TIPS FOR SELLERS

(J. Chup) said:

From my POV, here are a few things people should consider in here:

Lotsa good points here.

A couple follow ups and add-ons, if I may.

Quoted message said:

1) Post the important specs of what you are selling! If you don't
know, find out. A lot of manufacturers keep specs on their sites of
even the old stuff.

Yes, please describe the stuff. And, No I'm not going to follow the ebay link to
see your description and I sure as hell am not going to search for your user
name. For stuff that has a size, just put it here.

Quoted message said:

2) Post prices on new stuff under Nashbar and other catalogs--we all
know the cheapest places and coupon codes.
3) A good starting point for used stuff is half of retail price. We
all get tired of seeing the same damn used stem posted 27 times at
nearly full retail price. Try jumping the flaming hoops of the Ebay
process if you can't accept this.
4) Bike shops--same deal. You're better off putting your stuff on
ebay. We all know what your stuff is worth. Buyers, try your LBS if
you need a personal level of service. Exceptions include Dan
Donnelly's fantastic prices and service. I had excellent luck with
Ted Prahl as well.
5) Accept personal checks. In ten years, I've never had a check
bounce. The whole point of this is to get rid of your stuff with zero
service fees. Thirty seven cents for a stamp is a lot better than
what PP is charging!
6) Accept trades. Have fun with it.

"Fit" items: bars, stems, saddles even are especially candidates for this.

Quoted message said:

7) Give stuff away for the cost of shipping. Your seven speed stuff
is better off on someone's beater than it is in the landfill. There
are also local Recycle-a-bike and Critical Mass charities than can use
your old stuff.

A healthy outlook. This bike thing's supposed to be fun.

Ron

I agree. I cannot count the number of times I have had to ask for more
rather basic information from sellers. This is especially true with frames.
Please list how things are measured -- center-to-center or center-to-top for
the seat tube, and please list the top tube length. This turns out to be as
important as the seat tube length for proper bike fit. If you don't know
how to measure these things, find out.

Same goes for handlebars -- center to center or outside to outside
measurements differ by 2 centimenters -- a very important 2 centimeters.

"J. Chup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

From my POV, here are a few things people should consider in here:

1) Post the important specs of what you are selling! If you don't
know, find out. A lot of manufacturers keep specs on their sites of
even the old stuff.
2) Post prices on new stuff under Nashbar and other catalogs--we all
know the cheapest places and coupon codes.
3) A good starting point for used stuff is half of retail price. We
all get tired of seeing the same damn used stem posted 27 times at
nearly full retail price. Try jumping the flaming hoops of the Ebay
process if you can't accept this.
4) Bike shops--same deal. You're better off putting your stuff on
ebay. We all know what your stuff is worth. Buyers, try your LBS if
you need a personal level of service. Exceptions include Dan
Donnelly's fantastic prices and service. I had excellent luck with
Ted Prahl as well.
5) Accept personal checks. In ten years, I've never had a check
bounce. The whole point of this is to get rid of your stuff with zero
service fees. Thirty seven cents for a stamp is a lot better than
what PP is charging!
6) Accept trades. Have fun with it.
7) Give stuff away for the cost of shipping. Your seven speed stuff
is better off on someone's beater than it is in the landfill. There
are also local Recycle-a-bike and Critical Mass charities than can use
your old stuff.