if I thought it was more than the sum of it's parts I'd not let it put me off. Means my used purchases tend to be frame only to fit my own, preferred bits to. But then a fully built bike might appeal to someone who's less hands on with maintenance/building a bike, so might mean a wider audience than a frame alone would. Hard to know for sure.

Think I'll rebuild the frame I'm advertising with some of the (many) spares I've got, and advertise as full bike. Got to be worth trying once I've got the time to do so.

If you have the time, then split and sell as parts will make a bit more. Replaced my XL 2014 Turner Sultan at start of year and have been steadily selling it off. Just have frame, Tyres, Stem left now (and Hope brakes which am keeping) and have made £1200 which am happy with for a 10 yo bike.

Complete second hand bikes are still really cheap at the moment but component prices are really starting to creep up now Wiggle have gone and the other sales dry up.

If it’s a medium drop me a line

It  might work for my lad.

cheers Paul

paul.sal@btinternet.com

Just break them down and shift them on in component form. Some i sell, some i give away, there are several loan bikes in my old club which are built up from my wheels/frames/driveline.

Last complete bike i sold was such a pain, i've never sold another since.

"It's a Scott, would it be suitable for commuting, i want to put a basket and mudguards on it. I've only got 5000 sek."

"I'll give you 3000 sek for it, i've spoken to a mate, he says that's all it's worth."

"I'll be round in 20 minutes with 2500sek in cash, whats your address."

"Will it be ok left outside all year round (in Göteborg), my landlord won't let me store my bike inside."

"I don't like Schwalbe tyres, can you swap them to Maxxis, then i'll buy it."

(A reasonably new Scott Scale HMX frame with a good mix of XT/XTR/Hope and some FOX 32s on...)

Facebook and pinkbike and you’ll get a sale if you are realistic about prices (bear in mind it’s a relatively old bike, second hand market is dead, plenty of new bargains out there on credit).

Sadly never sold anything of note on here even when the marketplace wroked and was more active than it is now.

Quickly sold 2016/7  YT Capra and Tues CF Pro’s on Pinkbike 12 months ago. I took numerous pictures, described v accurately the condition of each bike and pitched at a realistic price.

Both buyers seemed v happy with their purchases.

TBF they were both 27.5”’, light, v good spec  and bullet proof. Letting the Capra go was a wrench 😥

What is a reasonable price? I’ve got a 2006 top quality XC FS bike from an expensive (Superlight!) maker. 26”, 18 speed etc.
At £250, would such a thing sell? Or is that still too much?

Really good pictures and lots of them. Really good descriptions and a good title. Ebay when there's an 80% off offer. 99p start, set a realistic reserve. 14 day auction. Hold your nerve. Always offer postage to maximise your audience.

Post it insured. Add costs to the advert but explain it in the ad. Offer collection.