CoraB

Hi, I'm new to this site. I put my 2013 Brompton on Craigslist, but I find they are looking for less expensive bikes.
Any suggestions as to what I can do, I'm trying to avoid Ebay. Thanks!

fietsbob

try paying an elite membership fee , here so you can sell from this site..

I got my Mk4 M3L 2nd hand and resold my Mk2 3T on the Internet BoB (G-mail list) I was already on for years.

HGR3inOK

Where are you located?


-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

Azreal911

Usually craigslist or kijiji is your main options here you will have to post it for quite awhile though because of the price of the Brompton you have to wait and be patient as well as ignore lowballers since you are only going to be targeting the people that are looking for a Brompton and nothing else. I see them turn up once in awhile locally but they sit for MONTHS because of unrealistic expectations. A few times I see them selling for a price that I can just order from the store brand new after taxes for 100-200 more vs their old 2-3 year old bike with the same specs. After a month I see their prices on their ad creep down slowly until it's bought.

But yeah patience is the key when I sell my bikes they aren't the low end stuff I get emails on kijiji asking why is it soo expensive and they'll offer so and so much. I just informed them politely that they should be looking at the bikes in that price range if they think this is too expensive. Eventually I get the buyers that know about the brand and bike and they are enthusiastic about buying it which they usually try to knock only a few bucks off which i'll take because it's someone that's looking for it.

Oh yeah always put the price that you want + $60-80 more, because negotiating is part of the practice and fun for the buyers it seems. Never say firm cause they'll ALWAYS haggle .

tudorowen1

Ebay is the best way forward....it will attract the biggest number of buyers and you will get a good price..And you will sell it quickly as long as your are prepared to post it..

Joe Remi

If you're willing to ship, post it on SF Bay Area Craigslist. They sell fast here.

downtube

I would recommend you sell it locally because shipping can be risky. I don't ship demo or returned bikes....I sell them for cheap locally.

Thanks,
Yan

fietsbob

on consignment in your Local Bike Shop?


San Francisco , has people with Money , since if you didn't , you left, years ago..

CoraB

New Jersey

HGR3inOK

I expect Craigslist is your best resource. Be prepared to advertise the bike for 3-6 months. Keep in mind that 2013 Bromptons had some significant improvements over previous models (brake levers, spider chain ring, double-wall rims). If your Brompton is a discontinued color (i.e. sage green) it may command a premium.


-HANK RYAN-
Norman, Oklahoma USA

leoho5

I would say that the next time you are planning to be in NYC or Philly, take the Brompton with you and put it on Craigslist for these 2 cities and sell it when you are there.

mconlonx

Be realistic with your pricing. See what prices others are listing Bromptons at and follow those ads for a week or more. Note which ones sell and which are still listed long-term.

If you need money fast, lower your price until it sells. If you want to maximize what you can get for it, be prepared to let the listing sit for a while.

There are plenty of bikes out there where you would be lucky to be able to ask 50% of new new retail price on the bike and hope to sell it used. With unique bikes that have a cult following, like Bromptons, you should be able to get more, but be prepared to recoup only 70-80% of your original purchase price.

linberl

Here's some perspective from a buyer point of view. I spent more than 3 months lurking Craigslist daily to find my bike. Initially I wanted a Brompton (but then realized it wasn't comfy for me after riding one). So I looked for Bromptons in the Bay Area for about two months.
If the ad was priced like a great deal, I assumed something was wrong with it. I texted or called and usually found out what. Once the person was moving overseas and it was actually a good deal on a nice bike, but it had all the tall person fittings (I'm short). Most ads were for about 25% off new prices. I watched those to see if they dropped after one or two weeks or if the person held the price steady. If the price dropped a bit, then I could negotiate. Sometimes the prices were as high (or higher!) than I could get a new one, because the person had upgraded so much - I didn't bother with these. As a used buyer, I wasn't trying to get top of the line everything. If I could afford that kind of bike, I'd just get it from a shop.
So - pricing wise....try setting your price around 25% off, and list it as a firm price. You do NOT have to negotiate on Craigslist. I've sold bikes as "Firm" and people always try, but if they've come to test ride it and they want it, saying "No" to a $20 discount isn't going to kill the deal. Just reiterate the firm pricing before the buyer comes to see the bike. Sometimes I would hold back an accessory and then throw it in to make them feel like they "won"...here, a free bell, lol. Just be PATIENT. You only need to find one person who wants your bike and it can take time for that match up to happen.

Oh...and check your spam folder. I had offers going there once that I didn't see for quite a while.

tds101 

For informational purposes: https://newyork.craigslist.org/searc...query=brompton

bhkyte

Train as a hairdresser and then sell it to your customers at a rock bottom price despite the customer telling you its worth a lot more.
Thats how I got my Brompton.
Seller was happy.
Rest in peace Dave the Barber.
If only we knew when we needed to say goodbye.

George3

IMO a good way to sell a bike, is to send HD pictures to the buyer of any imperfections, before he sees the bike. And tell exactly all the weak points of the bike.

Then ask a realistic price geven the market situation in your location, and wait for two years if necessary for a buyer.

That approach saves a lot of time in meeting disappointed or even angry buyers. And it prevents stress and conflicts with people, that you don't know.

Ask for an ID with picture before they try and ride your bike. And call them before you meet, to check if their phone number and name are real. And Google their name.