Home dealers push second hand bike prices up
04-16-20, 07:28 AM
#26
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Socialism much? Seriously?
I've gotten real sour on the number of BF members who act like they've been violated in some way and think there ought to be a new law. I understand you didn't verbalize wanting a new law, but blaming retired folks trying to make a couple bucks? C'mon OP we can do better...... Can't we?
I've gotten real sour on the number of BF members who act like they've been violated in some way and think there ought to be a new law. I understand you didn't verbalize wanting a new law, but blaming retired folks trying to make a couple bucks? C'mon OP we can do better...... Can't we?
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04-16-20, 08:52 AM
#27
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Socialism much? Seriously?
I've gotten real sour on the number of BF members who act like they've been violated in some way and think there ought to be a new law. I understand you didn't verbalize wanting a new law, but blaming retired folks trying to make a couple bucks? C'mon OP we can do better...... Can't we?
I've gotten real sour on the number of BF members who act like they've been violated in some way and think there ought to be a new law. I understand you didn't verbalize wanting a new law, but blaming retired folks trying to make a couple bucks? C'mon OP we can do better...... Can't we?
To the OP:
When someone gives up time to seek out a deal, inspect it, pay for it, deliver it back to their house, clean it, service it (more paying), take nice pictures of it and write a description for it, that's work and work pays. Nothing evil about it. Even more so when you pick up scrap off the street and get it running. That's recycling. Why shouldn't you charge a buck for your trouble?
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04-16-20, 09:17 AM
#29
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Obviously, most of the posters on this thread are shills for "Big Old Guy Flipper".
No one you see is smarter than he:
No one you see is smarter than he:
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04-16-20, 09:30 AM
#30
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Hey alo,
How cheap a bike are you looking for? I got several used ones, not fixed up at all - real klunkers. PM me. You pay shipping.
How cheap a bike are you looking for? I got several used ones, not fixed up at all - real klunkers. PM me. You pay shipping.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
04-16-20, 10:26 AM
#31
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I agree with the sentiment that whatever people are willing to buy, they’re willing to buy. No such thing as overpriced unless...
You buy something that was misrepresented. I scouted a bike for someone that seemed ready to ride. It was an old TCR. I should have asked to meet at a bike shop because it had a) wheels with corroded nipples/spokes that failed upon a truing, requiring new wheels. b) a cracked FD hanger (HOW?). c) a worn (octalink, ie obscure) bottom bracket. Not cheap to fix at all, and the bike was priced as though it were ready to ride. My fault for not getting it inspected, but used bike sellers should always be willing to meet at a bike shop imo.
You buy something that was misrepresented. I scouted a bike for someone that seemed ready to ride. It was an old TCR. I should have asked to meet at a bike shop because it had a) wheels with corroded nipples/spokes that failed upon a truing, requiring new wheels. b) a cracked FD hanger (HOW?). c) a worn (octalink, ie obscure) bottom bracket. Not cheap to fix at all, and the bike was priced as though it were ready to ride. My fault for not getting it inspected, but used bike sellers should always be willing to meet at a bike shop imo.
04-16-20, 10:33 AM
#32
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My recommendation when you encounter "dubious" threads such as this is to check the OP's thread and/or post history. You can often glean a lot.
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04-16-20, 10:37 AM
#33
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Heh....the things we talk about when we have so much extra time available!Personally I think it's cool if retirees or others are rebuilding bikes to sell. Doesn't mean I have to buy the bike if I find it too expensive and if I like it the bike enough I would offer an amount that I'm willing to pay to them. They don't accept it, no skin off my head, I simply won't buy.
But still cool that they might be doing something they enjoy.
Might be better to do that than sitting around a forum complaining about what others are doing........
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04-16-20, 10:44 AM
#34
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There are some people, often pensioners, who like to make a little extra money to supplement their pension. Some of these deal in second hand bikes. They read the local for sale pages often. When they see a bike cheap, they quickly pick it up. Some even get bikes from the trash. On some bikes they may swap parts. They then sell these bikes at higher prices.
So when an ordinary average person looks for a second hand bike, on the rare occasion they see a cheap bike, it is sold before they have a chance to buy it. The only bikes they can buy are these more expensive second hand bikes from the home dealers. Those who don't know, think these are normal prices for second hand bikes.
In places where you don't have these home dealers, you can find cheap bikes. Where you have these home dealers, second hand bikes are expensive.
Other home dealers do this with computers. In some places, it is impossible to buy a second hand computer at a reasonable price. Only those with little understanding of computers buy them.
Some car dealers also snap up cheap second hand cars for sale privately. Some also sell the worst cars from home, not at the dealership.
So when an ordinary average person looks for a second hand bike, on the rare occasion they see a cheap bike, it is sold before they have a chance to buy it. The only bikes they can buy are these more expensive second hand bikes from the home dealers. Those who don't know, think these are normal prices for second hand bikes.
In places where you don't have these home dealers, you can find cheap bikes. Where you have these home dealers, second hand bikes are expensive.
Other home dealers do this with computers. In some places, it is impossible to buy a second hand computer at a reasonable price. Only those with little understanding of computers buy them.
Some car dealers also snap up cheap second hand cars for sale privately. Some also sell the worst cars from home, not at the dealership.
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04-16-20, 11:59 AM
#35
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I've been buying, repairing, selling, & trading vintage bikes for over twelve years. Lately, in my market, the advertised prices for old bikes is way too high. I've been selling beautiful, completely refurbished "like new" bikes for less than some of these sellers are asking for old worn out junk. Vintage bikes I used to find for $50 to $125 are listed for $250 to $350 right now. I hope it's just a seasonal thing. And, when weather gets crappy again I can load up on some more old bikes. Oh yeah. I'm a 63 year old Boomer that retired last Summer after working 48 years. I can't remember ever making any profit off this hobby. It's usually just enough to buy & repair the next one. Be good. Have fun.
04-16-20, 02:01 PM
#37
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I don't know why I'm even posting anything here.. just some random snarky observations:
- Flipping bikes is got to be one of the lowest return for hour invested of any human activity I can think of. If you want to make money, become a hedge fund manager. I fix bikes for my cronies - at cost, because it is a (usually) relaxing hobby, we go on long test rides, and they buy me flats of beverages.
- Most of the profit-oriented flippers I've run into are appallingly bad mechanics, with little fundamental grasp of indexed shifting, component cross-compatibility, bike fit, etc.
- The less work the flipper does on the bike, likely the better. The best case scenario for an buyer is for the flipper to 'tune' the bike (i.e.: do nothing except drip the chain in used motor oil that they scavenged at the local recycling depot), and hand it over to the seller so that they can get it fixed by someone who knows what they are doing. Most flippers replace components with stuff that is incompatible or broken, making things worse.
- Our local Craigslist is a cesspool of overpriced obsolete and broken crap, and the prices double between November and now.
- I've pretty much given up on Craigslist for finding anything. Sponsored racers: that is who you want to cultivate as a source of stuff. Each year, or when their sponsorship changes, a whole new turnover in one year-old gear.
04-16-20, 02:10 PM
#38
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Dave Mayer
^ Facts.
Flipping isn't really profitable. I do it as a hobby and for the most part, the work to payoff ratio isn't impressive. I just do it because I hate seeing good bikes rusting in the street.
^ Facts.
Flipping isn't really profitable. I do it as a hobby and for the most part, the work to payoff ratio isn't impressive. I just do it because I hate seeing good bikes rusting in the street.
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04-16-20, 04:47 PM
#39
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There are several Craigslist bike flippers here. Some consistently appear to offer reasonable deals. Others have nothing but junk and are basically wasting their time taking photos and making an ad listing. Then some ads are just trash.
I still like looking at "flippers" listings more than the "brand new, never ridden, well taken care of" bike sold by individuals that are missing parts, rusting, and have an asking price of 80% of new retail.
I still like looking at "flippers" listings more than the "brand new, never ridden, well taken care of" bike sold by individuals that are missing parts, rusting, and have an asking price of 80% of new retail.
04-16-20, 05:57 PM
#40
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Hey everyone just a handy helpful note; people buy and sell stuff!
If you are buying a used bike know what you are looking at, and check to see if it is in good condition and see if you can test ride it. Make sure the bike is going to fit and not need to put a ton of money into it unless the bike is super valuable. If you don't know what you are doing, be even more extremely cautious buying a used bike. Also please avoid buying stolen bikes which is quite common on the used market, sadly. If you are looking for a good bike to start on get something from your local shop that way you can get warranties and support from them. Learn more about bikes and then wade into the pool of used bikes. Diving in without knowing how to swim can sometimes work out and sometimes end quite poorly.
If you are buying a used bike know what you are looking at, and check to see if it is in good condition and see if you can test ride it. Make sure the bike is going to fit and not need to put a ton of money into it unless the bike is super valuable. If you don't know what you are doing, be even more extremely cautious buying a used bike. Also please avoid buying stolen bikes which is quite common on the used market, sadly. If you are looking for a good bike to start on get something from your local shop that way you can get warranties and support from them. Learn more about bikes and then wade into the pool of used bikes. Diving in without knowing how to swim can sometimes work out and sometimes end quite poorly.
04-16-20, 05:59 PM
#41
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You all are totally blind. Yes, he's hoarding all the bikes in the city and inflating the prices. What you don't realize is that depending on price, some of the frames are filled with certain powders. He's probably got mules running the bikes to inner-city. Didn't you all see 'Easy Rider'?
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04-16-20, 06:15 PM
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I’d opine, but I would probably get a point.
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04-16-20, 06:16 PM
#43
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My son and I buy, fix and sell used Ag tractors. I guess that's called flipping. Few years back, we bought one, cleaned it up and sold it two days later for a net 8K profit. Sometimes it's easy to make money in America. As I say, there's three happy people when the transactions are done. The guy we buy from, the guy we sell to and me. All happy.....
04-16-20, 06:53 PM
#44
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I've made plenty of money flipping bikes... mostly years ago. Almost all were found in the trash. (some were given to me by friends and family) I almost always tore them all the way down and went through everything, spending many hours and a few bucks on them. Then, I would post them on CL just a bit lower than what all the non-refurbished junkers were priced at. It's crazy what many folks ask for junky bikes that are barely even rideable. Because of the quality of my finished bikes, they always sold fast, often to the first person who showed up. And since my costs were low I always made some money.
But those days are pretty much gone. For several years now the neighborhoods have been overrun with "recyclers" who go around and pick stuff up from the curbs. Any bike on the curb is not there for long. Once, while riding my bike, I saw a homeowner wheeling a bike out to the trash a few houses ahead. Before I got there a recycler in a pickup truck raced around me and snatched it up!
But those days are pretty much gone. For several years now the neighborhoods have been overrun with "recyclers" who go around and pick stuff up from the curbs. Any bike on the curb is not there for long. Once, while riding my bike, I saw a homeowner wheeling a bike out to the trash a few houses ahead. Before I got there a recycler in a pickup truck raced around me and snatched it up!
04-16-20, 07:08 PM
#45
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A few years ago I sold an ancient Cannondale frame to a flipper for about $40. I was glad someone could make use of it. BTW last fall an LBS hosted a deal where a pro flipping company bought used bikes & frames. I brought an 80's Columbus SL racing frame that was in pretty good condition but they only offered $20.
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04-16-20, 08:47 PM
#47
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[QUOTE=AlmostTrick;21422410] It's crazy what many folks ask for junky bikes that are barely even rideable. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
04-17-20, 01:59 AM
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https://www.onlineathens.com/2020041...ercise-outside
An Augusta television station interviewed Brett Ardrey, owner of OUTSPOKIN about two weeks ago about the volume increase in Repairs as well as the increase in bicycle sales. Augusta didn't have the Masters last week and the weather has been great since late January. Temperatures have been mostly in the 68F to 87F range for daily high temps since Feb. 1, 2020. With the Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing and the stay at home directives and school closures which have been in place in Richmond County-AUGUSTA GA since the Mayor Hardie Davis ordered the bars, restaurants, tattoo, hair, nail salons, barbershops, and non-essential businesses closed about a month ago, long before GA governor Brian Kemp ordered it statewide, Augusta residents have had more time on their hands with their children at home 24 hours a day, so they have gone to bicycling as a means to beat the stress and get exercise outside while at the same time spending time with their children and grandchildren on bikes at the 6ft social distance guideline of course.
An Augusta television station interviewed Brett Ardrey, owner of OUTSPOKIN about two weeks ago about the volume increase in Repairs as well as the increase in bicycle sales. Augusta didn't have the Masters last week and the weather has been great since late January. Temperatures have been mostly in the 68F to 87F range for daily high temps since Feb. 1, 2020. With the Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing and the stay at home directives and school closures which have been in place in Richmond County-AUGUSTA GA since the Mayor Hardie Davis ordered the bars, restaurants, tattoo, hair, nail salons, barbershops, and non-essential businesses closed about a month ago, long before GA governor Brian Kemp ordered it statewide, Augusta residents have had more time on their hands with their children at home 24 hours a day, so they have gone to bicycling as a means to beat the stress and get exercise outside while at the same time spending time with their children and grandchildren on bikes at the 6ft social distance guideline of course.
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04-17-20, 02:46 AM
#49
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Don't knock those who scrounge up old bicycles and then resell them because they keep those old bicycles at least minimally roadworthy and rideable, which otherwise would be in flat tire, cobwebs, and unrideable without tubes, tires, cables, brake pads, and greased bearings...
It isn't magic that allows them to acquire those old bikes, it is effort. The early bird gets the worm and those folks that re-hab and flip old bicycles are generally dedicated and passionate about the hobby.
It isn't magic that allows them to acquire those old bikes, it is effort. The early bird gets the worm and those folks that re-hab and flip old bicycles are generally dedicated and passionate about the hobby.
