Topic: Question on selling

[steelheel]

I'm looking for advice from others who have sold bikes in the past.  What seems to be the best way to go about it?  Newspaper ads, eBay, bike specific magazines, local shop, this website, etc???

Gotta sell but I don't want to spend $30-$50 bucks several times to post an ad that nobody looks at.

Much appreciated.

[Uncle Ernie]

E-bay is a crap shoot.  I don't think bikes get what they're worth usually, but on the other hand, a couple months ago a CB400F went for $4500!!!  Bidders don't like reserves or high opening bids.  I'd wait 'till you HAVE to sell quick for Ebay.   I recommend model specific sites like this and local papers.  Also Craigs list, club ads, and if it's in REALLY good condition, Brad's Bikes might take it on.

[Sam Green Racing]

Best bet is to sell localy to a private buyer.
You will get a better price selling private, and you have no shipping problems.
Your local paper will not be as expensive as a magazine.
Selling as the weather warms up is a good time, not many people want a bike in winter.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Sam.

[Gordon]

I definitely second the Craigslist suggestion if you live in or near a large city.  It's completely free and I've had a lot of success both buying and selling with it.  The only problem is you do tend to get a lot of "lookers" who aren't actually interested in buying, but you can weed most of them out over the phone. 

[seaweb11]

Simple/

Don't sell it, just tuck it away until you feel the itch again/ 

[skamania19]

Simple/

Don't sell it, just tuck it away until you feel the itch again/ 

Now there's good advice!

Winter could be a good time to sell if it's a project bike or just in need of a few minor repairs, so the buyer can have it ready for the warmer weather. I know a guy who specifically looks for winter projects. Otherwise, I'd agree with Sam that selling in spring is a better bet.

[heffay]

The following post, "Question on selling" by steelheel has been reported by
CMazz on a board you moderate:

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=6247.msg54064#msg54064

The reporter has made the following comment:
Best way that I have found is the Auto Trader, buy the large ad and this should
do the trick.Toronto,Canada

Regards,
The The Single Overhead Cam 4 Forums Team.

WHY DID I GET THIS IN MY EMAIL?

[ElCheapo]

Jeeze...  who knows Heffay

Anyway ElCheapo sells lots and lots of bikes. I cover at least two bases at once on the where to sell it part. I never use newspaper adds to sell (only buy). They are just too expensive (thats why I am the mighty cheapo  ). I start out with selling on eBay. In the listing I ALWAYS say that I reserve the right to close auction for local sale. This means if you have it listed and there is just $200 on th bids and your local guy is offer a grand then you can close the auction early and sell it like NOW. Once I have the listing done I also set it up all pretty and clean with a for sale sign out front.

On the eBay auctions, the more photos the better. An mpeg or mp3 sample of it running ALWAYS helps it bring a better price. People like when they can hear it. The rest I cant help with without giving away my complete layout.

Good luck... 

[74cb750]

On the eBay auctions, the more photos the better. An mpeg or mp3 sample of it running ALWAYS helps it bring a better price. People like when they can hear it. The rest I cant help with without giving away my complete layout.

ElCheapo,
Hey I never thought of that. I'll have to try it next time I list a bike on ebay.

How much better have you found the respose to be? vs no mp3 (sounds)?

peace

[ElCheapo]

Well with the MP3 sound I had a set of early 60's Bridgestone Dual Twin 175's pull over $600 (one runner and one parts). I think the runner had bad rings and was pulling oil on the right bank. But with the running sound sample he did not care. Without I had a Suzuki Madura (DAMN NICE - Should have kept the bike) that was better bike overall pull about $550-$600, sad part is that I should have closed the auction because I had someone offer me $1,000 flat before the auction closed. I guess you have to go with your gut. The worst part is that I know the guy had the money.

I can tell you the Bridgestone's would have never sold for the money they did without the sound sample. I bought them for $30 and told the users I had done the hard work (getting the mess to run), which I had. Bad part was that I shut off the petcock because I had a float stick. When the guy arrived I had to start it on propane because I could not get the gas to flow again  . They were sold as one runner and one parts bike. The guy did go away with a truck bed full of parts. Score for him, score for me.

[74cb750]

Elcheapo,
could you send me a sample link or the coding you use to attach it in the auction?

Don't be depressed, life goes on, bikes come and go, but the pavement never stops calling, calling calling whooo whooooo

Happy now?

[ElCheapo]

For the coding part of the auction.... First I host it in my downloads folder on my website www.reedsburg-photography.com

Funny song hosted here. I shared it in a different thread here.

www.reedsburg-photography.com/downloads/ItsAGreatDayToWhoopSomebody'sAss.mp3

But it works the same way here..... when you paste in a link. For eBay (when I want a clean looking link) I compose the monster in frontpage 2000 or type it in Word 2000 and give it hyperlink properties to the file. If it is a mpeg/mp3 it will open by default in the users media player that it set for these file types.

[dusterdude]

man,that #$%* is over my head.

[Uncle Ernie]

waddyhail you all are talking about?!

[ElCheapo]

waddyhail you all are talking about?!

Using a MP3 or MPEG movie sample to help sell your bike on eBay or other online venue. I have been able to prove again and again using a small video or sound sample will help you bring more money than without.