Curated Cranks has formally launched its new platform and marketplace ‘dedicated to buying and selling iconic and premium used bikes.’
The platform provides an alternative to trading through usual channels, such as Facebook groups. It offers a personalised and bespoke, free to seller service. This works with sellers to ‘prepare and present their bike in all its glory.’
For the buyers, it provides an auction marketplace and virtual showroom that details the bikes on offer, including standardised high-quality photographs, video, and a ‘description that brings the bike to life, providing the buyer with confidence in the quality and provenance of the bike.’
“Curated Cranks aims to bring to the market something that we believe is missing, a means of trading premium bikes using a combination of personalised and bespoke services with the latest auction software,” said Paul Eggleton, Curated Cranks Founder.
“It’s a platform for enthusiasts, built by enthusiasts, and our aim is to reflect the love and investment cyclists have for their bikes.
“Cycling in all its forms continues to boom, and the value of premium bikes continues to rise. When cycling enthusiasts want to move their bikes on, they do not have a marketplace that truly represents the value of their bike, and nor do they necessarily have the time to create and advertise it to its full potential.”
He added, “Curated Cranks was founded to fill this gap in the market and to provide a bespoke service that reflects the value and love of these beautiful bikes.”
Bespoke service
At the heart of Curated Cranks is its bespoke listing service, which is free for the seller. Curated Cranks works with sellers to obtain as much information as possible along with a set of high-quality photographs and video.
The company writes a bespoke listing for each bike. This enables potential buyers to view the bike and understand its specifications and history enabling them to make an informed buying decision. Curated Cranks can also guide both the seller and buyer through the process and can help with photography and transport.
Curated Cranks is seen as a shift from the conventional marketplace models of charging seller fees and instead adopts the model used by high end car and antique auction houses. This means that the Curated Cranks service is free for the seller, instead charging a buyer’s premium.
‘By agreeing a suitable reserve with the seller, neither party ends up out of pocket or paying more but has confidence in what is being bought and sold.’
The company adds that ‘buyers premiums are also capped, and the seller walks away with the full final auction value.’
Curated Cranks aims to disrupt and transform how premium bikes are bought and sold. It is an auction marketplace for all types of bikes including road, mountain, gravel, triathlon, track, e-bike, and retro.
Auctions will be run on a timed basis between 7-14 days. Each auction will be promoted through Curated Cranks’ social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter).
The company is seeking first auction sellers with a view to running its first auctions in January. It considers a premium used bike to be one with a market value in excess of £3,000.
