| Author | Message | ||
     Fbolt |
I plan on buying a bike off of eBay and wanted to get some pointers re: what I need to look out for. I have purchased stuff off the bay before, but nothing over $200. Bike will be a custom; either a mutant or an old school. Any info. would be appreciated.... Hugh | ||
| Scitz |
When I bought mine I checked the sellers feedback and other items they were selling. After winning the auction the seller and I agreed to one full payment at pickup. I had to drive out of state but it was worth it. The bike had 2050 miles on it and looked as though it hadn't been serviced. I performed all the first time maintance schedule items and changed all the fluid. I've add 2500+ mile and hadn't had any major problems, starting on second set of tire after buying it. Just remember you get what you pay for. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Remember, the bid is a contract, and that contract is only valid if the seller has accurately described the motorcycle to the best of his knowledge. If what the seller says in person differs from what was in the listing that makes the contract null and void in my view, and now puts the power in my hands. Remember this and use it to your benefit. | ||
| Slaughter |
I've picked up 2 motorcycles off Ebay - one from Hal's - their ex-Bilansky S1 racer. Another vintage racer: Honda Vf500 - from a guy who let me come to look at it (turned out he was also a racer at Willow Springs - we still stay in touch) My take on it is to not bid if I can't get eyeball contact with the seller and the bike or else pick it up from a known dealer. | ||
| Koz5150 |
I have a regular search that includes all motorcycles within a 100 mile radius of my home. That way if I see something I like it is close enough that I can look at it in person before bidding. Most honest sellers will let you look before bidding, if they don't, chances are they are hiding something. | ||
| Tom_b |
I have purchased a motorcycle and almost purchased a truck from e-bay sellers. I make the sale contingent upon how the vehicle was described. The motorcycle I bought, the truck I didn't. i told the seller of the truck he misrepresented it and he could check my feedback, I wasn't a new or deadbeat bidder. No problems with him. the motorcycle was as described and have been very happy. What sucks is I drove 3 hrs round trip which was wasted for the truck. the bike was worth the trip.If it isn't as described, don't buy it and make the seller aware you may hold him responsible for trip charges if misrepresented. I checked with a lawyer and this is as legal as an e-bay contract. BUYER BEWARE! | ||
| Rex |
so far I have been lucky buying on ebay...only one bad motorcycle....vmax with a bad tranny.. | ||
| Brucelee |
Why do you want to buy a bike through a EBAY auction? Do you like risk? | ||
| Scitz |
There's just as much risk buying a bike off eBay as there is buying one out of the paper in my opinion. You can do a lot to a vehicle to make it run great for a few days just to get it sold. I live in Oklahoma and there isn't a lot of options for a used Buell so I had to look on eBay. Plus I got a really great deal on a slightly scratched bike, header and chin fairing. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
I got mine off eBay with no problems. I did call Buell customer service with the vin# to see if the seller was the registered owner, just as a precaution. | ||
| Toadboy |
I got an XB9s off eBay from a really good Buell dealer in NJ. Nothing but praise for the dealer, and I got it cheaper than I could have going through a local private seller (including shipping down to GA). Bike was in great condition, transaction went off without a hitch. I did my Badweb homework first, found that the dealer and the sales people were well regarded on Badweb. That sealed it for me. | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
JUST GOT ROBBED BY A GUY SELLING A BUELL HELMET ON EBAY FROM NY...SENT HIM A MONEY ORDER...SAID HE MAILED THE HELMET...NEVER GOT IT, THEN SENT ME A UNPAID NOTICE....I'M PISSED!!!  MET SOME GOOD PEOPLE ON EBAY...BE CAREFUL!! JT | ||
| Tramp |
you've got the MO receipt, right? you know- the part you tear off the original MO> That has a routing # on it, and your postmaster can track the MO for you and see where/if it was cashed. bearer would have to provide photo ID were it cashed at a PO, and, of course, were it cashed through a abnk, you've got a culpable # there, as well. Even if you didn't have the presence of mind to save your tear-off receipt, a decent PO can do a search for the day you purchased your MO (smaller the office the easier), and, by referencing the amount of your MO, can retreive the routing # from their inhouse receipt. If you have ANY trouble, please shemale me. don't get worried yet. likely an honest oversight. | ||
| Tramp |
Scitz said:"There's just as much risk buying a bike off eBay as there is buying one out of the paper in my opinion" I'm not feeling ya, scitz. Buying one from the paper, you see in person befor even considering bidding, and you can sway the buyer with CASHISH!. On ebay, the bids only go one way: UP. In person, they only go DOWN, esp. whena stack of benjamins is produced. (when I used to 'flip' european cars, I'd always show up with a friend, and I'd have about half the asking price, in benjamins, in my pocket. I'd ask my friend to carry another 1/4 of the asking price in his wallet, in all increments, esp. small. I'd HAND the benjamins to the sller, and ask him to count 'em, {the heft of a stack of hundreds in a man's palm makes his faculties go a little wheezy}, then I'd ask my buddy for "all the money you have on you". The seller would get half the asking price in big bilss, then another 1/4 of the asking sum in 10s, 5s, etc. ...precious few would ever hand it back...would go against the laws of nature  ...did I mention I'm from NY?) further, you're not at the mercy of shill bidders or a murky 'buyer beware' policy. plus, you know where to find the seller, should you have a problem. If you're leery, show up with a slightly-uniformed cop friend or a visibly agitated outlaw motorcycle enthusiast. makes the dishonest guys think twice.  (Message edited by tramp on August 31, 2005) | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
BUT, WHAT STINKS IS...I REALLY WANTED THE BUELL HELMET!!! JT | ||
| Tramp |
so, trace the money order (that's waht you sent him/her, right?) and void it and resend. call the seller, etc., and try to straighten it out with the assumption that he/she's on the up & up. I bet it'll all be fine. what's the auction #? I'd like to spec out the seller's rating. over on ATC we've all checked out each other's auctions frequently, to help assess issues. This being a BIG hit board, I would think you will get a LOT of sound advice on it. | ||
| Spatten1 |
EBAY seems to be the place to find the biggest volume of used bikes. I bought both of my Buells from local EBAY sellers. One was not quite as pristine as represented, one was perfect. I could have walked from the first, and spent no more time an effort than using the local paper. However, the paper has very little inventory and I can't search a geographical radius. I just decide on and stick to my max bid, and any shill bidders will not matter. I sold my X1 to a guy in Colorado off EBAY. I was 100% honest, and he was 100% nervious. We worked shipping out and the purchase went smoothly. | ||
| Oldog |
Professor Trampus Violinnus: I took a class on finnance produced by Dave Ramsey thru the church I attend. Your buying thing is just too good, the class material stated many of the same things, most importantly cash is powerful stuff, and your story!, thanks for the grin!  JT Hope that you can get the helmet | ||
| Tramp |
thanks olddog. spend a week with me and you'll need depends. generally some zany hijinks n' uproarious giggles | ||
| Oldog |
won't take a week Prof!  keep postin' that was good advice good of you to layout that info for JT too. I am getting sore at E-Bay there seems to be a lot of questionable stuff that goes down. I guess that I ahve been lucky there, purchased a cf chin faring for paint testing from this weeks cf dealer, no faring i'm out a bennie, I posted a lot on the subject should have known | ||
| Oldog |
Ok since we are hammering e-bay here, I have wanted a cheap carbon fiber part for paint testing on july 28 i won a chin faring it is now sept 1 no faring I haranged on this before and know better, if you are considering any purchase on e-bay, think it over and proceed with care. | ||
| Tramp |
begin the complaint process, and give him/her scathing feedback if you don't hear back fast. | ||
| Thunderbolt3 |
I,ve haven,t had a poblem yet just got 180 dragon evo and other items only wish that i knew everbodys ebay handles so i wouldn,t drive the price UP for something they really need. | ||
| Genesisclimber |
Hey Tramp, the problem is that it's the same people over and over again that are peddling the same stuff on eBay. When the bad feedback racks up they just change some of the adds around (but not the text), change their address and name and begin again. I've complained about the chin fairing I paid for nearly a year ago twice and ebay has been very unhelpful. For the record they have been know as: Dixo Carbon, LLCbargain, 3Apaintball, o2sports and now "Madsenproductions". I tracked the MO and it has indeed been cashed. I'll even say it again. DO NOT BUY THE CHEAP "CARBON FIBER" ON EBAY. It is a scam and ebay and paypal will not help you. | ||
| Tom_b |
The reason people buy motorcycles and other stuff from ebay is it can't be found locally. Buells don't usually pop up for sale around here, i bought mine from ebay as did 2 other buell owners I know. They both did the same thing I did, waited to see before closing the deal. | ||
| Tramp |
genesis climber- i hear ya. i'm currently having an issue with a clown who sold me chainsaw on ebay with a bad bar/chain. | ||
| Oldog |
Update: Hey Professor Trampus Violinnus, I sent them a note and asked for either a tracking number or a refund, 24 hours got a tracking number with some crap about un deliverable address, feedback too late to do it maybe, stay tuned. G-climber you have EVERY RIGHT TO RANT ON THAT EBAY CF sorry to hear that you got stuck. it SUCKS fer sure! | ||
| Fbolt |
Thanks for the feedback. I've been looking at eBay because of the selection. I definitely won't buy sight unseen-if I do see something, I'll work out a deal with the seller to pay upon sight/reciept of the bike. That way, if I do walk, I'll only be out a day trip rather than a greenbacks. |
