qnn300

I just bought an amazing titanium-frame Panasonic, probably from 1988 or 1989. It was expensive, but I couldn't resist. I'm planning on building it up with modern components.

Right now, it has 8-speed DA group with downtube shifters, tubular wheels with matrix rims and dura-ace hubset (uniglide, I guess). Great condition...used but taken care of.

I'm new to the world of vintage road components, but judging by the chatter online, these parts are worth a bit. I'd like to get rid of the current wheels and components for as much as possible...how much can I reasonably expect them to fetch? I'm not really sure how I should sell them for either. Ebay? I'd like to have some control over my prices. Craigslist seems too local to get much serious interest.

What is your experience with selling parts like these? Any recommendations?

wrk101

ebay.

But be prepared for tremendous variance in ebay auction pricing. How are your marketing skills? How much have you sold on ebay? Shipping experience? All of these enter into the equation.

ebay can be very frustrating as a seller, watching an item go high, then selling your identical item for 10% of what the first item sold for. I cannot overstate the impact of marketing, ad prep, etc.

ebay is an auction of course. I usually start bicycle components at 99 cents (plus shipping), and let the market decide what they are worth.

qnn300

What do you mean by this? I've sold several frames, and misc smaller items on ebay, with varied success. Are there any specific tricks for "marketing" with ebay? I always assumed that a well-written, useful description w/ pictures was about all you could do on that front...

Iowegian

If you're looking to maximize your return on the parts, sell them in as small of lots as possible. Eg, sell the cassette separate from the wheels and consider selling the hubs separate from the rims. Tubular wheelsets often go pretty cheap and are expensive to ship. You'd probably get as much or more just selling the hubs even though they are the non-standard 8-spd DA.

KonAaron Snake 

I'm not sure what others think, but I generally don't pay a lot for dura ace 7400. There's lots out there, it doesn't tend to sell that high and I've been able to get it inexpensively. I don't usually expect it to sell high either. I'd say it will probably sell for about a third to half of what campy sr or Suntour Superbe pro would sell for. It also has more variation than Superbe Pro or Campy stuff. I would lower your expectations. I would expect to be able to buy a full 7400 group in decent shape for $300 or less.

RobbieTunes

The highest return for the parts is eBay, but it has also the highest hassle factor. KonAaronSnake is right, it's not some prime component, and while it's nice stuff, no doubt, it's getting older every day and it doesn't play nice with other groups, in general. I find Shimano 600 "tricolor" preferable to the DA of the same era. Many others do, too.

Shimano sometimes shot themselves in the foot. For example, the DA 7700 9-sp triple crankset. They effectively killed their own market by trying to make sure no one else's rings would work.

RobE30

Slightly off topic, but when you (RT) refer to DA 7400, do mean everything in that series (7400, 7402, 7410 etc)? I might rethink my build then....

wrk101

Well, its great you have a lot of experience on ebay, that helps a lot. There are people out there that think ebay is automatic. If someone else got $200 for a particular item, then if I put it up on ebay, I will get $200 as well. As you know, it just doesn't work that well.

Two weeks ago, I bought a Schwinn Paramount from a very experienced seller. I bought it for under market, despite the seller's experience. What did he do wrong? 1. He put it in the wrong category. 2. He ended the auction on a Monday afternoon. 3. Lousy pictures. 4. Mediocre description. 5. Starting price was too high. Kind of surprising by an experienced seller. There are several factors that go into a successful ebay listing. I am still learning for sure. But the small details like the starting price, shipping terms, as well as the obvious stuff all matter. And even then, you need at least two interested bidders to get maximum action.

Mr. Embrey

Here's some advice for ebay.

*Choose an efficeint title. Only so much info will fit in the title. From most to least important, include: brand, model, model variant(i.e. long cage,9 speed), condition, included extras.
*End on a friday afternoon
*Use a 5 day auction format vs. the standard 7 day. I'm not sure why, but it seems to help.
*Research. Search completed listings, paying attention to what category the highest priced items are being listed in. Make sure you only factor in items that are EXACTLY the same as your item (including condition).
*Give a VERY detailed description noteing ALL damage/wear/defects. Make sure to spell check!!
*Include several high res close-up pictures (only one full-bike shot) making sure every picture contains a separate section/component/damaged area
*Get a shipping quote. Unusually high shipping, for the type of item, will turn off potential bidders. Offer free shipping on small, higher priced items.
*Set your starting price at cost, or lower if you trust the current market. In your case, determine what the remaining parts (the frame) are worth to you, and subtract that from what you paid. That's your cost.
*Use an established account with 100% positive feedback
*Except returns
*Be willing to ship world wide.
*Market. Include a link whenever/wherever you see fit on any and all relevant groups/forums. Join them and include a link in your intro post. I use the flickr groups sometimes.