Being a former bicycle shop owner, and now a top internet employee for one of the biggest shops in the country, I have had a lot of experience in the cycling division of eBay. When I started out though, I was stunned to see the prices offered on eBay for bicycle components- literally a wholesale market! So, how do you sell bicycle parts so cheap?
Without disclosing sources, most bicycle part sellers are able to sell so cheap because of three reasons:
1) Sellers have access to larger volume purchases of bicycle parts
Bicycle shops- such as Wheel & Sprocket, have been in the industry for over 20 years, and we have ongoing relationships with many different facets of the bicyle industry. We are able to source and purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars in bicycle parts- saving substantial amounts in the process, and of course offering them at a great discount on ebay!
2) Bicycle shops are willing to move old product at little to no profit
Most bicycle shops and sellers who manage their inventory wisely realize that there comes a time when a product has simply been around too long, and as such- needs to sell to make way for new product. A poor business holds on to every last item- expecting to get full price for it- as the value of that item is decreasing by the month. Sellers on ebay can offer such pricing just to get back some of their investment into those parts, paving the way to buy new stock, and in turn offering a wholesale type pricing on ebay!
3) Closeouts on eBay are sometimes year old product, or discontinued
A lot of what you see on ebay as far as great deals on cycling parts are discontinued, overproduction, or year old products. When manufacturers overproduce, undersell, or simply discontinue products, those products are discounted, sold off in volume, and eventually make their way onto marketplaces like eBay for a great price!
The bottom line is that there are many legitimate ways that cycling products are offered so cheaply on ebay. BEWARE- there are plenty of people out there who are not running a legitimate business! Your best safety net is knowing who you are buying from- through feedback, previous transactions, or shop reputation! Happy cycling shopping on eBay from Wheel & Sprocket!
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