Maximizing e-Bay value?
 

So I'm cleaning out my parts box... I've got lots of crank sets - doubles, triples, track. Some Campy, some Freeench TA (sic), some Dura Ace, some junk.

My question is: Should I dump all the cranks (and spare chain rings) into a single auction or try to sell the stuff one at a time? Crank sets don't seem to fetch much on e-Bay ($50 for a Campy Record), and by selling singly, I pay e-Bay's listing fees repeatedly. On the other hand, there will be LOTS more bidders for a single crank set than for a lot of a dozen.

Your advice is appreciated. Thanks and Happy New Year! :)

I think you should offer them up here one at a time for chump change :D
Sort out the high end from low end. Put up the good stuff item by item and dump the rest as a lot.
Listing fees are the price of doing business on the 'Bay. You want to reach the world, you gotta pay.
Top

Thanks for the feedback, Top - what do we call "high end?" My Dura-Ace is older, the Campy is an unknown, 8-speed model, the TA track is nice, but what about 105? What about Deore octalink stuff? What about odd brands ("Dimension")?

Also, is it worth bundling a bottom bracket with the cranks or should I sell those separately?

Appreciate the feedback - I've thought of selling here on BikeForums, but since **I've** never bothered to look in buy-sell, I wouldn't think that most other forum members would either.

My advice is to make me a deal on the TA cranks and rings.... ;)

List 'em seperately. Recently, in a moment of weakness, I combined a complete set of Sturmey Archer--Dyno front hub, rear AW hub, shifter and chain--and sold the whole thing for about a third what I sold a rear hub for only a few weeks earlier. I'll never do that again. Buyer got a good deal tho... What really sucks is that I thought I had another shifter stashed away. I paid more for a replacement than I sold the entire group for.

Pay the extra listing fees.

John in Oregon

Stick the stuff in the trade thread up top if you're looking for anything specific; never know what we have in our parts boxes you could use.

I'd be interested in the TA stuff as well. Other guy really doesn't need it :).

If you're wondering about prices individual items may fetch, do a "completed items" search on ebuy.

I'm a dump picker; in my book 105 is high end ;)
Most stuff in buy/sell is out of my range or wierd/vintage/ATB stuff. But it might work for you.
If the BB are specific to the crank I'd bundle them.
I run a forum for old combat camera buffs, and I try to list an item there and let the members have a crack at it before it goes up on the 'Bay.
Just my $.02
Top

I don't sell on ebay, but I bid quite a bit. I think you should try the individual route for the high end and mid-range stuff. I only bid on a group or 'lot' if I want one or two of the items, and then I try to get the whole lot at the price I would pay for the one or two items. Additionally, I always factor in shipping costs which can be high if the parts are heavy. If it's too high, I just pass on the lot. You might be right about low end stuff being easier to sell in a group. I'm not sure. I guess it depends on what your selling and what you consider low end.

offer it here first i think, be resonable and you wont have to pay the ebay fee and the paypal fee. there are lots of guys that could use those parts

wait till the weather improves

Is that a 3-pin TA Professional crankset, A.K.A.: TA Pro 3 Vis? Would be quite interested in it if the cranks are 170 mm (or 172.5), and drilled for English pedals. Need one for my Raleigh Sports Roadster project.

-Kurt

Some good advice & interest above. My thoughts echo those quoted above. Offer them on the Forum first. Heck, the trade section is here. Why not use it. What doesn't trade(sell), list on Ebay. Go individually, then by lot.

Sure, now he says he has track chainsets after I had to buy
one from Australia. . . :D

You would be surprized how much stuff here gets bought/traded etc
from the marketplace.
If you do go with e-bay you will realize much more from individual
sales than one big auction.
If you bundle BB with cranksets you should ask for more money.

Again, I would urge you to offer the stuff here first, then
off to ebuy if it doesn't work out (and as stated we have no fees,
commisions etc.)

marty

Sorry, Kurt - this was neither a "Cyclo Tourist" nor a "Professional" model. Unfortunately, I've already posted this lot of stuff on e-Bay (as individual items).

Since there is so much "post it here" advice, I'll do that with my next batch of stuff before I go e-Bay. I've got enough to keep us all busy till Spring! ;)

Thanks again to all for the feedback and again, Happy New Year!

OK - So here's next weekend's batch for y'all to check first:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...25#post1984825