To repair or not to repair

Greendonkey

Hi, I'm not actually trying to sell anything here - just looking for some selling advice so I hope this doesn't break forum rules. I have a bike that I want to sell but the right hand ergo lever doesn't work properly and the there are some chips to the paint. My question is:

should I respray it and get the shifter fixed or sell it as a ''project' knocking off the cost of those works from the price?

Alternatively would I be better off stripping the bike and selling the frame and parts separately?

Any input would be gratefully received

Thanks

Greendonkey

wishitwasallflat

If I was sellling it on Classified on here I would defo advertise it as is - as long as description and photos are accurate its buyers choice. If I was selling it on eBay I might be more tempted to fix it up but I reckon I would try it first as is and fix it up if it didnt sell/didnt make my reserve.

veronese68

If you can fix it yourself, do so. If you'd have to pay a shop to do it don't bother.

marcusjb

A decent respray is unlikely to recoup it's costs when selling a bike. A slightly scruffy bike is what it is and it's value will be decreased, but a few chips is nothing for someone wanting a bike for the bad weather or whatever. Leave it to the buyer to decide whether to respray or not.

The shifter - well, it'll obviously deter quite a few buyers if it's busted, so might be worth having sorted out. Ergo levers can often be rebuilt, so worth looking into. Depends on the cost of having it sorted/replaced.

It's difficult - when selling a bike, it's not worth piling masses of money into it (unless it is something high end and exotic) as you won't recoup the costs easily. Some people will not go near a bike with issues (even if they are clearly described, it may make someone think that there's more things wrong that haven't been described etc., and there are those who simply don't have the mechanical confidence to want to take on something with known issues), but others will take it as a project and pay an appropriate price as such.

bendertherobot

What lever is it?

cougie

What bike is it ?

A respray will make the bike look as good as new - but it might not be in the colour that the buyer wants.

Unless you're a mechanical genius or can source a second hand lever cheaply - I'd sell it as it is with knacked lever.

Greendonkey

Hi, thanks for all the feedback. It is a 'high end' bike (Waterford r33 steel frame with chorus 11 speed groupo and rolf élan aero wheels) so it wouldn't be bought as a winter hack. It looks like it'll cost about £40-50 to fix the lever (it's the right hand lever btw)