Is it best to sell a full bike or just a frame

[Gregag]

As above, I guess it depends on the quality of the frame and quality of the bits.
But as a general rule would you sell a finished bike, or just the frame and keep the best bits?

 

[pwebb]

Politicians answer, both are applicable. I sometimes buy complete bikes to obtain the parts I am after and then sell-on the frame or vice versa. I have also built up renovated frames with both used parts for a low cost build as well as new parts in some cases. I think all bikes have a ceiling price , a bit like house prices in a given post-code/zip (above which people will not be willing to go). My rule of thumb is not to get carried away adding niche or expensive parts to a build you intend to sell and don't personalize it too much, as people will not pay over the odds for those tasty parts and they won't share your taste either.
I would also say if the frameset is a common one then low price and popular sizes are most important, but if it's a rarity, it may not sell at all unless you build it up so people can see what the end product is going to turn out like. If you try to sell a tatty old frame that needs a lot of work, you will probably either not sell it at all, or will lose money on it when you drop the price sufficiently to sell it. In general I try to cover my costs and rarely make any profit at all and have never recovered anything like the time and effort that has gone into a build. I don't believe it is possible to generate any meaningful income buying and selling bikes and parts, unless you are acquiring them yourself with very little outlay up front.

 

[Gregag]

That is a very good answer.

I'm going to dwell on this until after the New Year and see where I get to.
A spring sale would be best as weather improves and the dreaded Christmas comes and goes.

I'm going to lose several shirts/heaps on this.

 

[The History Man]

So what you got then?

 

[Gregag]

So what you got then?

PMed you.

 

[Gregag]

So what you got then?

Stanforth Skyelander frame

 

[pigman]

Other considerations are

The Market. If you're selling to a market where the buyers are good with spanners, the bit approach will work. If you're selling to someone who wants to just ride and takes it to a shop for every adjustment, they'll want a complete rider

Also consider
A complete bike is one sale and it's done
Component sales are many sales which includes posting the ad, photography, negotiating, despatching

 

[pwebb]

More sage advice above , I think you are targeting a more discerning category of touring bike cognoscenti who will appreciate the Stanforth brand and ethos. People who just want a bike or frame will be happy with a Sonder or something like that.
I think it may make sense to try to sell a complete bike as a result.
I wish you luck either way, I haven't had much success trying to sell higher end stuff lately.
At the right price of course, anything will sell, however you might end up losing more shirts

 

[Fifthgrace]

Sell whole, and if it won't sell at acceptable price to you, split. Generally split makes more than whole, but more effort and you might be left with some low demand slow selling parts for a while! Offering to deliver a whole bike can help as damage a concern for both buyer and seller. Frames are on their own sometimes the most difficult item to sell unless its desirable/well below market value as building from frame up is the most expensive way to achieve a rideable bike.