Poguemahone

Many of the CL "flippers" are dealing in things other than bikes as well. They're generalists, they'll sell anything that'll net them a buck. One thing I've noticed about professional flippers is they're a fairly paranoid lot. I attend an auction frequented by many of them, and one of their main concerns seems to be that someone else is getting a deal and they're being left out. This psychology leads to some really interesting pissing contests, with stuff going for more than it's worth.

With bikes, one of their main problems is a lack of knowledge and inability to spot major defects. Now that nearly everyone has the internet on their phone, they can look up that Bianchi at the auction and see what it sells for on the bay. What they can't spot is the major dent on the frame, or cracks in the headtube. They can't distinguish between Peugeot models, or understand that the components on the bike are sometimes the most valuable part.

However, with the internet's easy availability, and Craigslist in particular, it's far easier to sell vintage bikes. You no longer have to go on ebay, and pack the ride for shipping, which is a time consuming pain. I'd say Craigslist has done more to drive up the prices of bikes locally than anything else, as it has provided a convienent marketplace for buyers and seller to meet. It makes it far easier to both sell and buy a bike locally, and this has driven the price up. More people are hunting for the same limited stock. And they know they can reach a larger market of local buyers via CL than they could in the old fashion.

tashi

To this guy who doesn't flip, but has bought and sold a few bikes and keeps an eye on the market, this seems like a no-brainer.

- Less work needed/transaction
- Higher margin/transaction

Hmmm. Lets see: scrounge for undervalued/****kicked bikes, spend an entire whole day replacing almost all of the wear items and then sell for $100-$200 or buy dirty bikes, clean and tune, and then sell for $400-$1000?

I'll take the less time/more money option, thankyouverymuch!

treebound 

This is a very strange thread, accusing and apologetic, questioning and defending, claiming and denying, pedantic and practicle. Much more in tune with sitting outside at midnight on New Years Eve/Day under a barren Maple tree and looking at the stars or clouds above and thinking of what has been and what will come to be.

When I look at a bike to buy and possibly sell I think about it in several ways. Is it something I want for me or a relative or a friend, or does it have parts I want or need. If I plan to sell it whole or in parts I consider what it might sell for fixed up or just posted with better details, then I back my way from the selling price range to what I'm willing to pay.

Sometimes all a bike will warrent is a no work repost because it isn't worth the time or cost to fix it up, for those I consider myself a bird dog where I find something others missed and offer it up in exchange for a food/gas/hassle fee (if you don't feed the dog then he either dies from starvation or just starts hunting for his own needs and eats what he finds, buyers can then go find their own birds or bikes). Step-thru framed bikes fit this option most often because no matter how nice they are they won't hardly sell for $60, my last one went for around $30, and a current one is going for $10 or so just to get rid of it. Most get stripped for parts with the frames and steel wheels going to the scrap yard. I just passed on one of these, step thru frame w/27" wheels and chrome fenders, for $9.99 at a local thrift shop, I might snag it on Friday if it's still there just for the fenders and pedals.

For bikes I fix up to sell I have to factor in parts costs, gas costs to get parts, and a little something to allow me to find something else. In my local market and due to my geographic location to the local market, the only way I've made this option work is if I also deliver the bike into town. This year I've done zero of these deals except for finally selling one in the early summer that I had fixed up two years ago.

But in the end I do not consider myself a "flipper". I'm just a hobbyist who likes bikes and gets bikes for myself and family and friends, and whom occasionally sells off what I don't need or don't want or what I don't have room for.

And with this post I've probably added to the strangeness of this thread. Enjoy.

Thumpic

I flip and I don't understand (or care) why there is a discussion about the hobby. It's legal. It supports itself and other hobbies. It's enjoyable. It's green.

That's it.

nlerner

Wow, you flipped a four-year-old thread.

shelbyfv

It's green to recycle old threads.

Thumpic

Unless they're hanging out of a gum wall tire......

I didn't realize it was old. I searched something else and it caught my eye.

Oh well....I flipped then and I flip now....

gioscinelli 

@treebound Excellent, coincides with my way of buying and selling a bike, whether classic, or modern! I buy within my size with the anticipation of selling or keeping. When I look at a prospective bike, I break it down mentally as parting out and selling the frame before contacting the seller, and sizing the frame for personal use. If I like, I keep or sell when the market shows a promising return on vested dollars. I've have spent $25 to $2500 on bikes, and found the best return value is titanium, classic, and carbon fiber.

Flying Merkel

I'm a small time flipper. Some bikes get torn down to bare frame and completely rebuilt, tuned, test-ridden and tweaked again. Others get the bare minimum. Some flips get ridden until I'm tired of them, others get turned around as quick as possible.

Right now I have to finished bikes in the garage. One will get sold, one I keep. Haven't decided which one.

Best flip: Bought two Montague/Schwinn folders for $20, put $15 into them. Sold the pair for $320. Guy was very happy to get them.

Most times I'll clear $50-$100.

miamijim

My flipping has changed considerably since this thread started. The economic down turn has brought out many hard core flippers in the Tampa market. I'm a regular working guy with a full tie job, bike are simply a hobby for me, a hobby I happen to make money on. Because the flippers are scooping up anything worth buying within an hour there's virtualy nothing left for me to buy. So I adjusted, in the past my golden rule was $100, if I couldn't net $100 I wouldn't buy it, now my golden rule is 250, if I can't make $250 I don't buy it. I've also move more upscale, I wont hesitate to buy a $1,000 bike or even a $2,000 if I know I can make money on it.

The benefits of my new strategy are many, I turn around far fewer bikes but I make a lot more money off each flip. Up market bikes tend to be in much better condition which means I spend much less time fixing/refurbishing. From a pure profit perspective I'll venture a guess and say I'm flipping at least 5X fewer bikes for the same profit. From a time perspective I'm putting in at least 5X less....3 of my last 4 bikes were in 9.5/10 condition as compared to new, all they needed were quick tune ups and a polish.

At the end of the day I'm spending much less time and making more money by going up market.