Classic & Vintage - Ebay selling help (Which picture to use)

I'm selling my superbe crankset as you guys know.

I was thinking of putting it for sale either tomorrow night, or thurs night of next week. I took some pictures of the crank and I was wondering which you guys thought would be best suited to an ebay auction.

Here are the pictures.

Thanks for your help!

1:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w298/rtc247/SuperbeCrankset005.jpg

2:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w298/rtc247/SuperbeCrankset002.jpg

3:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w298/rtc247/SuperbeCrankset003.jpg

4:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w298/rtc247/SuperbeCrankset004.jpg

5:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w298/rtc247/SuperbeCrankset007.jpg

I doesn't matter, they're all good, but just use one and then include pictures of the back side and close ups of the teeth so buyers can assess wear, pedal holes and dustcaps.

I think number five probably does the best job of displaying its condition.

My vote's for #3, and then a couple close-ups for condition.

polish them up a bit first and double your return.

i would photgraph them again on a flat surface, so you don't need to prop the end up on a bottle (looks tacky). a top-quality photo will give you a better return. use a high contrast backgound, like a black velvet or wool contrsting with bright reflection from the crank and rings, like in photo one.

then closeups of the teeth (to show they're not ragged and rough) and the square hole (to show it's still square) for the smaller pics. and show the main pic with the dust caps in place, so people know they're included and correct.

Easy. Pick one (they're all pretty good) and upload the rest to a free image-hosting site like photobucket. Then put the link to additional pics in your listing's description.

#3 and then proceed with Photobucket/Flickr/Picassa

I tried polishing them up with mothers polish and they don't really get any better than what they are now.
I wish they did, the entire polish them up and double your return sounds appealing.

Maybe I'll hold off for a week so I can try my hand at polishing them again.

Gallery is free, so pick one or two of those, and include one of the back. Make sure you mention the BCD, or someone will ask.

FWIW, I just sold a set like that for $75 pretty easily, so they are worth at least that.... :)

I also like #3 (plus close ups of the details).

Nice crankset!

--WT

I like to use a contrasting background with natural lighting. So in this case a blue or green background would be nice.
Close ups of the teeth and any markings are good also.

Gallery is free, so pick one or two of those, and include one of the back. Make sure you mention the BCD, or someone will ask.

FWIW, I just sold a set like that for $75 pretty easily, so they are worth at least that.... :)

Selling them for that much would make my day!

What do you think made the buyer pay the price? Good pictures? Your cleaning well? Demand for product?

If I could sell it without ebay to a bfer or what not, I'd be happy since I'd get to see the parts used in a build, but I'm probably going to clean them up and list them on ebay next week if no one offers.

Don't worry, I know the rules. I won't post my auction on here. Promise!

And be sure to spell it Superbee!

I'd vote for #1.

Just a suggestion: Lots of ebayers and craigslisters are experts and assume their customers are, too, which overlooks a lot of potential buyers- try to word your ad so that people less knowledgeable will know what it is, what it fits, why they'd need it.

Pics #1 and #4 leave the buyer guessing about the condition of the chainring teeth. In #1 the teeth look worn IMO.

You'll never polish them through the anodized finish. If you want to polish them, strip 'em with Easy Off and then you can shine to a mirror finish. Is it worth it? What do you earn at work per hour? That can help in your decision process.

definitely talk up the condition of the tapers and the pedal threads in your description; unless there are issues, then leave it off as many sellers do :rolleyes:

Definitely include a pic of the caps and the condition of the allen wrench hole, if good. Also, if all 5 chainring bolts are original mention that, too.

What do you think made the buyer pay the price? Good pictures? Your cleaning well? Demand for product?


Probably demand or luck, as the pic was relatively crappy and the description was bare bones. I just tossed it up there with a BIN of $75, and two days later caught my fish.

Take a look:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140213450221&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=004

Probably demand or luck, as the pic was relatively crappy and the description was bare bones. I just tossed it up there with a BIN of $75, and two days later caught my fish.

Take a look:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140213450221&ssPageName=STRK:MESO:IT&ih=004

Wow, that's interesting! I wonder if it would be better to put it up with a higher BIN or just let an auction go...

A bfer is currently contemplating an offer on the items I have from the groupset, so lets see where that goes. Hopefully I'll sell it to him so I can see the parts being put on a beautiful build.

Wow, that's interesting! I wonder if it would be better to put it up with a higher BIN or just let an auction go....

Your call. Everyone has a different opinion or strategy, but I just use BIN for "pie in the sky" and set a modest reserve on stuff I care about. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It worked big for me on the last string..... :)

about polishing them up: Didn't appreciate that they were anodised.

if they are, then you're SOOL unless you go through the hassle of deanodising them with caustic soda and then emery paper all over and then 30 minutes with a buffing wheel and rouge. that's too much hassle for soemone who does not have a polishing wheel handy though.

see here for a quick guide to polishing bike alu.
http://www.raydobbins.com/polishing/
so that you end up with cranks like this: http://www.raydobbins.com/molteni_replica/photo27.jpg

as long as the teeth get a bit better degreased and cleaned, and the photograph is taken so that the reflected shine does not highlight the heel scuff marks on the cranks, you should be OK.
try to go with a bit more of a general clean and a light polish with a metal polish, even something like Brasso, and a rag.

about polishing them up: Didn't appreciate that they were anodised.

if they are, then you're SOOL unless you go through the hassle of deanodising them with caustic soda and then emery paper all over and then 30 minutes with a buffing wheel and rouge. that's too much hassle for soemone who does not have a polishing wheel handy though.

see here for a quick guide to polishing bike alu.
http://www.raydobbins.com/polishing/
so that you end up with cranks like this: http://www.raydobbins.com/molteni_replica/photo27.jpg

as long as the teeth get a bit better degreased and cleaned, and the photograph is taken so that the reflected shine does not highlight the heel scuff marks on the cranks, you should be OK.
try to go with a bit more of a general clean and a light polish with a metal polish, even something like Brasso, and a rag.

I never get tired of looking at that Merckx.....along with all his other lustful bikes.

Well, I guess I don't need to be worried about ebay anymore...

A bfer just bought the lot of parts.

Well, I guess I don't need to be worried about ebay anymore...

A bfer just bought the lot of parts.

Then modify your sig line. ;)

My vote's for #3, and then a couple close-ups for condition.

Ditto

Then modify your sig line. ;)

Sad thing is, I was going to sell anther bfer in the philly area the wheelset from the bike, but I just looked over the rear hub, and it's cracking.

Just called them to let them know that I can't sell the wheels because they're not in anywhere near as good shape as I thought they were :(

I will be able to learn how to true wheels on them though :)