Expensive bikes - hard to sell 2nd hand
Discussion
I'm in the market for a nice "boutique" road bike. I'm doing the usual of trawling the many selling sites to see what's out there and one thing is quite apparent, anything with a price tag over 2k is hard to move. There have been numerous bikes coming up, with eBay being the obvious outlet but seemingly no interest with bikes being re listed numerous times. There are some instances where sellers are clearly optimistic on price but the 2k threshold seems to be the point where stuff sticks. Bikes at sub £1k sell all day but a £2500 cervelo/look/pinarrello/Colnago/etc struggles to attract a buyer.
Is it that unless these bikes are massively cheaper than new most people would rather get a fresh out the box bike. What is a reasonable price for a little used bike that was possibly 3k new. I'm at the point now that I reckon a 3k bike is worth max 2k at best once it's been ridden out of the showroom
Is it that unless these bikes are massively cheaper than new most people would rather get a fresh out the box bike. What is a reasonable price for a little used bike that was possibly 3k new. I'm at the point now that I reckon a 3k bike is worth max 2k at best once it's been ridden out of the showroom
daddy cool said:
aea730 said:
Is it that unless these bikes are massively cheaper than new most people would rather get a fresh out the box bike.
Basically, yes.I was recently looking for a decent road bike to get back into cycling, but found that people wanted too much for 2nd hand machines, so I went and bought a new bike instead. Advice here on my "what bike" thread said "Buy 2nd hand!", but the stuff available was simply too expensive.
There's also a big perception of risk - spending £2k on a second hand high end bike is a lot of cash for most people, and you don't know if it's had a crash which might have damaged the carbon therefore turning it into an expensive ornament.
On the other hand if it isn't much cash then you can probably afford to buy a new one instead.
On the other hand if it isn't much cash then you can probably afford to buy a new one instead.
Going back to OP's post, if you are watching a bike thats relisted several times, then nothing stopping you contacting the seller and saying "i see its not selling. I'll buy it for £X - let me know". Ive done that in the past - the seller grumbled a bit about how cheap he was selling it for but i ignored that and handed over the cash with a smile!
Other thing that puts people off is the risk that the bikes are stolen goods. If you are buying a bike for a couple of hundred quid, thats all you'd lose if the 5-0 came knocking a few weeks later and took it away to be reunited with its owner. Would be a tough pill to swallow if you'd spunked a couple of grand.
I recently bought a carbon hardtail for £920 - it was listed for £900 and only one other person had a bid. Seller had literally only ridden it around the block and decided he didnt like it. The bike (a Boardman) is £1600 new. I had actually impressed myself with my internet detective skills as i managed to find the ebay seller was a member of a bike forum and had been for years, and had a nice collection of high-end bikes (meeting him for the sale confirmed that). He provided all the paperwork too. The bike was immaculate.
However, in that case i knew that with all the Halfords discounts available i could buy that bike for just over £1,100 brand new and boxed, so wasnt prepared to go much higher than what i paid.
Other thing that puts people off is the risk that the bikes are stolen goods. If you are buying a bike for a couple of hundred quid, thats all you'd lose if the 5-0 came knocking a few weeks later and took it away to be reunited with its owner. Would be a tough pill to swallow if you'd spunked a couple of grand.
I recently bought a carbon hardtail for £920 - it was listed for £900 and only one other person had a bid. Seller had literally only ridden it around the block and decided he didnt like it. The bike (a Boardman) is £1600 new. I had actually impressed myself with my internet detective skills as i managed to find the ebay seller was a member of a bike forum and had been for years, and had a nice collection of high-end bikes (meeting him for the sale confirmed that). He provided all the paperwork too. The bike was immaculate.
However, in that case i knew that with all the Halfords discounts available i could buy that bike for just over £1,100 brand new and boxed, so wasnt prepared to go much higher than what i paid.
daddy cool said:
However, in that case i knew that with all the Halfords discounts available i could buy that bike for just over £1,100 brand new and boxed, so wasnt prepared to go much higher than what i paid.
It does seem that used prices on bikes amount are pretty high to me. As per your own example, sure you still save £200 but at that price difference Id probably have just gone and bought a new one.I am considering a new bike though, so on the other hand it feels good to know I might still get a decent amount selling my old one. Bet I keep it though anyway!
I'm going through a similar struggle. This C59 recently came up on e-bay but with an asking price that was greater than the sum of its parts (at todays prices). I was really only interested in the frameset as it was fitted with a sub-compact and carbon wheels which I didn't want. I was happy to buy the bike but only at a realistic price. The seller persisted and the bike was relisted 3 times and still didn't sell.
As the days are getting shorter, colder and wetter I may just build something up from new over the winter ready for spring.
As the days are getting shorter, colder and wetter I may just build something up from new over the winter ready for spring.
London Cycle Exchange might be worth a look, lot of high end machinary on there and a lot with "SOLD" (whether they were sold recently a different matter). Lots of bankers here had bonus's are now regulated so we're buying Pinarello / Parlee over Porsche (on PCP) these days... Might be worth a punt.
There are 2 big issues with high end bike sales though -
1) Unrealistic sellers (its only worth what someone will pay for it)
2) Fickle buyers / comedy brand loyalty (fashion)
Probably worth breaking bikes though, I don't think complete bikes are worth the sum of the parts (chances are you are selling higher end bikes to someone with wheelsets / groupset perferences all ready).
Buying bikes make buying brand new big engined executive saloons at full MRRP an attractive investment proposition, unless you can afford to take a total bath on it's 2nd hand value (in other words its worth FA) you probably shouldn't be buying it.
There are 2 big issues with high end bike sales though -
1) Unrealistic sellers (its only worth what someone will pay for it)
2) Fickle buyers / comedy brand loyalty (fashion)
Probably worth breaking bikes though, I don't think complete bikes are worth the sum of the parts (chances are you are selling higher end bikes to someone with wheelsets / groupset perferences all ready).
Buying bikes make buying brand new big engined executive saloons at full MRRP an attractive investment proposition, unless you can afford to take a total bath on it's 2nd hand value (in other words its worth FA) you probably shouldn't be buying it.
I think it's to do with the fact that a lot of people don't want to dish out that kind of cash for an item they have not seen or touched (e-bay). I've done it a few times and never had any really bad experiences.
If the seller offers the option to return the bike, then bite. 2k or a bit more for a used Colnago with some Campagnolo jewelry attached, etc., is a much better value than spending 2k on a Trek, Specialized, etc. In 6 months, the new Trek looks used anyways, and there is nothing particularly special about one.
If the seller offers the option to return the bike, then bite. 2k or a bit more for a used Colnago with some Campagnolo jewelry attached, etc., is a much better value than spending 2k on a Trek, Specialized, etc. In 6 months, the new Trek looks used anyways, and there is nothing particularly special about one.
People simply ask way too much for second hand bikes which is why they dont sell quickly, I know from bitter experience. I built up my BFe for about £1800, soon realised it wasnt the right bike for me and tried selling it about 12 months later, was asking something like £1000 but got nowhere, brought it down to £800, not even a sniff. Eventually I sold the frame and forks for peanuts.
In most cases, the sellers starting price normally includes some emotional value too so is often far higher than the market value, especially on the high end stuff. I know my Cervelo would probably do well to make much more than about £1k if I sold it now, but in my head, I would value it much closer to £1500 based on how much I have enjoyed riding it and how good it is. Unless the buyer has ridden the bike in question whatever the brand, they wont know this how good the bike is so to them, its just another over priced second hand bike....
Any s/h bike over £4k is laughable and the seller deluded, regardless of spec and brand.
In most cases, the sellers starting price normally includes some emotional value too so is often far higher than the market value, especially on the high end stuff. I know my Cervelo would probably do well to make much more than about £1k if I sold it now, but in my head, I would value it much closer to £1500 based on how much I have enjoyed riding it and how good it is. Unless the buyer has ridden the bike in question whatever the brand, they wont know this how good the bike is so to them, its just another over priced second hand bike....
Any s/h bike over £4k is laughable and the seller deluded, regardless of spec and brand.
pablo said:
Any s/h bike over £4k is laughable and the seller deluded, regardless of spec and brand.
That really is a blanket statement. There are many bikes for sale s/h at that level that represent good value. After all, if the bike cost £8k new then its a great buy. ASSUMING you have the cash, but not many do, see my above post.
okgo said:
That really is a blanket statement.
There are many bikes for sale s/h at that level that represent good value. After all, if the bike cost £8k new then its a great buy. ASSUMING you have the cash, but not many do, see my above post.
the no one has £4k in the bank post?! There are many bikes for sale s/h at that level that represent good value. After all, if the bike cost £8k new then its a great buy. ASSUMING you have the cash, but not many do, see my above post.
seriously? I use £50s as post it notes... Sure not many people want to drop £4k on a s/h bike but for those who can, they probably also know a s/h bike costing £8k new, for sale at £4k, going to be no faster than a bike costing £4k new....
From what I have seen there are some people who spent £8k on a bike, havent used it much, and sell it for £4k because they can take the hit without blinking and want rid. The others couldnt really afford the £8k in th first place and are desperate to recoup as much as possible
pablo said:
okgo said:
That really is a blanket statement.
There are many bikes for sale s/h at that level that represent good value. After all, if the bike cost £8k new then its a great buy. ASSUMING you have the cash, but not many do, see my above post.
the no one has £4k in the bank post?! There are many bikes for sale s/h at that level that represent good value. After all, if the bike cost £8k new then its a great buy. ASSUMING you have the cash, but not many do, see my above post.
seriously? I use £50s as post it notes... Sure not many people want to drop £4k on a s/h bike but for those who can, they probably also know a s/h bike costing £8k new, for sale at £4k, going to be no faster than a bike costing £4k new....
From what I have seen there are some people who spent £8k on a bike, havent used it much, and sell it for £4k because they can take the hit without blinking and want rid. The others couldnt really afford the £8k in th first place and are desperate to recoup as much as possible
Here's one that caught my eye: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bianchi-Infinito-Athina-...
Not sure what this would have cost just over a year ago however. Starting bids at £2,000 - what does the panel think?
Not sure what this would have cost just over a year ago however. Starting bids at £2,000 - what does the panel think?
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