Can you trade in bikes at bike shops for another bike? Would it cost anything?

Question

Can you trade in bikes at bike shops for another bike? Would it cost anything?

Answer 1

Yes, but it would not be worth it as they won't give you much for it (and that's assuming the shop also deals in second hand bikes).  Your best bet is to sell the old one privately via  a car boot sale or newspaper ad - then use the cash to buy a new one.

Answer 2

a local shop here took trades.  you didnt get very much, but some people did it.  then they resold the used bikes.  they would fix them up, mark them up and sell them.  the shop was one of the oldest around here, until bike source bought them out.  it must have worked for awhile.  the problem i see is that the big chains and catalogs have just killed the local shops.  there are few left.  i can't help but feel like we are losing a valuable resource.

Answer 3

It is like trading cars, the shop wants a profit on the bike they sell to you and a profit on the bike they buy from you to sell on.  You will get more for selling it yourself - that way you get all the cash yourself.

Try your local free adds, shop window or on the net.  I know people who have sold bike bits for more than he whole bike was worth but you need to know what you are about to do that. Good luck.

Answer 4

the "value" you get for your trade will depend on the mark-up on the bike you're buying. higher-end bikes have a higher mark-up, so a shop can offer more, if they think they can make some of it back in the resale of the used bike, or the write-off of selling at a loss is great enough. my '02 Stumpjumper was purchased for $1000 and my '00 Rockhopper. I wouldn't have got "$500" for the Rockhopper, maybe close, if I'd waited for an e-bay auction. But I had $1000 cash, and I wanted the Stumpy. the shop made the offer, I took it.