Selling a bike

[Perazzimx14]

I've had worse luck listing things for free, a lot of no-shows, time wasters.  Now, I list an item for $1 or $5 in the for sale section.  People who responded to that, show up. 

I'm listing a Benelli 350 right now, on CL, FBM, and Ebay. 

CL - Not a lot of action of CL, but it's free.
FBM - gives more local exposure, more responses. Free
Ebayy - $49 to list for a month.  Good exposure, we'll see.

Years ago we updated our kitchen and replace the 70's era green (worked perfectly) dishwasher. Listed it in the local paper for free including the color and that it was 100% operational. 1st call....what color is it, does it work? Green and yes! Well I was hoping it was white, do you have a white dishwasher I could have??

Dishwasher ended up going to the dump.

We have tried to give other stuff away over the years with similar results and now either put a small price to try and weed out the internet pariah and when someone shows up to make the purchase tell them to take it but mostly now just bypass all the hassle and take our "free" stuff it to the dump and give it to the recycle pile or the hole in the ground.

Trying to give stuff away seems to always turn into no good deed goes unpunished.

[cliffrod]

..... my price is always really fair.

This ^^^^ is the only magic formula. 

With few exceptions, things sell for what they're actually worth in the given marketplace.  Auctions can be great, but they can very easily bring together that one premium buyer and special item to then shift the market back down to normal valuations. 

Lower price enough to a fair amount and most items will sell.  But sometimes Free is even too much to ask for something.

[Motormike]

Years ago we updated our kitchen and replace the 70's era green (worked perfectly) dishwasher. Listed it in the local paper for free including the color and that it was 100% operational. 1st call....what color is it, does it work? Green and yes! Well I was hoping it was white, do you have a white dishwasher I could have??

When I try to sell a vehicle and have plenty of COLOR photos, as soon as I get the "what color is it?" nonsense, I just figure it's a scammer or someone too stupid to deal with and don't respond.

I'm in the slow process of getting rid of decades of old takeoff motorcycle parts.  I've learned pretty well what will sell on ebay and what to just throw away.  Recently hauled a Ducati Multistrada fuel tank to the dump.  Almost perfect condition, but the old air-cooled Multi fuel tank was huge (long) and the shipping costs would far outweigh the value of the tank.  So, I got tired of tripping over it, and I finally got over any regrets and tossed it.  No doubt someone in Europe would have given me $400 for it but would have balked at the $900 packing and shipping quote!

[DC950]

it really depends on where you live.  In some places, CL is still the place.  In others, it's all FB.

Since CL started charging $5 to sell a vehicle, the number of scammers and flakes has dropped like a rock. 

There are still some, including the weirdo who I tried to buy a pair of  R65s from.  Had a great conversation on the phone with him too.  Then nothing.

[Motormike]

Whenever I try to sell a motorcycle on CL, it invariably ends up with someone wanting to trade me a jon boat! 

[Perazzimx14]

Whenever I try to sell a motorcycle on CL, it invariably ends up with someone wanting to trade me a jon boat! 

Around here trade fodder was musical instruments or a clapped out 1990's era pickup that only needed a $5 part off eBay to make 100%.

[TN Mark]

There you go Jim: use every available resource and trust very few who contact you. Keeping expectations low helps your own sanity.

[rocker59]

https://www.cycletrader.com

[SIR REAL ED]

There you go Jim: use every available resource and trust very few who contact you. Keeping expectations low helps your own sanity.

Well said.  A reasonable asking price is a great start to not being disappointed in humanity.

So many are looking for a true sucker to come along and ante up ridiculous money.

the other bizarre sales pitch:  "Not really interested in selling.  Just testing the waters."

[MikeP996]

I quit selling to individuals a long time ago - it's just too much hassle for me to deal with.  The last several sales have been to motorcycle buying companies.  No, you won't get the best price because they have to make a profit too BUT you call them, they give you a price you say OK (or not) they come and pick it up and pay you.  I've sold three that way and was quite content with the price.  In one case, they offered me a price, I accepted, then they called me back and told me they were going to pay me MORE than I had already accepted.  :) 

[Moparnut72]

My general experience is "buy high, sell low." 
kk

[Motormike]

The last several sales have been to motorcycle buying companies.

Care to give some names of said companies?

[MikeP996]

Two were in the UK - https://superbikefactory.co.uk

One in the US -  https://www.powersportbuyers.com

[Cal3Me]

Jim,,,,,,,,, if you still have the yellow beast please call me ,,,,,,,, I'm ready to bring it home ... I left you 2 voice mails ,,,, so I hope everything is Ok on your end.

Tim

[TN Mark]

Is the Yellow Beast still affectionately called the Psycho Chicken? As you know Tim, a V10 Centauro is an awesome motorcycle.

[Cal3Me]

Back in the early 2000's I had a green Centauro and I traded with the seller straight up for my first Quota. I rode it home from Indiana that day and I thought it was the fastest guzzi I had ever ridden. A few years later I sold it to buy a guzzi single.

Now if Jim who knows me would please call me back I'm ready to ride the yellow beast back to my house. I have left a couple of voice mails on his cell today. Along with a message here and on ad in the swap meet section. I hope all is well on his end.

[TN Mark]

Jim will call you back.

I'm the guy that bought your gorgeous BRG V10 Centauro. A picture of it still hangs on my office wall. I was in West Chicago at the time just south of your old Wayne neighborhood. Thankfully, with the bike, you also handed me a Stuchii crossover and a Will Creedon C5 computer chip. Those two items completely transformed the mighty Centauro!

Like all box stock Centauros, they were dangerous in how poor they ran as delivered.

[Cal3Me]

Well,, hello Mark. Hope you're doing well. Are you still in WC in Oak Meadows? going on 23 yrs. now already out here in Oregon.

[TN Mark]

We moved out of Northern IL to Southern TN in September 2014.

[Joliet Jim]

Sorry was out of contact yesterday, apparently the psycho chicken had been spoken for. Going to a good home tomorrow. 

Thanks to everyone for the advice I thankfully didn't have to follow.

[guzziart]

You could try classifieds on MGNOC site, Guzzi folks look there. Sweet bike Jim.

Yeah, I've had the old Lemans on there for years now
Art

[SIR REAL ED]

Yeah, I've had the old Lemans on there for years now
Art

I'm not surprised.  I think motorcycle specific forum are the worst places to sell that specific motorcycle.  Everyone on the forum knows the up & downs of that brand/model so the mystique is reduced.

But those forums might be the best place to buy that specific brand/model.

Hard to believe the spendthrifts on Wild Guzzi haven't outbid each other to get your bike.....

[stomp944]

I quit selling to individuals a long time ago - it's just too much hassle for me to deal with.  The last several sales have been to motorcycle buying companies.  No, you won't get the best price because they have to make a profit too BUT you call them, they give you a price you say OK (or not) they come and pick it up and pay you.  I've sold three that way and was quite content with the price.  In one case, they offered me a price, I accepted, then they called me back and told me they were going to pay me MORE than I had already accepted.  :)

This thread is a bit old, but found it while searching for insights on selling my 75 850T (cafe restore 10 years ago). A little surprised to find how low the recent sales prices on 70's and 80's Guzzi's are lately, and how soft the used motorcycle market is in general. Pulling 19 comps from several sources over the past year avg at $6K, but many in the $3-4K range.
Regarding the post above, I am also in the process of selling a 2017 Multistrada in excellent condition, and tried a bike buyer for the first time. I spit up a mouthful of coffee when I got their offer for $2000. And it wasn't a test offer - it was THE offer. Current comps in my area (out of 10) avg $8+K for this bike now.

[Motormike]

I am also in the process of selling a 2017 Multistrada in excellent condition, and tried a bike buyer for the first time. I spit up a mouthful of coffee when I got their offer for $2000. And it wasn't a test offer - it was THE offer. Current comps in my area (out of 10) avg $8+K for this bike now.

I once bought a very nice Harley Low Rider S off a young man whose wife was pregnant with their second child, hence the bike sale.  He said he'd tried to sell it back to the dealership he'd bought if from with similar laughable results to yours.  They only offered about 40% of the bikes retail value.  But then I wanted the bike so we both made out fairly.  If I kick the bucket suddenly, then my wife can use a bike buyer and sell my remaining motorcycles for pennies on the dollar just to get rid of them in a hurry.  I won't be around to complain!!