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