Advice - Selling on ebay

Hi all, I've been trying to sell my bike for a few weeks now and haven't had a single enquiry so I'm pondering putting it up on Ebay. I was wondering if anyone had done the same, and if so, if they had any advice on how to go about it?

I've never sold anything on Ebay before, and only bought one item, so this is kind of a big thing to start off with!

Thanks for any help!

Dave

the only problem i see is whatever the auction ends on ,thats what you sell your bike for, so if it gos for£500 unlucky unless u place a reserve(but i bet u knew all that)

Have a look for similar bikes already available on Ebay and you can get the general gist of what you need to do.

My advice is put up plenty of pics, include a pick in the gallery, be careful to put the bike in the right section (you wouldn't believe how many people put items in the wrong place and then wonder why it was sold so cheaply), include plenty of detail and put a reasonable reserve price, something that you would be ok with.

HTH

Originally Posted by Skiddy

Hi all, I've been trying to sell my bike for a few weeks now and haven't had a single enquiry so I'm pondering putting it up on Ebay. I was wondering if anyone had done the same, and if so, if they had any advice on how to go about it?

I've never sold anything on Ebay before, and only bought one item, so this is kind of a big thing to start off with!

Thanks for any help!

Dave

Hi Dave.

Is your bike Mint?

I ask because a lot, well the majority of people just take side on and rear photos of their bikes but describe them as mint. That certainly doesn't convince me. Close up's of certain areas (like the rear shock, front fork legs, paintwork, chain are rare but allow the viewer to really be convinced that you have a good condition bike.

I am at a cross roads with what to do with my auctions. I usually put far too much information in them and they don't ALWAYS sell. I'm always honest as I don't like to mislead people as it'd be too easy for the transaction to turn nasty.

Here's two recent ebay auctions of mine:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEUS%3AIT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEUS%3AIT&rd=1

The first one sold very quickly, the 2nd has yet to sell but I think that is because it isn't a popular model.

I use a program called Omni auction builder - download the trial software here: http://www.omniauctionbuilder.com/mo...eq=getit&lid=1

I can get the serial for you if you wish to sue it after the 30 day mark. I can talk you through how to use it etc. I would also get an account with www.photobucket.com for your webhosting.

These are jsut pointers really and certainly are not the best way to sell your bike as everyones opinion differs.

Just remember that Ebay will take a bite out of your final sell price. So try to include that in your final price.

As said before: Lots of pics, honest info. They're coming to collect it from you and they expect to get what they paid for. Make sure they leave happy. And if the driver has a hat on, run the hell away.

Seriously, he who drive with hat be trouble.

Thanks for the replies, guys!

No, it's not mint and I won't be selling it as such either, but it is basically clean and tidy, and mechanically it's fine. I also bought it from a salvage dealer so it is an ex-insurance write off (10k miles ago). Obviously I'll include that in the write up, so I guess I should then stress that the bike hasn't shown any signs of any problems in the three years I've had it etc. Just be totally honest I guess.

Would you say it's better to have a starting price under what you want and then a reserve, or just a starting price at the bottom of what you'd accept? How about buy-it-now prices?

yep,put a reserve price in(the lowest youl take )that way youre not obliged to sell it if somebody bids £20 (i take it you want more than that)

hmmm, thinking of my auctions, I tend to put a starting price that is a little below what I would be happy getting and then setting the reserve price at the absolute minimum of what I would be content getting.

Personally I stay clear of the buy it now price as if your auction goes better than expected and has the potential to go high then the buy it now option caps it. Buyers can easily get over-excited at the last minute and keep bidding, a buy it now option means thats the maximum the price will go.

lol, I've sold more than one item which ends up going for more than buying brand new from a dealer!

Sounds good, thanks guys! I'll see if I can cobble something together this evening

You have a few ways to play it,

1 – A ‘Buy it now’ auction. Simple, ask what you are after for it, if someone likes the bike and likes the price it will sell there and then for what you asked.

2- Reserve - Start the bidding low, but have a reserve price, if the reserve isn’t met then you don’t get a sale or let the bike go regardless of bids. Bike can sell for more than reserve.

3 – Sensible start price – start the auction at the minimum you would take for the bike .. e.g. if you want £1500 for the bike but would take £1100 bare minimum, start it off at £1100, you might get >£1500 if there is enough interest, but having the bare minimum will generate more interest than starting off with what you would ideally like.

4 - £1 start price, no reserve … this will get masses of interest, but if only one person bids then you have to let it go for the £1. Many times these auctions actually fetch more than any other method as people get carried away.

Personally (as a buyer) I hate bikes with a reserve, love ‘Buy it now’ (presuming price is right)!!! I am more likely to look at a bike sold by methods 3 or 4. I don’t bother looking at bikes if they have a reserve, I really don’t see the advantage of that over method 3.