Best way to sell my bicycles in the UK?
May 27, 2013 2:41 AM   Subscribe

I have three really nice bikes to sell and I'm concerned that if I go via ebay I'll get ripped off, plus I'd rather avoid their high fees if possible. Have you had any success selling a good quality bicycle another way in the UK?

Local paper, sign in newsagents window, or even better a really active bicycle enthusiast website? Or should I sell them on fleabay and take my chances.

The bikes we have are two unused Powabykes never taken out of their boxes and a Ladies Scott Contessa Speedster used a few times. Because these are pretty decent bikes and I've only ever sold low-value items on ebay before I could use some advice if that's the way to go. Oh and we're in Lancashire.

Many thanks.
posted by hazyjane to Work & Money (6 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Try Preloved?
posted by Callicvol at 5:17 AM on May 27, 2013


Gumtree. Facebook sale sites. Ebay with a set reserve at the market rate, COC to avoid paypal fees. You can link the ebay advert to localish cycling sites. Oh and you can post bicycles, info online.
posted by BenPens at 5:22 AM on May 27, 2013


Bought all my bikes on gumtree, seemed much more the thing than Craigslist or eBay in the U.K.
posted by meijusa at 8:50 AM on May 27, 2013


My other half just bought a second hand bike on gumtree - very happy with the process.

Have a look around and make sure your prices are realistic - however good the condition of your bikes you don't have the same underwriting as if they were new from a reputable seller.
posted by kadia_a at 12:01 PM on May 27, 2013


You can put a reserve on an eBay auction. But I did this (in the UK), for the price I wanted to sell the bike at, and nobody bit :) I put it on Gumtree at the same price and nobody wanted it there either, so I think the advice about really checking the current market for bikes like yours in the same condition is best.

I ended up selling mine for half what I wanted, a third of what I originally paid, to a work colleague of a friend who shared my Twitter & FB posts about it.

Take lots of good photos! Put them on Flickr or wherever and link up online.
posted by symphonicknot at 2:51 PM on May 28, 2013


Response by poster: Thanks, all. I put the two brand new unused Powabykes on gumtree at half their retail price. Nobody bit. So we put them together and had a go on them ourselves today. They are fantastic and we are keeping them and I'm so, so glad they didn't sell! I guess it was a price thing but anyway, it all worked out for the best.
posted by hazyjane at 7:47 AM on June 2, 2013


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