Second Hand Thorn Values

[Blue lotus]

Yes, very interesting subject!

I am trying to sell my Commutour and ebay seems to be the only way to value properly such a bike. The price I put on here was what I thought was a fair price but the lack of interest (no contact at all, not even one offer) makes me think that that price is too high. I accept that but not knowing how to value my bike, I will flog it on ebay and see what the market gives me.

It is hard to value because yes it is a rather old bike, but on the other side, it is a good bike in good condition and, as mentioned above as it seems to matter for some, "handmade in the UK".

I'll try a £0.99 auction with reserve price and see what happens.

On the other side, I was ready to pay £750 for my Sherpa mk2 on ebay (compared with £1100+ usually asked for them on sjs) and got it for less (£670).

The used bike market is a mystery...

Happy bidding  

[Danneaux]

I am trying to sell my Commutour...The price I put on here was what I thought was a fair price but the lack of interest (no contact at all, not even one offer)

I'm just astonished there was no interest, but it may be the timing just wasn't right, or it could be the price.

I'll try a £0.99 auction with reserve price and see what happens.

Part of me wants to shout "Noooooooooo" out of concern it might go for next-to-nothing when it is obviously a nice bike.

Of course, eBay success is a fickle thing and varies by the phase of the moon, season, demand, and location, but I have found (Stateside) it works pretty well to start the bidding at the rock-bottom-would-be-kinda-disappointed-but-okay price I would accept. This way, I can get a feel for the market without getting completely burned. I think of it as an "open" reserve, and if it doesn't sell, then I can pull and relist it with another price in mind. I've seen some really nice bikes go very cheaply, which is a joyous wedding for the buyer and a sad funeral for the seller.

I wish you the best of luck!

Hoping for a good outcome,

Dan. (Ever notice...eBay doesn't seem to offer "Dutch auctions" anymore?)

[honesty]

The problem with second hand bikes in the UK at least is that government have basically set the prices on used bikes through the residuals charges in the cycle scheme. This says that after 18 months a bike over 500 quid is only worth 25% of purchase price, at 4 years old it's only worth 7%... now obviously caveat that with something is worth what people will pay for it, and in the right market a Thorn is going to be more, but to the general populous is going to be hard to get much more.

[Danneaux]

with second hand bikes in the UK at least is that government have basically set the prices on used bikes through the residuals charges in the cycle scheme.

I...had no idea!

Huh. Huh!  That must be discouraging when it comes to a much-beloved and very fine older bike.

...now obviously caveat that with something is worth what people will pay for it, and in the right market a Thorn is going to be more, but to the general populous is going to be hard to get much more.

I'd always wondered why used Thorn prices were a bit higher than others but still looked very  good from this side of the water...

All the best,

Dan. (See? 'Learn something new ever'day!)

[Andybg]

I think pert of the issue is that the Commutour is not a very common model and therefore it is difficult to know a value for the bike and also the market for it will be very up and down. Certainly on ebay you will reach a wider market but you might not get the right customer at the time you are selling so I would suggest putting a sensible reserve on the bike.

Given the age of the components I would suggest a reserve of 250 and hopefully you will get a much higher sale but atleast if it does go you will know it has not gone for nothing.

Earlier in the year I sold an immaculate Raleigh Touriste Reynolds 531 that was worth around 300ukp and it sold on ebay for 150ukp because I had not put a reserve and few were interested at the time. I was kicking myself for letting it go for that.

Best of Luck

Andy

[honesty]

Depending on the age of the bike selling second hand you're probably going to get more money by stripping it down and selling the parts separately. Bit like the used car (stolen car!) market....

[ZeroBike]

In relation to Brooks saddles, I have been following a few on eBay, and am impressed by the value that many old saddles are achieving. In years ahead maybe our trusty Thorn mounts will still maintain that 50% second hand price. If so, I would be very happy.

Brooks saddles mold to the contorts of your butt so its a bit dumb to buy a used one as it will probably never fit.

[martinf]

Some makes such as Moultons seem to hold their value very well and I have bought 2 of those used and resold them 2 years after for no loss.

I'd agree with that. I sold my 4-year old TSR at about 70% new value to part-finance my future Thorn. Brompton is another make that holds value very well - a few years ago I sold a 6 year old Brompton for more than 50% new price to upgrade to the post-2003 longer wheelbase frame.

Other than that, I tend to keep my bikes. I don't think I would get more than a token price for any of the large-wheel ones (all now more than 20 years old). Maybe they will start getting antique value if I keep them long enough.

[JWestland]

I've seen a Commutour sell around £400 on e-bay, if you offer shipping (Yello does a good price to ALL of the UK including NI) you will increase bidding.
Bike shops should have boxes for you to put it in.
There's a place that does one-off insurance too forgot the name, but can get it if you really don't want a risk.

I guess the trick is to buy a "niche" bike like a Brompton, Thorn, Pashley...they're a bit like iPhones even the older models still aren't super cheap 

[Blue lotus]

Offering shipping definitely widens the potential number of buyers. I'll see what I can find.

Cheers,

[JWestland]

http://www.collectmyparcel.com/other/bike_delivery.html

?

[Blue lotus]

I saw that too  I'll try their services and put feedback here.

Cheers,

[Matt2matt2002]

Excuse me for bumping this one up, but I would appreciate comments on the following.

I have been looking for a second hand Nomad for some time now
One is sitting on ebay at the moment.
The spec is exactly what I would be wanting from SJS

I have costed the bike as if I were buying it new.

Given all the variables I can think of and those I can't 
Is it reasonable ( I love that word - covers everything  ) for me to bid up to two thirds of my calculated 'new' value?

Matthew

[ZeroBike]

Excuse me for bumping this one up, but I would appreciate comments on the following.

I have been looking for a second hand Nomad for some time now
One is sitting on ebay at the moment.
The spec is exactly what I would be wanting from SJS

I have costed the bike as if I were buying it new.

Given all the variables I can think of and those I can't 
Is it reasonable ( I love that word - covers everything  ) for me to bid up to two thirds of my calculated 'new' value?

Matthew

I would have thought so.

The only difference between a new Nomad and a second hand one (assuming you know its the right size) is the original owner warranty offered. If you are the original owner and should the Rohloff hub break, Thorn will post out a brand new hub and wheel anywhere in the world.  If you get a second hand one then they wont.  That said, Rohloffs pretty much dont break.  Aside from the warranty only applying to the original owner, Thorns are so well made that a 10 year old bike can easily be restored to the kind of quality it had when brand new (minus a few scratches of course).

So I probably wouldnt go much higher than 2/3 but 1/3 of a high end spec Nomad is £1000 so its a huge saving.

[Andre Jute]

This is a question that depends very much on what value you put on the first-owner warranty.

I wouldn't go over half the price of the bike new in that spec, at most to 60% if the bike has very low miles, i.e. is near new. If you wait for the sales, you can generally buy something near the spec you want for 75-80% of the new price. Two thirds is too close to the cost of patience.

This may seem harsh (especially to those who recently paid the full retail price) but the value of that first-owner warranty, effectively for your life, is very, very high. You should consider that, while a Rohloff rarely breaks, when it does it has to go to Bridgewater or Germany for repair; your local self-styled "bike mechanic" will just do further damage. You could be up for enormous carriage charges (both ways) unless you despoke the hub each time. (It's not the weight but the size of the wheel that gives the couriers grief, for which they charge you through the neck.) Plus unknown charges at Rohloff for labour and parts.

You can guess I value the guarantee, and the attitude that goes with it, and the service that results, including the guarantee's unspoken but widely known extensions, very highly indeed!

Andre Jute