Selling and buying your second hand bike online

[janstink]

Hi guys,

I am looking to sell my bike privately online for about R25k.

Had terrible experience last time:

- Too many guys phoning, visiting me just to make stupid offers - also risky to meet stranger at home;

- Payment difficult in terms of timing (when does the buyer pay) and means of payment (cash/EFT/...) ;

- Also had a lot of guys interested from other regions (I live in CT), but difficult to have the bike checked for buyer, shipped and insured.  Then also the issue of packing and unpacking.

Do you guys share similar frustrations/ bottlenecks?  Are there platforms which address these/some of these issues and what will be a reasonable % sacrifice on selling price?

Thanks!

 

[Christofison]

Janstink

 

I have bought three bikes, all from different buyers in Cape Town. I'm from Durban.

 

If you don't want people coming to view the bike and then making you lower offers that you won't accept, then set the lowest price you will accept and make it clear that it's non-negotiable.

 

In terms of payment, to keep yourself safe don't send the bike until payment has been received in your account/cleared and you have confirmed with your bank that the transfer cannot be reversed. The buyer has an option when paying via EFT to "pay and clear now".

 

Also make it clear that packaging, shipping etc is for the buyers account.

 

-The first bike that I bought I had some friends take a drive to go and check out that the deal was legit and that the bike was in good order. I paid and cleared straight away and my friends took the bike at the same time.

 

-The second bike I bought I trusted the buyer as I knew someone who had bought from him before. We arranged for a bike shop to check if everything was in order and package/ship the bike for us for a small fee.

 

-The third bike was from a shop, once my payment had cleared, they sent the bike.

[Shebeen]

Hi guys,

I am looking to sell my bike privately online for about R25k.

Had terrible experience last time:

- Too many guys phoning, visiting me just to make stupid offers - also risky to meet stranger at home;

- Payment difficult in terms of timing (when does the buyer pay) and means of payment (cash/EFT/...) ;

- Also had a lot of guys interested from other regions (I live in CT), but difficult to have the bike checked for buyer, shipped and insured. Then also the issue of packing and unpacking.

Do you guys share similar frustrations/ bottlenecks? Are there platforms which address these/some of these issues and what will be a reasonable % sacrifice on selling price?

Thanks!

if you're selling here, then look at the buyer's rating.

 

Also more info and pictures helps.

[jcza]

Where's rouxtjie when you need him??

[Ryanpmb]

Hi guys,

I am looking to sell my bike privately online for about R25k.

Had terrible experience last time:

- Too many guys phoning, visiting me just to make stupid offers - also risky to meet stranger at home;

 

This is part of, well, selling items online... if you're really not keen then don't leave a number and deal with PMs or emails. Ignore the stupid offers - they're not serious to begin with and if you did take them up on it, they probably still wouldn't have the money.

 

- Payment difficult in terms of timing (when does the buyer pay) and means of payment (cash/EFT/...) ;

 

Not difficult at all. EFT. Funds clear. Item is shipped. As mentioned, check buyers market place ratings to gauge what they're like. Engage in a conversation with them too - phone call, chat for a bit over mail. You'll get an idea what they're like.

 

- Also had a lot of guys interested from other regions (I live in CT), but difficult to have the bike checked for buyer, shipped and insured.  Then also the issue of packing and unpacking.

 

This will cost R300 - R600. Pass the cost on (or include it to seal the deal). Involves a box from a bike shop, some bubble wrap, packaging tape and a call to the courier. Some shops also offer a box and ship service for a fee. Get this fee and add it to your selling price. Not limiting the sale to 'local' opens up your potential market. Most guys purchasing from out of town will be happy with a few well taken pics as they realise the logistical difficulties too.

 

Do you guys share similar frustrations/ bottlenecks?  Are there platforms which address these/some of these issues and what will be a reasonable % sacrifice on selling price?

Thanks!

 

Answers in blue. Guess it boils down to how badly you want to sell the bike...

 

Hope that helps.

[VicanZA]

Where's rouxtjie when you need him??

the 1000 post rule..

[GLuvsMtb]

Hi guys,

I am looking to sell my bike privately online for about R25k.

Had terrible experience last time:

- Too many guys phoning, visiting me just to make stupid offers - also risky to meet stranger at home;

- Payment difficult in terms of timing (when does the buyer pay) and means of payment (cash/EFT/...) ;

- Also had a lot of guys interested from other regions (I live in CT), but difficult to have the bike checked for buyer, shipped and insured.  Then also the issue of packing and unpacking.

Do you guys share similar frustrations/ bottlenecks?  Are there platforms which address these/some of these issues and what will be a reasonable % sacrifice on selling price?

Thanks!

Bikehub is a great platform to buy and sell. As others have mentioned here, you have to do some work though. It is also not risk-free, as we have had a few "chancers" trawling our classifieds. Generally admin is quite good to ban users once any fraud / intention to defraud a buyer / seller is detected (unlike gumtree and olx where you are really exposed). Just be prepared to deal with people who knows their stuff, so an unrealistic selling price will be called out.

 

The alternative is to take it to go to a bike shop that buys and sells second hand bikes. Just know that you will have to take a 14% knock for VAT, and that these guys need to make a margin as well.

[Ryanpmb]

Where's rouxtjie when you need him??

 

Dammit! Didn't see that - would've pointed him to a doping or wheel size thread for initiation...

[janstink]

thanks for advice even though I am way off the 1000 posts

[TTiago]

Hey guys, maybe you can help me...

 

I'm looking to ship my bike from Paarl to Potchefstroom but dont have a clue which courier offer a reliable and not expensive serve for this.

 

I see plenty people claiming it will cost 300 to 600 rands but don't seem to find no one to give me those rates.