Custom paintwork and resale

[Markellis]

I'm currently riding a 2015 spez camber expert.

 

Matt black frame with gloss spez logo. I need some colour in my life and was thinking about getting the logo done a brighter colour. By a pro of course...not planning on going to CNA and getting some tipex

 

My worry is this, when the time comes to sell, will having a non standard colour scheme effect the selling price?

[Bobbo_SA]

Depends who / how it was done, if its a "Bogus" job you may even get more value from it.

[Andrew Steer]

A suggestion... maybe just get a letter from whoever does the respray at the time stating that it is just a respray and there is no issue being covered up etc - will just make your life easier heading down the road. If a paintjob is done well and tastefully, it shouldn't effect your pricing down the road...

[Cat2forLife]

Just get some vinyl stickers made. Then you can peel them off when you sell the bike.

[V12man]

Check your warrantee conditions first - some companies will reject warrantee claims if the frame has been resprayed.

[Markellis]

Check your warrantee conditions first - some companies will reject warrantee claims if the frame has been resprayed.

oh yes, very good point. cheers for that

[Jaco-fiets]

Check your warrantee conditions first - some companies will reject warrantee claims if the frame has been resprayed.

The exact question I am sitting with at the moment. Do you by any chance know if cannondale will drop their warrantee?

[V12man]

The exact question I am sitting with at the moment. Do you by any chance know if cannondale will drop their warrantee?

No idea unfortunately - I understand Spez do - but that's unconfirmed.

[Skinnyone]

Any manufacturer will drop the warranty once ANY modification has taken place, including the paint work. 

[Skinnyone]

From the Giant policy from their site;

 

EXCLUSIONS

The above warranty, or any implied warranty, does not cover:

• Normal wear and tear on parts such as tires, chains, brakes, cables and gearwheels in situations where there are no assembly or material defects.

• Bicycles serviced by other than an Authorized Giant dealer.

• Modifications from the original condition.

 

On the Trek website;

 

This warranty is void in its entirety by any modification of the frame, fork, or components. 

 

Santa Cruz bikes;

. Warranties do not cover custom finishes. 

 

So I think that answers that question: if you have a chance of any kind of claim on your frame then do not paint it....The above info was found by  doing a simple Google search

[Jaco-fiets]

Next question: If you are happy to pass on the warrantee and the frame cracks. Where would that leave you with your insurance? Can they give you the finger because the frame would have been covered by manufacturer did you not paint it?

[Skinnyone]

Next question: If you are happy to pass on the warrantee and the frame cracks. Where would that leave you with your insurance? Can they give you the finger because the frame would have been covered by manufacturer did you not paint it?

Well this is the dilemma isn't it...as far as insurance companies go - I would not be surprised  if there was a loophole in their policy where they could get around paying you out because you intentionally voided the warranty on the product.

[Skinnyone]

At the end of the day, you have already lost about 50% of the bikes value anyway ( fairly common industry standard), so depending on how much longer you are looking at keeping it it will continue to devalue anyway...

 

Having a custom spray job done may or may not affect the resale value - that would depend entirely on the potential buyer - some may look at it and say "wow that looks good and I want it" some may say "Mmmm, respray, what is he hiding? What kind of condition was it in that it warranted a respray? I am not touching it with a barge pole". A second purchaser is not buying the bike with a warranty so they wouldn't be concerned with that detail.

 

But like it has been pointed out, are you prepared to void any kind of warranty you have left by painting it and keep riding it, then one day it has an issue and it turns out to be a genuine problem but you can't claim? Insurance gets wind that it has been painted and voids the warranty then they don't pay out either...? 

 

Tough choice, I know which way I would go though...

[Patchelicious]

Well this is the dilemma isn't it...as far as insurance companies go - I would not be surprised  if there was a loophole in their policy where they could get around paying you out because you intentionally voided the warranty on the product.

You are insured agaisnt an event. Not a warranty.

 

Just tell them, you would probably be able to insure your bike for replacement value plus the cost of the custom spray work.

[Patchelicious]

Maybe a bike wrap is the answer?

Or see if you can swop it for a more colourful version? I would swop my flashy Spez for a sexy black one. (I like living dangrously) Worth a shot.

[Falco]

My worry is this, when the time comes to sell, will having a non standard colour scheme effect the selling price?

Yes, it will. It will also significantly reduce the buyer pool, for the simple reason that a custom job is unique - so while it may be ultra special to you, it probably won't appeal to others as much.

 

I've sold two custom painted frames, and in both cases the buyers were reluctant to commit at a price that would have been appropriate for a standard factory painted frame. Both were sold at a significant loss, despite painter details and invoices being made available to the buyers.

 

My bikes now stay standard painted. Maybe it will be different for people who keep their bikes indefinitely, but I stopped following the n+1 principle some time ago. For me, it is now a case of use it until I want a newer model, at which time the old one is sold in factory finish.