Bike Flipping 101
06-02-24, 06:48 AM
#651
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 18
Bikes: Current: '89 Centurion IronMan Master; Projects: '83 Schwinn Super Le Tour, 90's Olmo Sintex; Past: '88 Ralleigh Technium 400, '74 Peugot PX-10, '85 Nishiki Tri-A, 80s Bianchi Sport SS
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That's what I keep saying. And I justify money spent on the fact that I'm saving gas money and wear & tear on my car by riding to work a lot of the time (as opposed to her scrapbooking habit which is expensive and we get nothing back monetarily).
I kind of think price guidelines would be good, if ony to see if you're in the balpark. For instance, mid-80s Schwinns come up frequently; maybe put up a list of the lineup and what examples would typically cost in the range? And maybe the same thing with other brands? I'm not thinking of a database or anything, but as a model gets discussed, add the consensus of its value to the first post of the stickied thread (including the date of "appraisal")? Oh, and the back end and front end: 1984 Schwinn World Sport: Expect to buy at $10-20, Expect to sell for $40-60 after refurb, or something like that.
I kind of think price guidelines would be good, if ony to see if you're in the balpark. For instance, mid-80s Schwinns come up frequently; maybe put up a list of the lineup and what examples would typically cost in the range? And maybe the same thing with other brands? I'm not thinking of a database or anything, but as a model gets discussed, add the consensus of its value to the first post of the stickied thread (including the date of "appraisal")? Oh, and the back end and front end: 1984 Schwinn World Sport: Expect to buy at $10-20, Expect to sell for $40-60 after refurb, or something like that.
If and when I get the basic infrastructure set up, I'll start a thread to ask for suggestions for data points. To start with, i'm thinking:
brand,
model,
style/geometry,
frame material/tubing,
notable features,
purchase price,
condition,
purpose (rider/parts),
sale price,
city/region.
this could be a super handy reference to point people to if/when I get it built.
Last edited by djimb; 06-02-24 at 06:52 AM.
06-06-24, 11:37 PM
#652
You gonna eat that?
possibly bad form, quoting one of the first posts in the thread, but I'm a data engineer, and honestly, a web scraper and flipping database sounds like a fun and useful project. I've been thinking about building a personal database to help me understand my own market, and I'm already working on a tool to scrape and analyze ebay data for bikes and cameras.
If and when I get the basic infrastructure set up, I'll start a thread to ask for suggestions for data points. To start with, i'm thinking:
brand,
model,
style/geometry,
frame material/tubing,
notable features,
purchase price,
condition,
purpose (rider/parts),
sale price,
city/region.
this could be a super handy reference to point people to if/when I get it built.
If and when I get the basic infrastructure set up, I'll start a thread to ask for suggestions for data points. To start with, i'm thinking:
brand,
model,
style/geometry,
frame material/tubing,
notable features,
purchase price,
condition,
purpose (rider/parts),
sale price,
city/region.
this could be a super handy reference to point people to if/when I get it built.
I just logged on for perhaps the first time this year. Thinking about buying a new bike. An actual, new, bike. I started a thread in the 50+ forum to try to figure out what I want.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
06-12-24, 02:27 PM
#654
Newbie
Regarding time spent….
I flipped bikes pretty easily during Covid. My main issue was racing to get a bike that was a good deal, or just all the driving around. I switched from that to just offering tune-ups and bike repair. It worked out, especially during spring, when all shops are swamped.
06-12-24, 06:27 PM
#655
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Mateo,Ca.
Posts: 4,004
Bikes: TRIMMED DOWN THE HERD
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You're like a few years too late. Don't. Not worth it right now. No one is buying. Not unless you don't mind the wait to sell a bike then go for it. But "everyone" has a bike right now and doesn't really need a used one.
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06-14-24, 12:58 PM
#656
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,643
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
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I lost a ton of money flipping bikes. I have impaired executive function, so I make a bad business person.
I might have just gotten my money back. Years ago, I bought two old English 3-speeds for $30 (for the pair). I used the Rudge Sports as my own bike. I put a tiny bit of money into it for things such as missing spokes, new tires. I paid $100 to ship it to Florida so I could have a bike when visiting my in-laws, but that may not count. Last year, my mother in law's building threw out a bunch of bikes in the bike room without following proper procedure. After months of unanswered correspondence, they wrote a check for $500, an amount my spouse came up with. I owe her everything.
I might have just gotten my money back. Years ago, I bought two old English 3-speeds for $30 (for the pair). I used the Rudge Sports as my own bike. I put a tiny bit of money into it for things such as missing spokes, new tires. I paid $100 to ship it to Florida so I could have a bike when visiting my in-laws, but that may not count. Last year, my mother in law's building threw out a bunch of bikes in the bike room without following proper procedure. After months of unanswered correspondence, they wrote a check for $500, an amount my spouse came up with. I owe her everything.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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