Classic & Vintage - Help Need Advice Suggestions

Hello I bought a Schwinn World Sport for $40, I posted a thread like this just to see how much it's worth but now I need help on something else. I put the bike on sale on Craiglist.com, it has being a week and no one is willing to buy it for $150.
I need to know if I should put it on sale somewhere else if yes please give any examples of good places to sell bicycles. I want tips and helpful advice on selling used bicycles. Should I touch up the paint, grease everything, buy new parts or sell it as it is for less money. Anything would be helpful. Thank You

Bike Details:
25 inch frame
Chrome Moly
Tires deflate over time
Handles feel rough
and some pics
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv21/hermesake/DSC02799.jpg
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv21/hermesake/DSC02801.jpg
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv21/hermesake/DSC02806.jpg
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv21/hermesake/DSC02822.jpg
also for more specs visit this site
http://www.trfindley.com/flschwinn_1980_1990/1984Ltwt19.html

Now that everyone knows you paid $40 for it, they certainly will not give you $150 for it. Doubtful the bike is worth that unless it's in very good condition. Which yours is not. The large frame is harder to move, fewer buyers.

Definitely clean the bike like you were going to eat off it. I would repack the bottom bracket, the headset; ball bearings are cheap. Make sure the wheels are true and evenly tensioned. Brakes should work properly; replace old pads with new ones. New tubes for a start, new tires if the old ones are dry rotted and cracked.

Leave the paint as is. You may put naval jelly on any rust spots or use touch-up paint if there are just small dings.


Your picture files are not working.

I don't think that this bike needs anything to be done to it to sell, other than lowering the price. $100 or so will probably make it happen. $150 might make it happen in the spring.

On a second thought, upon closer examination the valve stems are crooked. Big no no. You should probably fix it before you sell it

As with anything you want to sell, clean it, lube it, adjust it. Condition is a big factor. A clean, working bike is more desireable than one which is not.

Buying at $40 and selling at $150 involves 2 things: Value Added and Venue.

Regarding Value Added: you have to enhance the condition, function, appearance, and durability, i.e. the quality of the product up to the level where it's worth $150.

Regarding Venue: you have to know your market buyers, make them aware of the bike, and be able to deliver it to them.
market buyers:
a-they must have money
b-they want a bike
c-they recognized Value Added and are willilng to pay for it
d-they don't recognize Value Added and are willing to be ripped off

making them aware of the bike: advertising and persuasion
bulletin boards
word of mouth
local biking groups
classified ads
CL
eBay
forums large and small

delivery:
local pickup
meet by arrangement
shipping.

Look at each category above and decide where you fit in. We all do this naturally, as buyers and sellers. Make a conscious effort to be realistic, and good luck.

I agree clean it like your mother is going to eat off it *giggle* also unless you are going to put the pump back on take the umbrella off. check out your bikeshop for a new DT housing stop. after you clean it up a good coat of turtle wax will make it look shinny

140 seems expensive for for a non indexing huge bike. I don't know where you live but here in So Jersey it is in the lolw 50s and raining. the only people looking for bikes on CL are flippers and serious riders looking for good deals on bikes bought for the charity rides over the summer now collecting dust. clean it real good and try be patient

I think I would put some yellow handlebar tape on that bike to spice it up a bit. Relist it at $120 and I think you will get some bites. Big framed bikes can be tough to sell sometimes. Note in the listing that bike fits someone over 6 feet tall and note the top tube/standover height, probably around 35". Good luck, its a nice looking bike.

I'll play:

Step 1. Paint frame (however you choose preferably teal)
Step 2. Affix World Sport decal in different font
Step 3. Strip all components.
Step 4. Purchase $599 digital camera.
Step 5. Take as many pictures of the bike as you can, "sexy" photos, extra points given for luminous light detail. If you can make it happen in your veranda or sun-room, well-done.
Step 6. Sell to local C.L. or auction for however much it would take you to recoup costs, and feel good about profiteering on questionable restorative value-added service. Mind you, I wouldn't include cost of camera there, since you'll be doing this again.
Step 7. Watch crusty old (and young) bike nerds argue the logistics, politics, and game theory involved in the minutiae of bike flipping on a bike forum somewhere. Many of these people have either gotten burned in the past or are just plain cheap. Also opinionated. Realize that by going through steps 1-6, you are now this person, and feel bad about the ordeal.
Step 8. Buy your own frame from yourself, convert to fixed-gear.
Step 7. Do not finish this conversion and sell bike on C.L. as "Great for fixed-gear!". Since this is not a Circuit, Prologue, Paramount, etc, you do not need to grind down the cable stops, et. al.

(sorry)

I would have left out the snark if I could suggest something more valuable than the above posters.

+1 To what Robbie said: Add Value and Market superbly.

Sell it as is, no problem, its a $40 project. Buyers don't want project bikes. They want bikes ready to ride, fully rehabbed, and clean and polished. People that do buy projects (like me), buy them cheap, add value, and resell them. The last World Sport I bought for $12, added quite a bit of value, and resold at a typical flip price. I would not pay $40 for your World Sport due to its large size (large size bikes are harder to sell, and sell for less). But someone else would pay $40 or maybe a little more for the bike as is. And it would be well worth it for an end user.

Your other choice is to go the "add value" route. If you go that route, start by dumping the pump clamp, clean it up really well, touch up paint if needed, replace the tubes. I buy new tubes for $2 each. That naked pump clamp screams: "Where is the missing pump?"

Rehabbed completely, polished and ready to ride, it is a $150 bike. For $25 and some elbow grease, it could be a $150 bike. Rehab includes disassembly, replace bb and wheel bearings, etc.


Post a link to your ad. Many on this list routinely sell on Craigs List and could probably provide you some to a lot of constructive feedback.

Here's an example of bikes ready to go (both have moved on to new homes). One was a garage sale find (Trek 412), the other a neglected C/L project bike find: Nishiki Prestige. I added value through a thorough and complete rehab (cables, bearings, tires, tubes, grease), bar tape, cleanup and adjusted. I gave consideration to eye appeal with cable housings and bar tape in a nice contrast color. They were easy to market at that point.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3296054850_c3c4faaced_o.jpg

I would also add that World Sports are in the midst of a somewhat renaissance, sure, they were generally sucky but people love them anyway.

I actually had a guy in Portland rant and rave about how great his W.S. was, "built at the Bridgestone plant under the watchful eye of Grant Peterson himself!" Advertising genius, distorted-history recitation, or just Portland wackiness? You tell me. Oh yeah, he had put Open Pros on it for some unknown reason.

I frequently see them around Indiana when I'm back for $50 or so, but frequently see them for sale here (Western Oregon) for up to $300. YMMV.

I would also add that World Sports are in the midst of a somewhat renaissance, sure, they were generally sucky but people love them anyway.

I actually had a guy in Portland rant and rave about how great his W.S. was, "built at the Bridgestone plant under the watchful eye of Grant Peterson himself!" Advertising genius, distorted-history recitation, or just Portland wackiness? You tell me. Oh yeah, he had put Open Pros on it for some unknown reason.

I frequently see them around Indiana when I'm back for $50 or so, but frequently see them for sale here (Western Oregon) for up to $300. YMMV.

Holy carp, where did that start? The World Sport bikes were never built in Japan. They came from Taiwan, built by Giant. I remember seeing them come in from Schwinn's west coast warehouse- even the boxes were marked "Giant" (in small letters).

The World Sport bikes were OK, but definitely bottom-feeders. IIRC, they sold for about $160 brand new. I might pay $150 for a mint condition Le Tour III in the right size and color (because I'm sentimental for my old LeTour III), but a World Sport? Not a chance.

+1 World Sport was made in Taiwan by Giant. OK bike if its 1984 or newer.

But they do tend to garner $150 or so in sweet, ready to ride condition. Casual riders see the Schwinn name, and some decent parts and they buy them.

Depends on your market and location. Sold one like it for $225 during the back to college rush... it was my trusty commuter for a while. Great bike. gave it new grease/tape/tires before i let it go.