Secondhand bikes - Is it just me or is the market very slow...

[Hein3G]

Out of curiosity, I've been trying to sell my bike since Nov last year and I've had one person trying his luck with a low ball offer... It's had thousands of views, but no takers. I've continuously dropped the price, but it seems to make no difference in attracting interest.

Is it just me or is anyone else also struggling to sell their bike?

For information: It's a XL 2022 TREK Slash 8 Gen 5 with upgrades I'm selling, price started at R54000 now at R39800. (Currently the cheapest Slash for sale as far as I'm aware)

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/584083/trek-slash-8-gen-5-xl

Am I doing something wrong or is the size/price just not right?

Looking forward to some constructive feedback.

[RobertWhitehead]

Full disclosure: I know very little about trail and or enduro bikes, so take my feedback with a pinch of salt. Three things I notice off the bat: 

• Is Diamond a good fork, again, I know very little about trail but I've never heard of Diamond, please educate me
• It's an XL (not a very common size)
• It's an alu (carbon is the "in" material on marathon, maybe it's the same for trail) 

Other than that I can't see much wrong with it, I don't know what a Slash goes for and or if the price is too high. But to answer your original question: Yes, the market is slow, especially if you've only got it listed here. Maybe try other platforms as well to increase your chances. 

[Hein3G]

4 minutes ago, RobertWhitehead said:

Full disclosure: I know very little about trail and or enduro bikes, so take my feedback with a pinch of salt. Three things I notice off the bat: 

• Is Diamond a good fork, again, I know very little about trail but I've never heard of Diamond, please educate me
• It's an XL (not a very common size)
• It's an alu (carbon is the "in" material on marathon, maybe it's the same for trail) 

Other than that I can't see much wrong with it, I don't know what a Slash goes for and or if the price is too high. But to answer your original question: Yes, the market is slow, especially if you've only got it listed here. Maybe try other platforms as well to increase your chances. 

Thanks for the input @RobertWhitehead. 

• DVO fall in the same great suspension upgrade class as Ohlins and the likes IMO 
• Sure, XL isn't that common but there are a lot of tall riders and new XL's are also not always easy to come by.
• Carbon is always the more desired material, but in this price class it's very unlikely you'll find a carbon version for sale.

Compared to the other TREK Slash's for sale the price seems to be good. I have also tried other platforms, but they only attract people that has no intension of buying your bike. My feeling is that someone that is looking for a bike would first look on BikeHub as it's been the place to sell/find a bike for years and most people that ride know of it.

It's just my 2c worth and though I'll try get some feedback.

 

[Headshot]

Looks like a bargain to me but I ride an enduro bike so I'm in your target market which is small in SA. I think the new market is also very slow right now so maybe just hang in there for a while longer. 

[MudLark]

Market is slower because of economics but also XL size has an inherently smaller market and the market for enduro is smaller than for trail or XC. 

[SSCC]

54 minutes ago, Hein3G said:

Out of curiosity, I've been trying to sell my bike since Nov last year and I've had one person trying his luck with a low ball offer... It's had thousands of views, but no takers. I've continuously dropped the price, but it seems to make no difference in attracting interest.

Is it just me or is anyone else also struggling to sell their bike?

For information: It's a XL 2022 TREK Slash 8 Gen 5 with upgrades I'm selling, price started at R54000 now at R39800. (Currently the cheapest Slash for sale as far as I'm aware)

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/584083/trek-slash-8-gen-5-xl

Am I doing something wrong or is the size/price just not right?

Looking forward to some constructive feedback.

New MTB sales have tanked except in the E bike category. Especially Enduro bikes. The 2nd hand market is going to suffer if new bikes are discontinued and sales are slow. It sucks but you may only end up getting 50% of what you originally wanted. 

[Headshot]

7 minutes ago, SSCC said:

New MTB sales have tanked except in the E bike category. Especially Enduro bikes. The 2nd hand market is going to suffer if new bikes are discontinued and sales are slow. It sucks but you may only end up getting 50% of what you originally wanted. 

Good point - since most eBikes are pretty much trail/enduro bikes, many people are just going straight to E without trying the gateway drug...

[GLuvsMtb]

Lots of bargains out there. You can pick up a new one for just under R50k
https://www.thebicycleservicecompany.co.za/bsc-online/all-bikes/mountain-bikes/trek-my23-slash-gx-size-m-penny-flake-8/?attribute_pa_colour=penny-flake&attribute_pa_size=xl&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21105048935&gbraid=0AAAAAqyyRwhzJYjMfNudd06-OecidL2sD&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGZT13Chpf5q5hv9fwXvCyn4VtidPYPKEZO0Ftsx3167cUHjlYTeFzBoC2PQQAvD_BwE
 

I've sold quite a bit on Bikehub in the last couple of months. My formula is roughly:
Cost of new bike / 2 less additional 10% of reduced value for each year. I would have probably started at R29k for your bike and settled for around R25k. Upgrades seldomly equates to a better selling price. It does help to sell if your bike is priced similarly to a stock bike. Hope this helps and good luck with the sale. 

[Mike du Plessis]

Market is exceptionally slow 

[Mook]

Market is slow and flooded with 2ndhand bikes. You would probably never get what your bike is truly forth. What gets me however is the lack of common decency/respect. 

I am typically requested to send measurements for every part of the bike that could be measured. Five(5) hub messages later the buyer tells me that he/she would check the measurements and get back to me. That is the last I hear of the buyer ..............................

Is this how cancel culture works, or am I old school 🤷‍♂️

[MudLark]

1 hour ago, Headshot said:

Good point - since most eBikes are pretty much trail/enduro bikes, many people are just going straight to E without trying the gateway drug...

I bought the wife an Orbea e-bike... and... I hate it. Whether she is riding it or I am riding it. It craps out at 32km/h... meaning that if she is riding she can't keep with me and if I am riding then above 32km/h I am pedalling a lump of lead. Sorry, but you can keep your ebike.

[MORNE]

2 hours ago, Hein3G said:

Out of curiosity, I've been trying to sell my bike since Nov last year and I've had one person trying his luck with a low ball offer... It's had thousands of views, but no takers. I've continuously dropped the price, but it seems to make no difference in attracting interest.

Is it just me or is anyone else also struggling to sell their bike?

For information: It's a XL 2022 TREK Slash 8 Gen 5 with upgrades I'm selling, price started at R54000 now at R39800. (Currently the cheapest Slash for sale as far as I'm aware)

https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/584083/trek-slash-8-gen-5-xl

Am I doing something wrong or is the size/price just not right?

Looking forward to some constructive feedback.

Trek also screwed you over by selling the 9.8 version of this bike, in full carbon everything…for half price late last year November. Think the sold for R50k or so something. I personally know two people who bought them then. Trek giving away R120k bikes for chips basically. Thats part of your problem imo. Market was flooded with cheap, arguably better versions and everybody that was looking, got new ones instead.

[Bro Derek]

3 minutes ago, Mook said:

Market is slow and flooded with 2ndhand bikes. You would probably never get what your bike is truly forth. What gets me however is the lack of common decency/respect. 

I am typically requested to send measurements for every part of the bike that could be measured. Five(5) hub messages later the buyer tells me that he/she would check the measurements and get back to me. That is the last I hear of the buyer ..............................

Is this how cancel culture works, or am I old school 🤷‍♂️

Hijack on

 

I'm interested to know how this relates to cancel culture?

... Cancel culture is a term that describes the public shaming and ostracization of individuals or groups, often by withdrawing support for them after they have said or done something considered objectionable or offensive. This practice frequently occurs on social media and can involve boycotts, public shaming, and attempts to damage their reputation or career. 

Regarding the above issue though, if you don't measure it's definitely no sale, if you do it just increases the chance slightly.

People engage differently, we need to be able to adapt or lose out.

I'm currently busy evolving both of my businesses to better relate to the new market while not leaving behind the old ways. It's complex but it definitely makes me realise what a stuck in the mud old person I am 

[Hein3G]

1 hour ago, GLuvsMtb said:

Lots of bargains out there. You can pick up a new one for just under R50k
https://www.thebicycleservicecompany.co.za/bsc-online/all-bikes/mountain-bikes/trek-my23-slash-gx-size-m-penny-flake-8/?attribute_pa_colour=penny-flake&attribute_pa_size=xl&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21105048935&gbraid=0AAAAAqyyRwhzJYjMfNudd06-OecidL2sD&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGZT13Chpf5q5hv9fwXvCyn4VtidPYPKEZO0Ftsx3167cUHjlYTeFzBoC2PQQAvD_BwE
 

I've sold quite a bit on Bikehub in the last couple of months. My formula is roughly:
Cost of new bike / 2 less additional 10% of reduced value for each year. I would have probably started at R29k for your bike and settled for around R25k. Upgrades seldomly equates to a better selling price. It does help to sell if your bike is priced similarly to a stock bike. Hope this helps and good luck with the sale. 

That's a great reply and thank you for the insight @GLuvsMtb

[MORNE]

Anecdotally, i sold a full bike 2 months ago for asking price on here. Last year I sold two. One XL and one XXL. I think its less about size and more about what it is. I personally don't buy what I call ‘cookie cutter bikes’. There are people who want them of course, but when you try snd sell a trek, spez, giant etc..your are part of a huge pool of other people trying to sell the same thing more or less. If you have something ‘no one else’ has…or is rare locally, it helps. Makes it easier to split bike and sell parts too. 

Edited Thursday at 11:41 AM by MORNE

[Ncayi]

All I will say is that the market has no "integrity". I am getting fed up with waiting for those pennies on the dollar rim brake bikes and wheelsets we were promised years ago.