Buying then splitting at profit? Opinions?

[lewis1641]

I quite enjoy scouting ebay for bargains with the intention of selling on. As others have said I usually keep some parts. I think if you are the one prepared to make the effort and take the risk then you deserve the profit.

I recently bought a bike for the lawwill fork it had. Intention was to sell the rest of the parts to cover costs - I stretched myself to buy the bike. As it turned out the bike was trash so I have had to take a hit. Win some lose some.

I bought an lts off ringo. Theres a few bits I am planning on changing including a fancy wheel set. When I collected I made sure he was ok with the fact that bits of the bike will be getting sold. His reply , " good luck to you, get what you can"

For the record I am not all about the profit and have given loads of stuff away. No medal required, just sayin!

 

[FST4RD]

Then again are some people like me?
I have bought a couple bikes before just for 1 or 2 bits, not wanted the rest so either stripped it to sell as parts, sold as is or replaced the part with some random bit and on sold.

 

[suburbanreuben]

Three Hail Marys and a dozen Oi Vey Marias, and we're all forgiven, right?

 

[cyfa2809]

My biggest grip is the no posts but selling a lot crowd. Who seemed to have upped their numbers recently. One in particular seems to be using this site as a clearing house for parts, admittedly decent ones, but not contributing anything else to the forum.

I think thats more aimed at the people that are closer to semi trade i.e they are on here just to trade and wouldnt type anything even if they had something to type.

As for selling at a profit, i think most points have been raised. Retrobike is generally an out an out place to get a bargain.
I have no problem with selling at a profit or others doing the same (but as others have suggested it is variable as to whether your stuff will sell).
Generally stuff will go for market value even if a profit is being made.
I get some bargains and sell them on for profit and have had one or 2 mates say 'but you only got it for this' - 'yes, thats business. Would you still like it this cheap or pay market value?' ........
Often effort goes into the parts aswell, not always but enough.

The manufacturers make huuuuge profits, so why not the end users?

Value of stuff goes up and down.
That xx you bought 15 years ago for so little and now your selling at a massive profit with no questioning?

 

[jimplops]

Interesting read, I probably fall under the hardly any posts but sell. As with any forum I am a member of I will only post something if I think its worth saying as I'm not a post whore, and everything I've sold on here is stuff I've accumulated over the years and I think will be of use to the folks on here, but it does look like all I do is sell stuff lol

 

[JeRkY]

I recently purchased a bike on here as I wanted to try out Ti. Unfortunately less than a week later the rc100 trials bike came up for sale and I had to have it. Since I was already under promise to reduce my collection, adding 2 bikes in 2 weeks would have seen me hung by the neck from my bike stand.

As such the Ti bike had to go, I first offered it back to the previous owner and when I got no response split it and sold it on the bay, it hasn't afforded me to give up work for 6 months but it did make a proffit.

The thing that amused ne was I put the pace forks up for bids or £120 bin, or £40 start bid. Ofc some one bid, the bin option vanished and I thought they would be sold low. Turns out I needn't of worried as they ended up making £185 which as far as I have seen is a high for this fork in recent years.

So if it is a crime to turn a small proffit after putting in the work to strip clean fix an polish old bike bits, then I'm guilty in this case.

However if for some reason you are unable to buy a bike on the bay (be it the cost of the full bike or simply that it is pickup only and in the back of betond) that has that rare magic part some one is after. Would you not be even a little happy to see the part available seperatly at a cheaper price than buying the original full bike and able to get the part delivered? If no one did this that magic part wouldn't even be on the Market.

 

[Woz]

I've purchased complete bikes cheap. Upgraded them. Rode them, Split them. Sold the parts. To be honest, it's very rare if it is profit making (if it is it's peanuts and in no way covers the cost if I factored in an hourly rate of £20). Lke anything else it's swings and round-abouts, but it evens out to keep the fleet running and having minor upgrades at a lower reasonable cost and it's some fun on the way. I have been known to sell too cheap, and at the moment I'm running at a loss with the damn Swedish postal prices.

 

[mikee]

i buy a lot of stuff from here , some that have been around the retrobike
block some that havent , i will pay the price i set for stuff , too expensive
wontbuy until the magic "offers" word appears

what really gets me tho is folk selling on karma stuff

 

[TheGreenRabbit]

I am always on the look out for a bike to split and sell, this way I can use the profit to buy what I want, I simply see this as being able to keep my hobby as close to cost neutral position as I can.

 

[theredchili]

I think we all need to sell stuff to fund/progress builds,I've kept a record of everything I've brought and sold on here.Not from a profiteering point of view, just to monitor my build costs and for insurance purposes.
I've generally brought and sold things within a few quid difference ( to cover postage costs if nothing else)Ive still got all the Karma stuff I've been lucky to get, I've karma'd things also.
I ,on a good day break even,but for me its about keeping these bikes going, if I can help i will.

At the end of the day people on here are not stupid, they with know which sellers are doing this to constantly to make money off other peoples honesty.

i'm happy that I'm open and honest and appreciate that from all I buy and sell too.

Happy days

p.s please see my sale thread attached