Sales Suggestions

[Bicycle808]

I'm about to sell off some of my lingering bicycle parts/frames/etc and I was hoping to get a few pointers on strategies to use on the for-sale forum here at RatRodBikes.com. I'd considered posting this over there, but that seemed like a bad place, so this seemed like the next most logical place... If I'm in the wrong spot, feel free to move this post.

It seems like alot of ppl like to list a shipped price, but I don't wanna do that b/c I seldom sell anything online, and I have no idea what actual shipping costs would be. I don't want to price things too high and end up keeping all this stuff, but I also don't want to rip myself off by underestimating shipping costs. Is it reasonable to arrive at a price, then get the shipping cost and charge each customer actual shipping?

I have a lot of bike stuff, not all of which will be sold, but I do have a decent amount of stuff. Not all of it is Rat stuff, but some of it is, and there's lots of stuff that I think the typical rat-type person can easily/happily convert to rat usage. I'm not intending to sell roadie stuff here, but maybe weird stuff, old stuff, vintage bmx-ish and 26" stuff.... I guess, are there any general rules as to what is worth listing? Obviously cheep and heavy doesn't make a lot of sense, due to shipping concerns, but....

Any advice would be appreciated. As you can probably tell from the incoherent novel I've written above, I'm pretty confused...

-rob

 

[2manybikes]

Forum rules state that you need to post a pic and a price. My advice is to watch what things sell for both on this site and on Ebay. If you have concerns over selling too low, you can always start on the high side.
As far as shipping goes I use the Fedex site to estimate costs for big stuff. For small stuff USPS flat rate shipping is pretty safe.

 

[Bicycle808]

Forum rules state that you need to post a pic and a price. My advice is to watch what things sell for both on this site and on Ebay. If you have concerns over selling too low, you can always start on the high side.
As far as shipping goes I use the Fedex site to estimate costs for big stuff. For small stuff USPS flat rate shipping is pretty safe.

I'm not looking to make a lot of cash off of these things; some of it is worth a bit more, and those things may be headed to ebay. But the rest is just old 26" forks (some cool ones), handlebars, weird stuff suitable for clunker builds n all... nothing worth a ton, but too good/cool to donate to the local bike co-op. I just don;'t wanna spend more on shipping then i get from the sale, y'know? I have some prices in mind, based mostly on what i see things going for on the sale forum here... I just don't know what ppl are really looking for....

I'm mostly pulling my hair out trying to decide if I'm gonna sell my DX and the chrome king sting forks or not...

-rob

 

[schertztx]

Lots of people list a price + shipping. If someone wants it they will send you a pm, ask a shipping price which you can find online, to their zip code, and give them the shipping estimate. No worries about you loosing any money and they get an accurate # No problem with doing that. When you list the items just say "all prices + shipping" or something like that. It's all good!

 

[Bicycle808]

thanks for the advice, everyone... I guess i'll do prices plus actual shipping. Should I make sure i have everything boxed up,weighed, and ready so i can get shipping estimates quickly? I mean, have it ready before I even post it?

Look for some stuff on the for-sale forum soon. (I hope I didn't get anyone's hopes up too much... the stuff i'm selling isn't all that weird... just some kinda oddball stuff which may be old-hat to those of you who've been messing with bikes a long time.)

-rob

 

[outskirtscustoms]

I always list parts a little higher than I think they are worth and say all prices are "Or best offer" That let's people know you are willing to haggle and that is half the fun. I also never list prices shipped unless it will fit in a flat rate box, then you know what shipping inside the country will cost. International shipping is a bit more. Otherwise I will quote a price on the item then say plus shipping. Then after boxing it up I will enter in the dimensions and destination on USPS.com and guess at the weight and enter it in with 3-4 different weights just to be safe, normally doesn't change it that much.

 

[Bicycle808]

Put some stuff on the sale forum...started slow--just forks and a few sundries. so far, stuff's been selling. Maybe I'm asking too little? I wanna sell it fast, so prolly I have em priced right...

Thanks again for the advice, everyone who responded.

-rob