Why is it so hard to sell a bike?

**ducatilover** · 21st July 2009, 21:37

Originally Posted by Anthrax

Yes .

I'm relisting it now. Thanks for the advice anthrax, I am sure you can understand if I am silly and want $2500, after all it may be sentimentality getting in my way of reasoning.

**monkeymcbean** · 21st July 2009, 21:50

I agree with AllanB, presentation is very important if you are selling online with only photos for a buyer to make a visual assessment.
A photo can conjure up a story and what i thought was the bike was dirty and unloved.
As you say you travel along a dirt road, which then makes me think with all grit and grime stuck in the engine, grime sratches on the paint work.
If the seller he is presenting this bike, in this condition for sale, he does not take pride and joy in his bike, might be a sale to avoid.
Hey but im a female, so don't take what i say too seriously, but i do buy alot online and my hunches are pretty good about things.

**ducatilover** · 21st July 2009, 21:53

Originally Posted by monkeymcbean

I agree with AllanB, presentation is very important if you are selling online with only photos for a buyer to make a visual assessment.
A photo can conjure up a story and what i thought was the bike was dirty and unloved.
As you say you travel along a dirt road, which then makes me think with all grit and grime stuck in the engine, grime sratches on the paint work.
If the seller he is presenting this bike, in this condition for sale, he does not take pride and joy in his bike, might be a sale to avoid.
Hey but im a female, so don't take what i say too seriously, but i do buy alot online and my hunches are pretty good about things.

I think you make very good points, I will get the photos sorted as soon as possible, I do love the wee girl, it's just time to move on. I clean the bike at work once a week and always degrease the front of the engine because, as you mentioned, dirt and mud and yuck shit get stuck to it and it bakes on. Also the same reason I remove the calipers every month or 2500km while doing an oil change to clean the seals and slides.

Thank you for pointing that out to me.

**GOONR** · 22nd July 2009, 15:48

I've just bought a 250 but when I was look at trademe generally I would avoid anything that...

1. Mentioned heaps of spares..
2. Was modified. You just don't know about the quality of someone else's work. (not having a go at you and your mod is easy to but back to stock)
3. Wasn't clean in the photo's. To me it looks like it hasn't been looked after (rightly or wrongly).

I guess really I'm just repeating what has been mentioned already but seems I have recently been looking I thought I'd share what I looked for in the adverts.

Get the bike nice and sparkly. That will hold someone's interest longer, get them looking at your add over and over whilst comparing it with what else they can get for the same amount of dollars.

Good luck!

**ducatilover** · 22nd July 2009, 15:57

Originally Posted by GOONR

I've just bought a 250 but when I was look at trademe generally I would avoid anything that...

1. Mentioned heaps of spares..
2. Was modified. You just don't know about the quality of someone else's work. (not having a go at you and your mod is easy to but back to stock)
3. Wasn't clean in the photo's. To me it looks like it hasn't been looked after (rightly or wrongly).

I guess really I'm just repeating what has been mentioned already but seems I have recently been looking I thought I'd share what I looked for in the adverts.

Get the bike nice and sparkly. That will hold someone's interest longer, get them looking at your add over and over whilst comparing it with what else they can get for the same amount of dollars.

Good luck!

Thanks, I will clean the poor girl. It does look a bit sad

**ducatilover** · 22nd July 2009, 16:45

Nice clean pics, one of the photos is a wee bit blurry, it's bloody cold and I was shivering like a pussy. They should be up on the ad now

**yungatart** · 22nd July 2009, 16:53

My opinion...because you took a really classy looking little bike and bastardized it.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...you made that Spada look ugggly....original is best!

**ducatilover** · 22nd July 2009, 16:56

Originally Posted by yungatart

My opinion...because you took a really classy looking little bike and bastardized it.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...you made that Spada look ugggly....original is best!

I love it.

I couldn't stand that silly headlight.

**McDuck** · 22nd July 2009, 17:03

Originally Posted by yungatart

My opinion...because you took a really classy looking little bike and bastardized it.
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder...you made that Spada look ugggly....original is best!

**Brian d marge** · 22nd July 2009, 17:21

Ya have to admit though

Tard me does provide a laugh

10 000 dollars for a wammer Jameer WHAT?

Honda cg125 2k

CB750 13k

if ever there is evidence for the miss use of drugs ,,,tard me it it

The prices seem to be coming down a touch ( the baby boomers selling toys , now need the money !!)

Stephen

**Mystic13** · 22nd July 2009, 18:21

Originally Posted by ducatilover

As shown in the pictures the bike has a newly built exhaust, (makes it sound like a home job) full extractors and end cans. Sounds amazing and no need to worry about the standard balance bow baffle rusting. Has been tuned to suit the exhaust.
She has been a great little bike, runs very nice and smooth now the carbs have been tuned and synchronized, handles absolutely brilliantly! (implies it didn’t go well before)

I prefer listings that are clean and easy to read like this. Use of space and one point per line. And great photos.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228737073.htm

I think you could clean the listing up heaps and for me I think;

- clean bike in the bike pics
- repair the seat
- get plenty of shots including close up of rubber etc.
- take the photo's with light on the bike so yes you'll have to move the bike.
- take the bike pics in a clean space.
- likewise if someone came to see the bike I'd show it to them at work cleaned.

Right now it is a bit of a buyers market for bikes and bikes do sell for less on TM in winter. But if you sell and buy now it's all relative.

Good luck with the sale.

**ducatilover** · 22nd July 2009, 18:30

Originally Posted by Mystic13

I prefer listings that are clean and easy to read like this. Use of space and one point per line. And great photos.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-228737073.htm

I think you could clean the listing up heaps and for me I think;

- clean bike in the bike pics
- repair the seat
- get plenty of shots including close up of rubber etc.
- take the photo's with light on the bike so yes you'll have to move the bike.
- take the bike pics in a clean space.
- likewise if someone came to see the bike I'd show it to them at work cleaned.

Right now it is a bit of a buyers market for bikes and bikes do sell for less on TM in winter. But if you sell and buy now it's all relative.

Good luck with the sale.

I think the price reflects the seat, $90 to fix it.
I will get some of the rubber soon.
Bit hard to get light on the bike on a shitty wet overcast day in eketahuna sadly.
That happens to be the cleanest part of my section...unless I put the bike in a paddock.
The work idea is good thanks, that is where all the work to the has been done.

**Dare** · 22nd July 2009, 19:40

Originally Posted by ducatilover

I think the price reflects the seat, $90 to fix it.
I will get some of the rubber soon.
Bit hard to get light on the bike on a shitty wet overcast day in eketahuna sadly.
That happens to be the cleanest part of my section...unless I put the bike in a paddock.
The work idea is good thanks, that is where all the work to the has been done.

KISS principle, listed points, sexy photos of the important bits. And I'm not digging the half fairing (sorry) might just be my 'all or nothing' attitude to fairings though..

**ducatilover** · 22nd July 2009, 19:47

Originally Posted by Dare

KISS principle, listed points, sexy photos of the important bits. And I'm not digging the half fairing (sorry) might just be my 'all or nothing' attitude to fairings though..

No need to like it. I do, hopefully somebody else does. I think my definition of asking too much is a poor 650 katana for $3k...not a tidy little toy