Classic & Vintage - What brands rank highest on the flipper scale in your locale?

In selling a few bikes now and then, I've noticed that some brands move more quickly than others. - It has nothing to do with quality - just local preferences.

I've also noticed that some sought-after brands in other markets can be slow sellers here (unless listed at a comparatively low price).

Here are what I perceive to be the hottest brands in the Detroit Metro area:

Schwinn
Trek
Raleigh
Peugeot
Fuji

- So what brands rank highest on the flipper scale in your locale?

I guess I hadn't noticed any trends here, I price all my rehab bikes to sell and they do. Typically within a day of being done.

FORDSVT -
E.g.:
No one here seems to know what a Centurion is. No one is shopping these except the scoopers looking for a deal.

Schwinn and Trek.

I'd love to find a truckload of Schwinn World Sports. They are of a quality and price point that simply works well for flipping.

anything with the word campagnolo on it

Fuji bikes tend to move well for me.

I live south of Detroit and southeast of Ann Arbor. I'm able sell bikes to both locations. My observations would be similiar to Auchen's observations.

Aside from those already mentioned, I flipped four Bianchis for nice margins (2 road/2 mountain). Miyata and Nishikis seem to have some respect, but not as much as Fujis. Peugeots are clearly the French favorite.

FORDSVT -
E.g.:
No one here seems to know what a Centurion is. No one is shopping these except the scoopers looking for a deal.

Good thing about flipping is you get to know some good bikes. Centurion, Bridgestone and Trek always attract attention. Still, it's price that sells on CL...

I live south of Detroit and southeast of Ann Arbor. I'm able sell bikes to both locations. My observations would be similiar to Auchen's observations.

Aside from those already mentioned, I flipped four Bianchis for nice margins (2 road/2 mountain). Miyata and Nishikis seem to have some respect, but not as much as Fujis. Peugeots are clearly the French favorite.

I find that even for the Nishiki-Miyata's you have to find the right buyer - sometimes you'll wait a while, because the average person shops Schwinn first.
(Personally I think it may have to do with the perception of Made in America - it is strong here. )

I see Japanese Bianchis with low-mid components seemingly moving (quickly) for a pretty penny around here. That's the first thing to come to mind, at least.

I'd love to find a truckload of Schwinn World Sports. They are of a quality and price point that simply works well for flipping.

+1 . These have moved very quickly for me in the past.

I see Japanese Bianchis with low-mid components seemingly moving (quickly) for a pretty penny around here. That's the first thing to come to mind, at least.

why flip bikes when you can flip parts http://www.ebay.com/itm/190646071097?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1562.l2649

why flip bikes when you can flip parts http://www.ebay.com/itm/190646071097?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1562.l2649

Because assembly feels more rewarding than disassembly?

Our area listing isnt huge but most of what I see for road bikes are fat-tired 50's and 60's 26" tire bikes, and mountain bikes.

If anything shows up as a road bike/10sp it's good old Schwinn.

Because assembly feels more rewarding than disassembly?

unless your the guy who needs the parts

I'd love to find a truckload of Schwinn World Sports. They are of a quality and price point that simply works well for flipping.

I heard that. If I can buy them right and give them a good scrub/tuneup/bar wrap they are super easy to move

Specialized, Cannondale followed by Trek. Bianchi and Nishiki do pretty well too.

Trek and Cannondale are the top two here. Followed closely by Peugeot and Bianchi. Schwinns get respect as well, but not like the Treks and Cannondales. Older Cannondales look very modern, buyers looking for newish bikes like Cannondales, even if they are from the 1980s. Japanese brands do not get much respect. Fujis are an exception.

I've sold quite a few crom WS. They do well.

Specialized, Cannondale followed by Trek. Bianchi and Nishiki do pretty well too.

There's some sophisticated tastes there in NC.

(I bought my Cannondale off Craigslist, (for less than the price of its pedals), because the seller couldn't move it at the flea market. :rolleyes:)

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/auchencrow/Cannondale%20SR400%20Team%20Comp%201987/CannondaleCloudyDay2.jpg

Toronto:

Bianchi. Doesn't matter if it's super low end, if it says Bianchi it'll sell in a couple hours at over $300

Bianchi, Bridgestone, Miyata, Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, anything sounding italian, surly holds its value exceptionally.

Toronto:

Bianchi. Doesn't matter if it's super low end, if it says Bianchi it'll sell in a couple hours at over $300

I sold this Mid-level made in Italy (Canadian spec) CdI for $260 American, and it languished for a while. I thought I did well. It was a clean machine.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/auchencrow/Bianchi%20Campione%20d%20Italia%20-%20Black/Bianchi-CampionedItaliaaside.jpg

The thing is, when someone can buy a new bike from Performance for around $300, it's tough to sell a decent bike with DT shifters for anywhere near that.

My flipping days are behind me, except for the occasional high end bike that is a diamond in the rough. Last bikes I sold were a Colnago and a Waterford. Doubling your money on a $600 bike with modern components beats scrubbing rust off a Schwinn/Raleigh for a $100 'profit'.

why flip bikes when you can flip parts http://www.ebay.com/itm/190646071097?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1562.l2649

The guy that bought my 1976 Gitane TdF on E-bay parted it out, if I ever meet him in person I might just part him out :notamused::notamused:

The thing is, when someone can buy a new bike from Performance for around $300, it's tough to sell a decent bike with DT shifters for anywhere near that.

My flipping days are behind me, except for the occasional high end bike that is a diamond in the rough. Last bikes I sold were a Colnago and a Waterford. Doubling your money on a $600 bike with modern components beats scrubbing rust off a Schwinn/Raleigh for a $100 'profit'.

And what locale is that?
(I could never sell a Colnago or Waterford around here for a reasonable price. It would have to go ebay)

My flipping days are behind me.......

Me, too. But when I was doing it. I was doing it at high volume. Brand did not matter - size was the big seller.

The guy that bought my 1976 Gitane TdF on E-bay parted it out, if I ever meet him in person I might just part him out :notamused::notamused:

Was that the green one?

And what locale is that?
(I could never sell a Colnago or Waterford around here for a reasonable price. It would have to go ebay)

I assume you mean locale, but the world is a market these days. It all depends on what you pay for them upfront.

You didn't really answer my question.

Around me you can pick up a Moulton NS Double Pylon for just under 25K throw on a Rohloff hub and sell it, well.....not really.

The guy that bought my 1976 Gitane TdF on E-bay parted it out, if I ever meet him in person I might just part him out :notamused::notamused:
yea thanks those parts went for a fortune

You didn't really answer my question.

My market is worldwide, though for shipping purposes, I prefer the CONUS.

The Colnago I picked up in your backyard, sold In Ga, not using eBay, and kept a nice 10s campy wheelset in the process, complete with new tyres and cassette.

My market is worldwide, though for shipping purposes, I prefer the CONUS.

The Colnago I picked up in your backyard, sold In Ga, not using eBay, and kept a nice 10s campy wheelset in the process, complete with new tyres and cassette.

So you're Detroit Metro and had to sell it in GA.

So you're Detroit Metro and had to sell it in GA.

Not at all. I look for bargains all over, and sell them all over.

Don't worry. I have no interest in your market, per say, but if a bargain shows up, I'll swoop on it. The metro DTW market was good awhile back, due to the economy. Perhaps not so much anymore.

I know people all over, and if there is decent money to be made, I'll consider it. Polishing up a mid range Trek/Bianchi/Cannondale is not in my interest. Finding a fairly rareish bike at a bargain price is. I have no problem selling off components apart from the frame. Most people prefer a f/f over a complete bike, unless it's fairly rare. I like some meat left on my bones.

I don't do wheels, due to the shipping costs, but unlacing a C Record hub, and selling where ever, separate from the skewer...no problem.