Last Updated on September 6, 2022 by FAB Jim The Cyclist
Right now, it seems like there are just a ton of bike flippers in my area. They are buying up all the good deals from the used ads and then just relisting them days later for much more. This is just really bad as it is making it more expensive for people to get into cycling. And the sellers really don’t know anything about the history of the bike because they have owned it for such a short time.
Nothing wrong with finding an old bike once in a while that you know you can clean up and tune and make a few bucks on. Some flippers do add value by fixing up bikes and saving bikes from dumpsters. The people I don’t like are just beating out buyers who actually want to ride it, and then relisting it. And they have 5+ bikes listed at any given time. Really bad for cycling.
Be careful if you are selling a bike. If you are selling to a flipper don’t negotiate down, get a good price. If you check their profile and they are listing many bikes, they are probably a flipper.
If you are looking at used ads and you see several other bikes listed with the same background in the image and from the same city, it might be a flipper. If you decide your still going to try to buy it, be sure to negotiate the price down. One bike for sale now was bought for $90 and is relisted for $400. Do your research and don’t overpay a flipper.
Good advice you are sharing. Probably good to check the bike’s serial number as well to check if it has been stolen.
Good grief ! I’m glad people don’t do this with horses although sometimes they will put in a modicum of training and then whack up the price and try to sell it . But with horses it doesn’t work to well. Your advice to bike buyers is good in this post .
Glad it’s not a horse thing.
Me too!
Not sure if you’re aware that the ads on your posts are so numerous that it’s a bit distracting. Love your site just wanted you to know.
Thanks for letting me know. I’m planning to limit them a bit, but seeing how it is for now.