Buying then splitting at profit? Opinions?

[brocklanders023]

Sometimes it is sad to see a 20 year old bike that has survived intact and in good nick for the whole of its life get broken up cause it suits the market but that's life and I'm probably too sentimental about it anyway - I have two bikes that I'd find hard to sell for that reason and a third that has been around the houses on this site gradually getting less and less original, I felt sorry for it and its almost back to its original spec, even with a few of the original bits which will make me happy will get some pics up when its done.

Agree with this. I have a bike that has virtually all it's original parts that I've thought about selling (My friend's desperate for the groupo). I'd make far more splitting then selling complete but I can't bring myself to do it. They go for very little complete so it stays with me.

 

[JeRkY]

I'll confess. There's been a lot of people on here saying they do buy, break and sell but rarely see a proffit. Well on the whole (discounting time, as riding, building and breaking bikes is a hobby not a source of income for me) am up on the proffit/ loss ratio. I go forth cheap eBay bikes and oft repost them split back on there.

I set my self a challenge back in janurary. I managed to pick up a Klein quantum pro on pinkbike at a great price ~£200. Split it, sold it on eBay. All the funds went back into my account which had roughly £400 already and was used as a float for the next purchase. By may I had close to a couple of k in there and I'd set an unrealistic target of 5k in my paypal by the year end.

Unfortunately my work circumstances changed and I ended up living away from home during the week which took away a lot of the free time I'd ordinarily of tinkered with bikes in. So the challenge fell by the wayside but the paypal balance did buy me 3 rc100's so I was quite happy.

I see nothing wrong with buying bargains and flipping them. It takes my time and all the risk is taken by me, people buying off me get accurate detailed descriptions and I'd like to think a good service, the former is something I rarely get when buying a bargain bay bike and having to rely on iffy photos to make an assessment. If I were to charge my time which is an abhorrent amount, I would be making a loss, but since I genuinely enjoy tinkering with all the mechanical and bike shaped it is just a little fun.

My names Rob I'm a nice guy, I've done a lot of karma freebies on here over the years, but I do occasionally buy bikes to make a proffit.

 

[CTK]

I've bought bikes in the knowledge that they'll be easy to split and sell- usually because I want a bit or 2. Why pay £40 for thumbshifters when you can get a bike with em on for £50?

We're all big boys and know what things are worth. Nobody is forcing anybody to spend money!

Anyone interested in doing it here you go...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marin-Bea...0739501206?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a14e9ec96

 

[legrandefromage]

Why pay £40 for thumbshifters when you can get a bike with em on for £50?

£39, please!

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=170678

 

[mechagouki]

I've bought bikes in the knowledge that they'll be easy to split and sell- usually because I want a bit or 2. Why pay £40 for thumbshifters when you can get a bike with em on for £50?

We're all big boys and know what things are worth. Nobody is forcing anybody to spend money!

Anyone interested in doing it here you go...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marin-Bea...0739501206?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2a14e9ec96

I think you just guaranteed that one will not be a bargain....

 

[julesg007]

Firstly a big thank you to Northendave for starting this thread, this has got to be one of the most interesting threads on Retrobike I've seen. The posts made are relevant and it hasn't become full of nonesense and has stayed on topic.

I would concur with the general theme that if you take the risk and benefit from it good luck to you. I am embarking on my first retro Ti build and wanted some parts and found them here and the last thing I asked myself was "how much profit are they making", the only thing I thought was great I managed to get the parts I wanted.

A few years back I picked up a bike of eBay to strip for parts for a re-build of my own bike but in the end I didn't use any of the parts after breaking the bike. I've thought about re-biulding and selling it on so I asked the forum what the best way was to maximise the amount I get back and the answer was sell as parts indivually and in my case I'd like to try and maximise the amount I can offset against the considerable costs I have just incured on my retro Ti build.

The issue is that we are now looking for parts that are no longer made so it seems that the most likely way we'll end up getting the parts we need is when a bike has been split especially if it a difficult part to find.

Catch 22 really if you want it and are prepared to pay for it you'll pay up and be happy you got the part you want and won't ask where the part came from or if the seller is making any profits on it.

 

[mooster]

Firstly a big thank you to Northendave for starting this thread, this has got to be one of the most interesting threads on Retrobike I've seen. The posts made are relevant and it hasn't become full of nonesense and has stayed on topic.

I would concur with the general theme that if you take the risk and benefit from it good luck to you. I am embarking on my first retro Ti build and wanted some parts and found them here and the last thing I asked myself was "how much profit are they making", the only thing I thought was great I managed to get the parts I wanted.

A few years back I picked up a bike of eBay to strip for parts for a re-build of my own bike but in the end I didn't use any of the parts after breaking the bike. I've thought about re-biulding and selling it on so I asked the forum what the best way was to maximise the amount I get back and the answer was sell as parts indivually and in my case I'd like to try and maximise the amount I can offset against the considerable costs I have just incured on my retro Ti build.

The issue is that we are now looking for parts that are no longer made so it seems that the most likely way we'll end up getting the parts we need is when a bike has been split especially if it a difficult part to find.

Catch 22 really if you want it and are prepared to pay for it you'll pay up and be happy you got the part you want and won't ask where the part came from or if the seller is making any profits on it.

Great reply and I agree 100%, if you're willing to take the risk then go for it and good luck. I've only bought and stripped 1 bike, in fact I rebuilt it a few times just for the practice and sheer fun. The frame was too small for me but some of the bits were nice which I've kept to one side, the wheels are still hanging up, but the rest was sold in bits and bobs over time. Didn't actually make money thinking about it! Just have some bits to show for it! We all know on the whole retrobiking is cheaper than upkeeping modern day MTBs but it still costs and we need to fund it somehow, so generating the funds in here or on the bay in my opinion is perfectly acceptable as long as prices are kept realistic and bargaining is exchanged! Besides it's a great way to keep the bits we need in circulation. Some times have a chuckle when I see some stuff I've sold appear back on here or the bay at a higher price though :roll:

 

[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.

20 quid an hour would make you better paid than any bike wrench I've ever met. Going rate for an experienced bike mechanic in Toronto is about $15 an hour.

£6.08 - the main rate for workers aged 21 and over

I barely scraped £900 a month for a 45 to 50 hour week.

Sweden Sirs....35% tax on income, 25% VAT and approx £6 for a pint and close to £2 for a Mars bar. But don't take my word for it...

http://www.sportson.se/newsite/?section ... ngenskurva

Put the above comprehensive bike shop repair price list in Google translate and be prepared for a severe heart-attack .... or fantasies of earning buckets of wedge. 10 SEK is approx to £1 .

 

[sancho]

I've bought bikes to strip and sell but I'm such a hoarder I end up keeping most of the stuff.

 

[NAILTRAIL96]

I don't see a problem, most bikes from the 90's and older will probably have been split at least once by now anyway.

Personally I couln't buy say a factory spec early 90's Kona in good condition then split it out for a profit, I'm too soft like that.

Not everyone has the storage to buy and break a whole bike for a set of cranks or shifters.
If all I want is the shifters and they're worth £20 then I'd pay that having half bikes cluttering up the place is of no use to me.
If some one else has paid £20 for the whole bike they came from the fair play to them.