Thew13

Hi all,

Any thoughts on a reasonable price for each of these pairs of pedals?

MKS Sylvan w/ toe cages and leather straps. Good cosmetic shape, but the bearings are a tiny bit rough. I'm thinking $10, given that you can get the pedals new for ~$25?

Suntour Superbe. Bearings are incredibly smooth, but there's some surface rust on the axel/shaft and the black anodizing on the cages is scraped up. These are more of a mystery to me--used pairs seem to be going for anywhere between $40 and $100+ on ebay.

Thanks!

wrk101

"Going for" or "Asking For"? I see a lot of silly asking prices, does not mean any are selling that high. I've got a lot nicer set of Superbe pedals with a lower asking price, and no one has bought them. Rusty spindles = value killer.

Can you provide a link where ones with rusty spindles and cage wear that have sold for $100? Ignore NOS as yours are not NOS. NOS stuff tends to sell for a multiple of used stuff.

As someone who has been selling on ebay for almost 20 years now, two things I ignore are asking prices and NOS sales, unless my item is NOS. Now I did sell a crankset recently where some crazy seller was asking $180, and there was no sales history. So I listed mine for $90 and thanks to my competition's silly price, mine sold. Last I looked, the other seller is still trying to get $180.

Generally, on used pedals, two have value: Campy and BMX. Some vintage 1980s MTBs came with pedals that were also used on BMX.

Thew13

I never thought they'd sell for $100, just put that out there to speak to the broad variability in prices I'm seeing. Looking again I see sold listings on Ebay from ~$30 to $100, ranging from very used (dented cages, rough bearings, etc) to essentially new condition. Prices do seem to be fairly all over the place. Given the condition of the pedals I've got, I assume they would be towards the lower end of this range, but it's still a pretty big range.

To clarify, I'm hoping that someone can give me a sense of whether or not these are considered desirable, and what would be considered a fair price. Trying to figure out if it's worth my while to sell, or if they're going to get donated to the local coop.

wrk101

I'd estimate $25 on the Superbe pedals in their current condition. My basic rule of thumb on selling stuff on eBay is nothing under $25. Under $25 I donate, over $25 I sell as long as its easy to pack (like pedals). On frames, my basic rule is $100. Under that mark I donate. I figure the hassle below those prices is not worth it. I encourage everyone to decide what threshold works for them. Yours could be higher or lower. Lets say you sell for $25, and after PayPal and ebay fees, you net $18. For that $18, you have to write an ad, pack an item, pay for any packing supplies, take it to the post office, accept returns and complaints, etc. Go below the $25 price, and it just gets worse.

eBay is full of fees, buyers win every complaint. After fees and under $25, there really is very little left. I look for more valuable stuff to sell first. Sell the $50 or $75 stuff (or even higher if you have it), working your way down to the $25 mark.

My only exception is the box of NOS right shift levers I picked up years ago. The box has 90 levers, I've been selling them shipped at $18 each. Figure after postage and fees, I net about $10. $10 x 90 = worth it to me. And its one single ad, so I don't have to write 90 ads.


You can see the range of selling prices. Stuff in pristine condition can bring 2X, 3X or even more. That is not unusual at all. So a $30 to $100 price range is normal. New in original box parts can sometimes bring 10X more.

Personally, on selling stuff, I look for the most valuable items, in the best condition. Even after disclosing every flaw, eBay buyers can and WILL claim foul when they get an item in less than great condition.

Meanwhile, on BMX and Campy pedals, its more common to be in the $75 to $150 price range.

Thew13

Thanks wrk101, I appreciate the words of experience and insight. What you say makes sense, particularly setting that kind of sell/donate threshold.

I think I'll put them up on my local craigslist. If I can't sell them in a week, they'll be contributed to a good cause.

zukahn1 

One thing to take into consideration on items like pedals that are under 1lb is recent changes in shipping prices and ebay fees is that costs are now $5-10 higher, when looking at sold listings from several months ago

tkamd73 

They are both pretty rough, if they were mine it would be off to the co-op. Would not be worth the effort or time, to sell on eBay or CL. Tim