The divorce is acted, you don’t see yourself anymore together, you feel to move on, you decide to get rid of your once beloved one. Whether to unclog space of your 25m2 apartment (with a view) allowing you now access to the balcony(at last, you can have lunch on it), to save up some money for retirement (yes, even if you are 25 years old) or to boost your budget for an upgraded bike, selling yours quickly and efficiently on Velocorner has become the solution: free of charges, simple and one click away! All the best tips for better results!
Doctor it up.
We think it goes without saying that if you noticed on your last ride, failures, malfunctions, or unusual noises on your bike, get it checked and repaired by a pro(listing bike shop link here?)! If you have spotted some parts worn beyond belief affecting the usability of the bike, we would recommend you to replace them also. If you handle the little maintenance of your dear one, little changes as defective gears/brakes cables, ripped bar tape/handle grips, or torn saddle, shape a new and immediate positive aesthetic aspect to your bike. Carry this thought out about the tyres. If you do not want to replace them and sell it as it is, be upfront and highlight them in the advert. And if you have cracks on the frame, whatever materials it is, don’t sell it. Security, honesty first, and conscious free.
Shower love on your bike.
A clean break rhymes with a clean cut. Cherish your bike for the last time. It deserves it. The main aim of the game is just to make it look as presentable as possible. Wash it well (avoid a high-pressure washer), rub it out deeply (remove specks of dirt and scrubs) , dry it up smoothly(cloths) , lube chain and derailleurs lightly (avoid leaks on the braking surface of wheels and hydraulic brake pads), wipe off the excess and polish it. Give it that last little bit of spick-and-span, so it really pops in the photos and will definitely bring higher attention to your bike.
Represent it for last.
Follow the prompts on our website: title brand, model, year and size (on their websites, bikes manufacturers detail often, on a given size(XS, S, M, L, XL)(50, 52, 54 and so on..), an ideal range of height of the user, getting it in the right ballpark for frame size.
Honesty is prime. Tell if you have scratches, mention its important features, list its components along, characteristics, report recent tune-ups (invoices for proof). Portray its use as at what terrain or discipline it is for. Recount your personal appreciation and point out its pros and cons. Promote some facts as numbers of spacers under or over the stem, seat post length, giving the buyer alternative position possibilities.
Estimate its price.
Compare with what’s on the market! Ultimately it’s worth between what someone will pay and what you want to sell it for. Ultimately only! But that’s how you should be starting up with. What was once expensive for you, five years later and an array of pleasure together, your bike has lost a lot of value. Well serviced and maybe upgraded, you can set your price up on the high side. By contrast, not controlled and supported, your bike falls on the lower part of the estimation (under it even).
Snap it good.
Pictures are important! Very important. We often take this step with poor recognition. Put yourself in the shoes of the one looking at your bike. Bad pictures are not appealing! First impression counts, isn’t it?
So first, strip your bike off from accessories or devices you would like to keep or mention them as kept in the ad.
Secondly, set your positioning settings back to a neutral one (aggressive racing position can possibly scare off some buyers).
The first picture (never from a manufacturer stock photo): picture it centered where the front and the rear wheels appear entirely, drivetrain facing you! Set the crank arm parallel to the floor, the chain put on the big ring, and back on the cassette, on the small one. Level it up meaning squat down on your knees (no it is not a workout exercise nor an imposed figure) and balance it up (not too tilted on the left or the right, so before the beer)! A picture taken too high or too low changes the perspective of your bike, it will look respectively smaller or bigger than it is and by this means, could be swapped quicker by potential buyers(especially by Tinder users). Light it up with a direct sunray with a clear background. Moreover, if you have photographic skills, you can work with cool effects by processing with a good shallow depth of field technics and blurring the background preventing distractions and resulting in a stronger focus of your bike! Another cool upshot outcome is the «bike stands its own» result: Someone holds the bike by the handlebar, arms stretched as he or she positioned one meter away from the bike, then let go real quick for a second while you take a burst of photos(don’t forget to grab it back). Crop out the person holding the bike, ending up seeing it standing on its own.
The adding shots can be close-ups of the front drivetrain, (hub, rim, and rear derailleur), stem and handlebar, fork, or rear suspension. If you did mention major scratches/marks, snap them in order to appreciate the degree of damages. An invoice purchase picture is a plus.
Now you’re talking!
Talk with the buyer (obviously not of your last vacation unless he asks, awkward, definitely agree).
Try to bring answers to some of his questions to establish trust: a good relation pulls the pointer to your favor. If you have experiences with technical tips to share with the buyer, do it! If you see that the buyer types on google every single technical term you announced, in reach of comprehending your explanation, step back and maintain your speech and words to his level with more basic names he can refer to. Overloading a potential buyer with unstructured consistences risks frustrating him completely and doom a negative outcome! In the reverse, if you take time to explain to him what is what, giving him new insights, he will appreciate it surely. Explain the function of some components if needed. Confidence often balances it off with a deal. And who knows, you may find a soul mate for your next rides.
The summer period is the best time to sell your bike. Bright sunny days, longest daytimes of the years, and vacations in minds coming ahead are surely incisive points for people to initiate the trigger to buy a new bike(used or new). Since Velocorner gathers the highest percentage of prospective buyers in the country by offering adverts for bikes and cycling parts in your local area, the odds seem opening up to you now. You are almost there.(link to the page to sell)