Originally Posted by
ypsetihw
I'm not so much worried about the work I need to do or getting my money back, as I am usually very thorough with my ads and consider myself a good negotiator. I guess I was really asking if you all do this much work when you flip, or if I (or we) are going over the top with little chance of making my money back. I have never once stuck to budget on a build, even when I end up making money on the sale. Call it caring too much, or just lack of discipline. Thinking back, I sold bikes a few years ago that I would never put my name on today, and I made HUGE margins because I put almost nothing into them but wrote a nice ad.
I just don't feel right selling a bike that has obvious flaws that I am capable of fixing at little to no cost except my time. Am I better off selling a bike cheaply with no investment
My training is in this type of questions, but I am an academic so take the following with several grains of salt.
I would suggest that you offer the bike before you upgrade it, especially if the upgrade is invisible (like replacing a patched tube).
You probably also want to make a list of things that you would personally like to replace, leaving the decision to the customer.
Some will prefer the cheapest bike (i.e. no repair) some might prefer higher end replacement parts, etc, etc.
Your experience is consistent with this kind of approach.
Now, business is not only about making a fast buck. There goes the salt