Under pricing on flips

[dragnusa]

Does it ever make you feel like your under pricing a flip bike when someone is willing to drive 2 hours to pick it up? Not that I sell my bikes to get rich it just amazes me what people would drive 2 hours to pick up a bike

[outskirtscustoms]

Depends a lot on the bike, If it was something cool that I had to have or know I'll never find again I wouldn't feel bad about driving a few hours to pick it up.

[dragnusa]

Its just a 90s raleigh mountain bike that I had listed on cl with some other bikes. Our nearest cl city is an hour away just never thought someone that far away would want it. Actually thought it was a fake email at first until I talked to the guy on the phone

[Wildcat]

It could be the road trip is "therapy", they might need to get away for a few hours.

[dragnusa]

Most flip bikes I sell are from 25 to 75 each depending on what I have to do to them and what they are,(except for my special bikes) which I do sell for more. so it really shouldnt surprise me how far people will drive for a good priced bike

[udallcustombikes]

I had a girl drive two hours each way to get an '80s Huffy girls lightweight. I had both matching his and hers bikes in near mint condition. She is from a college town and said the same type bike was going for 3 times the price back at home. She wanted to buy the men's bike to flip but couldn't fit both bikes in her cavalier.

[largek9]

Very good question! I bought this bike at a flea market for $25. Clean & lube repair hand grip (foam type) looked brand new! I put in C/L for $90. obo. First call says I'll take it. Shows up to my shop and ask why I was selling it so cheap? I said that I was really into older bikes as he could plainly see in my litte shop.full of old bikes He was working and in his company car, I won't say the name but it had a BIG tail on the back of it! We removed the front wheel stuffed in the back and off he went. He asking me more than once if I was sure about the price! ? I worked at a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer for twelve years as Sevice Manager. The dealer always told me "There's a butt for every seat you just have to find the right butt" That must be the answer!

[dragnusa]

WOW OK the guy showed up and rode the bike around the block then came back saying the rear shifter worked when he started off then wouldnt shift no more, so I told him id look at it for him if it couldnt be fixed Id replace the shifter for him. Then he asked if he could try the other 26 inch mtn bike I had in the ad so I pulled it out and let him ride it while I checked the shifter out. well the tiny ratcheting spring was broke so I started replacing the shifter and when he got back he said the second bike needed slightly adjusted which I told him I could do for him if he wanted it instead. And he looks at me while Im finishing the shifter and he says "actually I was looking for TREK". Ummm ok then why did you drive 2 hours to look at a 18 year old Raleigh then. 5 mins after he left Both bikes was shifting perfect

[kingfish254]

WOW OK the guy showed up and rode the bike around the block then came back saying the rear shifter worked when he started off then wouldnt shift no more, so I told him id look at it and change the shifter for him if it couldnt be fixed Id replace the shifter for him. Then he asked if he could try the other 26 inch mtn bike I had in the ad so I pulled it out and let him ride it while I checked the shifter out. well the tiny ratcheting spring was broke so I started replacing the shifter and when he got back he said the second bike needed slightly adjusted which I told him I could do for him if he wanted it instead. And he looks at me while Im finishing the shifter and he says "actually I was looking for TREK". Ummm ok then why did you drive 2 hours to look at a 18 year old Raleigh then. 5 mins after he left Both bikes was shifting perfect

You can fix shifters, but you just can't fix stupid!

[dragnusa]

You can fix shifters, but you just can't fix stupid!

LOL I could see that on a tshirt

[Bicycle808]

I'm thinking, if you flip a bike and you made money, then you did "good enough".

TBH, I don't see the appeal of flipping bikes. If you're good at it, you're just helping to inflate the prices of used bikes and bike parts. If you're not good at it, you're wasting time, money, and effort. I like to fix old bikes, so I do tend to help out friends/ co-workers who buy something stupid and cheap on CL; they cover the cost of parts, and I put it together for or with them. I'm not making money that way, but for me, it's a hobby. I have sold some parts on here, but i generally break even, take a slight loss, or come close (tough to measure if you got some use out of the part between when ya bought it and when ya sold it.)

The way I see it, the few bucks you make by swindling some guy who doesn't yet no how to tune-up an old bike isn't worth it when you consider the number of tire-kickers, nigerian money-laundering scheme-sters, psychopaths, and crooks you're liable to run into with a CL ad. A buddy of mine was selling his road bike on CL for a decent price; eventually got what he was asking, but not before he wasted hours of his weekend waiting for no-show "customers" or weird low-ballers. Worst was a guy who took it for a testride around the block, came back and said "I can only give you like $50; it needs new wheels." My buddy says he spun the wheel and it was waaaaay out of true; inspection of the nipples showed that the "customer" had loosened all the driveside spokes to make it look like the wheels were busted, so he could shoot a low-ball offer. Needless to say, my buddy told the guy to take off while he still had the legs to carry him. Long story short, I gotta ask: is this kind of thing actually worth it, for maybe $50 to $100 "profit" off of a few hours' labor?

I don't think it is, but that's just my opinion.
-rob

[kingfish254]

Dude, how do you think I am paying for my vacation to Southeast Asia?
How do you think I paid for the cool vintage frames and bikes that I have.
If you know what you are doing, there is good money to be had while having fun at the same time.
And I do it without swindling anyone.
It's called a free market economy and it's as American as those old bikes you enjoy!

[outskirtscustoms]

I have been making a killing with my bikes but only because I know people and been getting lucky. Most guys here pay more for a set of pedals than I paid for 2 bikes.

[whoinphx]

Funny you all should ask this right now... I'm thinking of going on a two hour round trip for a West Coast Chopper ww/ 18' Apes for dirt cheap....
I don't know...

I do know I have to start flipping some things or I'll be in Hock... HaHa

[largek9]

Well maybe its like this: Who's to say that fixing and selling bikes is for everybody. Like any thing else! Good apple Bad apples, I have people return and call all the time looking for bikes for other people after I have found one for them. Theres no swindle! just plain fun. I have never had one person call back with a problem if they did I would fix or what ever it would take! I only sell nice bikes that are affordable. Rule of thumb: NEVER SELL SOMETHING YOU CANT AFFORD TO BUY BACK!!