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1963 Schwinn Sting Ray De Luxe

Old 05-27-20, 07:43 PM
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modestholdings
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1963 Schwinn Sting Ray De Luxe

It's taken me six years, but I'm finally about to the point where my late grandparents' barn is cleaned out. One of the last things to deal with was my dad's old bicycle. It's been here since he got it, likely in early '64. I can't document that it's a one owner, though.

Anyway, I scheduled it to post on eBay this morning with an opening bid of $68 and went to sleep. I woke up to see it was already at more than ten times that and it took me the better part of the morning to pick my jaw up off the floor. As I write this it's at $1,350ish and I've got an offer of $2,000. I took a little time to do the work I should've done before I posted it and understand it's a first year model, assuming the bikehistoryorg serial number decoder is accurate - 12/14/63. I don't know the first thing about bicycles, so I'm in the dark here as to whether I should leap at the $2,000 offer, wait on the auction, or do something else. Your appraisals and advice are welcomed.

Thank you in advance!
Jon
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Old 05-27-20, 08:02 PM
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Congratulations. Sounds like you won the lottery. Take the $2K. Be good. Have fun.
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Old 05-28-20, 03:23 PM
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I accept offers until I have bids. Once I have bids, I accept the outcome of the auction process. I feel it’s unfair to end early once people are bidding.

its up to you,

And this is day one. Just watch it go up!

Given eBay uses proxy bids, your high bid may already be $2,000!

Last edited by wrk101; 05-28-20 at 03:26 PM.
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Old 05-28-20, 03:30 PM
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That's a more thoughtful approach than my... non-approach. I appreciate it and think it's probably best, so I'll follow it. It doesn't come up much, as it's been over a decade (at least) since I've sold anything on eBay, but I'll try and remember it if I do so again. Thanks.
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Old 06-01-20, 01:27 PM
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Looks like a good thing you let it ride. Congrats!
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Old 06-03-20, 02:59 PM
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Thanks! My dad had offered the bike to my little sister, who had demurred over the years on whether or not she wanted it. She finally passed, but she'll get the proceeds anyway. It ought to be a nice surprise for her!

Cheers,
Jon
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Old 06-04-20, 09:19 AM
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Very cool. I have a Schwinn Bicentennial Stingray, but I don't think it's worth near that kind of money. Last time I looked, I think they were going for around $300. I had a Kent bike when I was young that I converted to a stingray with a banana seat and a ape-hangers.

Dave
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Old 06-04-20, 09:34 AM
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I'm still a bit agog. I assume it's because it's a first year?
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Old 06-04-20, 06:45 PM
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Most likely, but sometimes you just get lucky. All it takes is 2 people who really want the bike and they get into a bidding war.

Dave
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Old 06-05-20, 08:47 AM
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Would you let us know what it garnered?
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Old 06-05-20, 09:40 AM
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Just make sure you do a good job packing (and documenting it).
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Old 06-05-20, 12:32 PM
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give us an Ebay link <?> would like to watch this one...
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Old 06-05-20, 12:42 PM
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I don't see it on current or completed (given that the first post was over a week ago, it's probably completed at this point).
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Old 06-05-20, 02:50 PM
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Hello all, as this is my ninth post, I'll put the link in the next one. Bike sold for $2,800.
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Old 06-05-20, 02:51 PM
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Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/22402383241...m=224023832415
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Old 06-05-20, 04:28 PM
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Almost looks like the one I had when I was a kid. It was an early 70's bike most likely purchased in 74'.
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Old 06-05-20, 04:38 PM
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I am curious, bemused perhaps, whether the stars aligned and I got lucky on the auction, or if that's actually an appropriate street value? The guy with the winning bid says he's giving it to his dad as a nostalgic gift from his childhood, not to actually ride. That strikes me as a particularly expensive form of nostalgia, though it makes no difference to me how the bike ends up being used, admired or warehoused at this point.
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Old 06-08-20, 03:57 PM
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^
I can't remember what kind of bike it was but a fellow digger like myself got lucky on some unusual 1930's bike in nice shape out of an SA about 7 years ago.
Paid a $100 for it. I only saw one pic which he thought was a great pic, but I couldn't make out anything on it...

Anyway he puts it on Ebay for $2500, and over a couple months the mosquito's keep bugging him () to lower the price, and he finally sells it for $2500.

The buyer was an artist and was going to use it in an art display he was making. To the best of my knowledge he was not going to damage the bike to make the display. And he was not a cyclist.
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Old 06-08-20, 04:03 PM
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Well, of course UPS manhandled it during shipment, so now I'm learning the ins and outs of trying to settle up. Glad I insured it, but I've got a feeling someone (that someone not being UPS) is going to end up unhappy. Buyer says he thinks it's $500 worth of damage, but I've got no way to tell and UPS is only going to pay out what they want to. I'll start a new thread asking for advice on how to deal with it.
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Old 06-08-20, 04:06 PM
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^
Sad.

That's why I refuse to ship bikes. Who packed the bike?

This is the kind of bike you might have been able to do local pick up.
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Old 06-08-20, 04:14 PM
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UPS packed it. The office where I dropped it off says they took photos of it, so I imagine they understood it was important not to screw it up, but here we are.

And yeah, in hindsight, I should've just thrown it in the back of the truck and driven to Michigan. By the time this is all over, I'll have at least 16 hours and $300 sunk into it, I'm sure.
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Old 06-08-20, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by modestholdings
UPS packed it. The office where I dropped it off says they took photos of it, so I imagine they understood it was important not to screw it up, but here we are.

And yeah, in hindsight, I should've just thrown it in the back of the truck and driven to Michigan. By the time this is all over, I'll have at least 16 hours and $300 sunk into it, I'm sure.
Never, I repeat never let UPS pack your bike! EVER!

You take it to a good LBS and pay them to pack it! My local REI is excellent at it as well.

Live an learn. I wish when I read this thread I asked that. Nobody ever mentions shipping.........
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Old 06-08-20, 05:16 PM
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Well, I'm fresh out of historical bikes!

But I'll certainly remember this for anything else of value. Burnt hand remembers best, they say.
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Old 06-08-20, 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by himespau
Just make sure you do a good job packing (and documenting it).
Sorry, I should have been more explicit and emphatic. Especially with a bike in this price range.
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Old 06-08-20, 05:33 PM
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Well, there's plenty of documentation, so hopefully that makes a difference and UPS honors the insurance without too much back bending over backward stuff.

Should've paid a bike shop to have sold it on consignment, I guess.
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