Best route to sell high end road bike (S-Works Tarmac)
 

Hi all,

I was recently super fortunate and acquired a 2022 Specialized Tarmac SL7 Speed of Light edition. As wicked cool as this bike is, it's far beyond my road riding capabilities. I'd like to sell it so it gets raced and ridden the way it was designed to, but what's the best way? I've reached out to numerous shops in the area to try and sell to them or have them sell on consignment and none bit. My idea was to sell a bike like that through a shop so it has a little more credibility behind it, more peace of mind for the buyer vs. just selling on craigslist or facebook marketplace. Tried the Pro's Closet but I think they lowballed me offer-wise.

Sell here? Any other routes people go with stuff like this? The bike is essentially brand new, never registered the warranty, has the original box and all accessories, and a local shop built it up for me.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de0bf1a9c4.jpg

I have to ask. How did you "acquire" it?

It was a prize from a giveaway Specialized ran in the summer.

I'm really surprised that the shop that built the bike up for you isn't interested in selling it on. With stock shortages this should sell instantly to a serious racer with a modest discount over list price.

btw - that's a hell of a giveaway prize!

You are one lucky.... well, you know. :)

So what if the bike is beyond your capabilities? Do you think everyone that owns a Ferrari has a Formula One driver's skill? I have a full carbon fiber bike, Ultegra Di2, carbon wheels, and at my age and physical condition, I have a hard time keeping up with the C level riders on club group rides. So what? I look really fast at the rest stops! :lol:

Get some pedals for that beauty and ride it! And smile while you do!

Easy to say, but it's worth a lot of cash if it's not the sort of bike that the OP really wants to ride.

I have to ask, “Are you nuts?”

Ride that thing like you stole it!

Fixed that for you. :)

I'll give him double what he paid for it!

Seriously, selling a brand new $15K bike isn't something you're going to get legitimate bites on through Craigslist or FB Marketplace.
I would consider contacting a local cycling / racing club and see what happens.

Probably the income tax on the "value" of that prize is $3k+. I can understand wanting to sell it. TheProsCloset would probably be the simplest avenue

Good plan.

Ebay

Only if Spesh reports it. 😜







i do not condone violating our tax laws.

If I offered you $15k cash or that bike which would you take? The OP would clearly prefer the cash and I don't blame him.
It would only make sense to keep a bike like that if it was the exact bike you would have bought anyway. Otherwise it's just a big pile of cash tied up in a bike you don't really want.

I thought it would be easy for them as well but they didn't seem to want any part of it. And I know! Thought the email from S was a scam at first haha.

There have to be numerous people who would rather have this $15k bike than the "exact bike" they could have bought. Clearly, the OP isn't one of those people (which is fine).

The bike, no question!

Maybe, they did; maybe, the didn't. What did they offer you?

No one is going to pay you too close to $15k since they'd much prefer an actual new bike. Unless, there's somebody who doesn't want to wait.

A bike shop isn't going to want to sell it if they don't make some money off the deal.

Interesting problem.

Link? Provenance?

Would be very unusual for Spec to NOT take a tax deduction... so not reporting it would be very 'iffy' ...
so I get wanting to sell...
Minneapolis... tough time yofear to sell ... even here in CA, winter is not the peak season for new bike sales.
... I would...
put away for winter..., somewhere it won't get dinged or otherwise damaged...
I honestly don;t think the bike supply chain is gonna straighten out for some time... When good weather hits, and outdoor riding is in swing and supplies are still low, your local LBS might rethink their reluctance... and sell on consignment which will still net you more than selling to a reseller.
BTW, usual markup on high end bikes is 20-30% closer to lower 20s... so figure at least 20% to 30% BELOW what you think the bike might sell for ...
I think retailers are thinking/hoping the supply chain straightens out in the next few months... And for certain the manu/wholesalers are all talking that bikes will become available again...
I don;t see it...
Even so, a private sale is gonna net you more than selling to a re-seller, like Pros Closet - you'll have to ship, insure and then bite your nails that the ship service doesn't do that small ding...
If tax payments are an issue, contact a tax accountant and they'll know how to handle it and any payments...
worst comes to worst, you will still be able to sell it in spring, for what you might get now.
... just sayin...
Ride On
Yuri
You are a lucky Dog! only thing I ever won was the draft lottery....

You mean this sweepstakes I suspect.

Barry

That's the one.

Part it out.

He could always donate it to a non-profit charity so they could raffle it off, and he could take the tax deduction!

other thing I didn;t note
This is premium, top-O-da-Line stuff. I would treat it that way, in selling.
If you received printed matter or anything related to the bike or 'Collection', keep it, don;t let it get dog-eared.
Yes, you're selling high performance, but also selling exclusivity. Keep everything you've received.
Find good ways to print out anything Spec has on their site about the bike and collection. All this will make a difference in perceived 'value' to a potential buyer.
these things are usually 'limited availability'. Their primary reason for being is to further validate the product just under it in the hierarchy...
your attention to this also tells the buyer of your appreciation and 'attention' to the value of the bike.
I don't recommend consigning this to a retailer that's just gonna throw it on a 'consigment' rack. I'd be surprised if many dealers would even 'stock' something at this level.
Ideally, It should get prominent display and not be handled and tossed around by curious nose-pickers....
Again, 'Limited Edition'...
A future buyer, at this level, will appreciate your friendly, attentive approach to the value of the bike.
you could part it out... but I think the 'whole' is greater than the sum of it's parts, in this case, and prolly will apply to money returned as well.
Ride On Yuri