Modern Vespa

I have an 09 Vespa GTS. I put it up for sale on Craigslist at $5300.00. That price included a new Sx canvas topcase and an sx cover. So far I have had no calls. Am I too high? It's winter here also.

No you're not to high.

1.) This is the worst time of the year to sell anything except snowboards and snow plows....even in a good market

2.) This is the worst economy to sell anything in, regardless of the season. Right now you would find it difficult to sell a glass of water to a dehydrated buyer in a desert, unless he felt like he was "stealing" it. Buyers are not really buying anything right now and if they are they are only buying drastically under-priced/discounted items.

My advice to you....if you don't HAVE to sell a the moment take your scooter off the market.

...........................if you DO HAVE to sell at the moment get ready to take a big hit financially.

Eh. Too high. $5K is a stretch at the moment.

It's what the market can bear, not what you think it should be valued at.

The extra few #s in there might actually make the difference.

Of course we don't know the mileage or the condition but considering it has low mileage and nothing is wrong with it and it's close to $7K walking out the door of a dealership. I don't think $5,300 is too high.

Someone posted within the last couple of days that they had been offered a brand new, 2008 GTS (from a Vespa dealer) for only $4500 with no additional fees except sales tax, license, etc.

Several weeks ago, I know that a slightly used, like-new, 300 Super (near where I live) with only several hundred miles on the clock, sold for only $5200.

These two examples give you a pretty good idea of what it's going to take to sell your scooter................especially at this time of year. If you can wait, you may get a little more for it in the spring but even then, I wouldn't count on getting more than $4500-$4700. Unfortunately, there are too many, otherwise potential buyers who are either out of work or afraid to purchase because of the recession. I have one scooter too many at the moment and would like to sell my BV500 but it's not even worth the effort because I know where I would have to lower the price in order to attract a buyer.
Good luck to you.

I put mine up for sale a few weeks ago at $3,500 and only got a few hits, all from folks decided the mileage was too high and didn't want to go forward. I took it off the market and decided to keep it.

have you been looking at the used market lately?

It's too high. Look around. Do a search on Craigs and see what bikes sell at what price points.

It has nothing to do with what you think the value is. It has everything to do with what others value it at. This time of the year? This economy? Used? No value.

Here's the "market" you are dealing with, Martin.

1. The economy sucks, few non-scooter buffs are thinking of tossing out $5k for suddenly taking up the thrill of recreational riding. They are more likely to be looking at spending their money on ventures for which they already have familiarity or are necessity.

2. It's winter in your neighborhood, and the folks in #1 are probably not able to envision the joys of riding, even if they were entertaining giving it a shot. Remember, the vast majority of US PTWs are recreational vehicles, not daily rides.

3. As XLR8 mentioned, there are a lot of people with more scooters than can be reasonably supported in the weak economy. Some of these folks only have one scoot to begin with.

4. Most experienced scooter buffs who have a good scoot in hand are only going to bite if they "need" another scoot, and even at that, they are going to be looking for the best bargains available.

In short, I agree with all of the above who say you have probably over-priced it. Wish I could offer a more cheerful opinion, but today is one of those days I just feel the need to be honest.

Al

Thanks everyone. I believe you're all right, as to the price. Spring would probably be a better time to try and sell.

not too high but too high for a quick sale, especially this time of year, might have to wait till spring, or put on the dealers floor on consignment

i have to agree. with the economy, people are dumping what they have been collecting for years. craigslist and ebay are jammed and prices are down (cars, motorcycles, guitars, scooters...) people are making due with what they have or selling, not buying. i hear that high-end art is selling at record prices right now, though, and that ammunition for guns is also going up (some kind of shortage).

Hold on to it if you can. You are gonna get hosed if you sell it now. Like the above poster mentioned ^ eBay is full of gear at bargain prices. It's a great time to buy.

[quote="smallstate"] This demonstrates that the super-wealthy always have money. Though the working rich can sometimes be on the edge like working-class people. Hence the market fluctuations.........

the dealer near me has 250's for 5500 and 300's for 5700
and I would guess cash might even get better numbers
soooo if you were in New England that is way too much for a used bike

The only reason the market price drops is because the Seller lets it drop. There are a lot of desparate people out ther right now. I would never allow myself to get into that type of financial trouble but for some the sale of their scooter maybe the difference between survival or not. An essentially brand new Vespa GTS250 with a $5,300 price tag is not unreasonable.

It all boils down to, is he as desperate as the rest of the market right now?

I am a licensed Real Estate Broker about twice a day I get to talk someone out of putting their property on the market. The only people who end up doing so are committing financial suicide right now but if they have to sell....then they have no choice. The Values, in many cases, of their homes are far over what the buyers are buying them for....and I'm not talking about homes that were purchased during the height of the bubble at inflated Values, to begin with. Price and Value are two separate but related things. For example, if you got a "good deal" on something you got it a price that was less than the Value.

Scooters are not like homes where they were selling at inflated price during the height of the scooter bubble...and then values dropped. It's peoples situations that have changed....and now people are more likely to swallow the hit because of desperate times. A scooter is a pretty valuable tool. If you've ever gone shopping for a motorcycle, $5,300 for a fantastic machine like a GTS is a steal. 8)

+1, I think you are too high. Not that it is not worth it, but the market has changed. You can sell it tomorrow if you drop the price to almost a give away. But that doesn't make sense. I would hold on to it if you don't need to sell it. Spring time is going to be great for you. Economy improving, ice thaws, folks getting the bug to go outside.

Remember, the itch for a Vespa NEVER goes away until you buy one. There are millions of folks out there that always wanted a Vespa and will be back in the market when we get out of this shit hole and the weather improves.

If it's not selling, the price is too high. Simple as that.

But... if you can hold onto it until Spring, you'll find a much, umm, warmer market.

You are too high (I saw a 2010 GTS300 with mods and 400 miles for $4600) Also nothing is selling right now, mostly because of the economy and it is not the riding season for most of the country.


I just sold a Brand New 2009 Piaggio Fly 150 with 21miles on it and a 3 year extended warranty. I was barely able to get $2,000 for it.

I just bought a mint 2008 S150 with a 1000 miles for $2500 for mom.

I also just bought a Brand New 2009 S150 with 14miles for $2800 for dad.


Those who know me know I buy and sell quite a few scooters.

The scooter market has really hit rock bottom. The only stable stuff is some of the Vintage, especially the rare. It is a total buyers market out there. If you have the $ and want a scoot, now is the BEST time to buy.

FYI your 2009 GTS would be more on target for around $4600.00 The fact that it is red actually hurts it too. Say what you will I have had the discussion with several Vespa dealers and they just can't sell Red Vespas like the other colors. BTW they all said Black is their #1 seller.

Not trying to be a dick, just answering your question. If you absolutely don't need the $ just hang onto it until Spring.