Is it ethical to flip bikes on this site?

[2Slow]

I am only asking for myself and not to be critical of anybody else. I have been buying and selling bikes for a few years and every now and then I find one that I think would be more appreciated by a member here that the average CL buyer. Obviously if a friend or family member wanted one of my flippers I would not consider making a profit. So my dilema is that I think of this site as a friendly community of like minded people. Do I offer a bike for sale here at the "friend price" and leave money on the table in order to sell a cool bike to somebody in the community? Or is it OK to just ask the same price I would on CL and if the buyer is willing to pay it and is still getting a fair deal , cool. The people here are more knowlegeable than me on pricing so I am sure nobody is going to get overcharged here. I am just curious as to the general opinion on this issue.
Thanks.

 

[Rat Rod]

I think the only time you would run into trouble was if you bought a bike off of someone here on the forum with the intentions of turning around and reselling it here on this forum.

That might get a frown or two.

 

[udallcustombikes]

I had a girls Western Flyer Spacebike with a tank that I scored for $5. I traded it to a member for a couple hair pin saddles (retail value about $50). I made a profit. A few days later I see it cleaned up on CL where he flipped it for $130. I was not upset because I still made a profit on my investment.

I would not have a problem with someone flipping bikes purchased here IF there was some labor put into the cleaning, building, or maintenance put into the bike to justify the price increase. If someone were to buy a bike and then turn around and list it in the same condition for more than they paid for it there would be a problem. But you should be able to make a little coin for work done. Just don't over do it. After all, we are all family here.

 

[bombshelterbikes]

I think Steve said it best - if you come across a good deal on something HERE, either buy it for YOURSELF, or let someone else grab it for their own use. Being "first in line" and buying something from another member with the idea of relisting it here and making a profit that the original owner missed might be a tad shady.

There are lots of great people here of varying income levels and "hobby" money. Great deals are offered here all the time, and although I may see additional profit that the seller does not, it is really cool to see another member get excited because they just got a part/bike that would often have been out of their price range.

I freely admit that I often buy bikes/parts/etc from elsewhere (craigslist, ebay, estate sales, etc) and resell for profit. It is called free market capitalism, and this country is founded upon it. In general it can work out really well for all involved, because my time is worth something and parts/bikes get distributed to people who want them....and around and round we go. Stuff I think people on this forum might appreciate most I offer for sale here. If it sells - great! If not, I move on or lower the price. The buyers let me know either way. Conversely, I also sell only on ebay things that "collectors" tend to appreciate most. Those sales provide profit that allows me to continue to buy and sell.

Notice I said "buy" also. I have purchased many things for myself here from members who were glad I had cash to do so. That's what makes it a COMMUNITY, not simply a MARKET. People are here because (almost always) they LOVE bikes. That love fuels a need to share resources - parts, bikes, cash, etc. Buying and selling is one medium here that allows that exchange of resources to take place.

ANyway, MUCH longer response than I'm sure you required! :roll: Enjoy this place...it is truly special.

 

[2Slow]

Thanks for the responses. I would never flip something bought here. I spend a lot of time tracking down, negotiating, hauling, repairing and selling the bikes and there is value to my time. I flip bikes to supplement my income since overtime at work has dried up. But it is also my hobby and I enjoy it. I always try to be an honest seller and have had people buy multiple bikes from me. I also wind up giving a lot of bikes away and doing free repair work. I was just curious as to what the general feelings were here on the subject.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

I like parting bikes out, I buy them cheap around here at yard sales, flea markets, trash finds, and junkers throw them in my yard. Some bikes I get for free but I clean each piece, dismantling, packing, shipping, and waiting for everything to sell. I ask a fair price and I always use the money to go to fixing other projects or customizing my rat rod bike. It's like I always say, if the seller is happy and the buyer is happy then that is all that matters.

 

[schwinnmesa]

It's like I always say, if the seller is happy and the buyer is happy then that is all that matters.

 

[pepper]

Im apart of an old school paintball forum. Ive bought markers on there, used them for a year and then sold them. Most of the time ive added some after market parts so the the price went up. Ive never seen anyone buy something, than turn around and try to sell it for more $$ in the same condition- they would get caught by the regulars.

I use forums to find good deals on items that the seller knows what it is, or if i have something rare i want to sell and get a decent price for it.
I use Ebay to try and snag a mislabeled item, I never sell on there.
I use Cl to find that item that someone wants sold and gone fast.

 

[CCR]

i think its just bad taste to buy something from someone "here" and then just turn around and sell it for more "here". My feelings dont get hurt but some others may and I usually take that into consideration first.

 

[Gold Street Customs]

If I buy something here and relist it, it usually after I have tripped over it for a year and can't remember where it came from in the first place, I try to be fair, but I also am in Calif and prices are different here because most of the barns turned into housing tracks, but mt bikes are cheaper to find here than other states , but thats about it, and we pay $3.10 a gallon for regular, so chasing down bikes sometimes adds up.

 

[Philphine]

i've never sold or brought here, but i've been a buyer on a couple other forums, so this is just a casual observation.

but the problem i'd see is more for the seller. problem might be the wrong word, but just going from other forums where most people know a parts value, it seems like the seller wouldn't get as good a price for what he's selling among people who are basicly doing the same thing.

not saying a seller would be unethical or anything, but you know what i mean. you have a price on something and most people here know about what you probaly paid for it and how much it should go for 'cause they have one or watch comings and goings of whatever type part it is. moreso than someone out in "the real world" who's just taken an interest in wanting a neat bike to ride.

did i say that right without it sounding insulting? i'm just saying everyone here pretty much has their eyes open so a seller probaly isn't going to make his best profit here anyway.

 

[Wildcat]

With the cost of shipping, I would think those wanting to just make a profit would use their local CL.

 

[mikesbikes36]

i havent ..and wouldnt ....but if i buy something its mine!!! if i sell it for profit ....thats bad ? JUST ASKIN !! mike

 

[Bodge Deep]

I don't see it as too much of a problem... one mans trash... etc
I trawl a lot of junk shops and car boot sales and general rule of thumb is ask 'how much would you take for it?'
if they set the price then they get what they ask for... if the item is worth 10 times that, then its the sellers problem not the buyers.

Purely from a personal point of view I think its a shame when nice early vintage complete bikes are parted out, but I think thats more to do with a lack of good complete...or incomplete bikes over here, stuff that you guys would split for spares, we'd be falling over oneanother to get hold of complete :lol:

 

[pepper]

...Purely from a personal point of view I think its a shame when nice early vintage complete bikes are parted out, but I think that's more to do with a lack of good complete...or incomplete bikes over here, stuff that you guys would split for spares, we'd be falling over one another to get hold of complete :lol:

I know dude. Over here you cant find any male classic bikes, than I read how a forum member is cutting them up left a right, parting them out or finding some huge freaking stash of them on CL.... I'm coveting...

 

[outskirtscustoms]

...Purely from a personal point of view I think its a shame when nice early vintage complete bikes are parted out, but I think that's more to do with a lack of good complete...or incomplete bikes over here, stuff that you guys would split for spares, we'd be falling over one another to get hold of complete :lol:

I know dude. Over here you cant find any male classic bikes, than I read how a forum member is cutting them up left a right, parting them out or finding some huge freaking stash of them on CL.... I'm coveting...

Normally I only part out bikes that no one wants whole, huffys, murrys, exc. or bikes that are far from being complete. but I never cut a frame unless it's cheapo walmart bike or too far gone to save then I usually rat them out 8)