Scam artist Buyers!

[bikerskier]

I'm selling a friends Hayabusa and using Craigslist for most of the advertising. Well, yesterday a local cop came by to check it out since he has a similar one that he runs at PIR in drag racing. Hopefully he will be back today to make the deal.

Anyway, he says that last week a guy was showing his Craigslist advertised bike to a possible buyer and the buyer said, "Here, hang on to my Beemer keys (540), for good faith, while I take the bike for a spin".

Well, you guessed it, the guy never retuened and the Seller finds out the Beemer is stolen. So no joy there.

The cop says this is a growing problem and warned me to be very wary of letting the bike out of my sight.

I am very reticent about letting a stanger ride it, partly because of the type of bike, and mostly because if they wreck it, there is little recourse. I have previously sold many bikes without letting the buyer ride and it has worked. Yet, if I were buying a used bike I would like to at least run it a couple of miles to get some feel for it.

So the question is, what do you think about letting buyers take a ride?

 

[Rickster]

An idea:

Just promise the buyer their money back within the first 24 hours if they bring it back unharmed... (seller has the money, buyer has the bike, buyer has no reason to test ride now), just make sure the bill-o-sale spells it all out clearly.

 

[Fencer]

+1 to taking the $ and offering a refund in 24. But make it cash. I always do this with cars If they are financing, They dont get the keys until you have the deposit.

 

[Geezer]

My local dealer doesn't let people test ride even the used bikes. Kind of surprised me but I bought a used bke from him anyway. Gave me a 20 mile refund guarantee. Of course 20 miles didn't even get the bike to my garage but I understand the problem. I would not let a stranger ride any of my bikes.

 

[sparky3008]

My local dealer doesn't let people test ride even the used bikes. Kind of surprised me but I bought a used bke from him anyway. Gave me a 20 mile refund guarantee. Of course 20 miles didn't even get the bike to my garage but I understand the problem. I would not let a stranger ride any of my bikes.

This whole problem is even more the reason I just traveled almost 1800 miles to do a deal with my bike.

Usually I just do the dealer thing and take it really hard.

I have only sold one used bike and the girl that was buying it was a friend of the owner of one of the Jerry's sub shops around here so I trusted her and she didn't even ride it her boyfriend came to do the test ride.

Look out for counterfeit money too :glare:

 

[v65]

When I bought my first bike used I gave the seller a bank check for collateral before the test ride.

 

[Woodstock]

Keep their drivers' licence, and a CC. If they ask "what if I'm pulled over?", just tell them they better be careful, and bring the cop back to your place if that happens.

 

[FlyingLow]

I usually give the 15-minute warranty.

This is always a touchy area, and you just have to go by your gut instinct when sizing up a buyer.

When we, ourselves, are looking at a used bike we of course want a ride first. But when we're selling, we are not too quick too allow a ride.

Back in the 80's I went to look at a '84 FJ1100. It sat in a garage, cherry mint, on a rainy day. I had the owner start it up, then I gave him deposit money.

But when I went back the next day to get it he made me test ride it before delivery. Go figure .

 

[vdoguy]

Whenever I buy a used bike I want to take it for a spin. I found that when selling a used bike, asking to hold the buyer's ID, a deposit check, and having them smile at my digital camera... seems to disuade certain folks from going ahead with the ride....

 

[v65]

Whenever I buy a used bike I want to take it for a spin. I found that when selling a used bike, asking to hold the buyer's ID, a deposit check, and having them smile at my digital camera... seems to disuade certain folks from going ahead with the ride....

Are you sure its not the glasses

 

[Mike-H]

Whenever I buy a used bike I want to take it for a spin. I found that when selling a used bike, asking to hold the buyer's ID, a deposit check, and having them smile at my digital camera... seems to disuade certain folks from going ahead with the ride....

Are you sure its not the glasses

NO....he's just a big "Nash the Slash" fan (Canadian musician)

 

[snikr]

Whenever I buy a used bike I want to take it for a spin. I found that when selling a used bike, asking to hold the buyer's ID, a deposit check, and having them smile at my digital camera... seems to disuade certain folks from going ahead with the ride....

Vdoguy,

That sounds like a good idea....I'll remember that next time. I'm lucky as I have an independent cycle place right near by and he sells bikes, ATVs and snowmobiles on consignment. Saved me a bunch of headaches when I sold my CBR to get the FJR (my old CBR sold in a DAY!).

Tom

 

[Woodstock]

Whenever I buy a used bike I want to take it for a spin. I found that when selling a used bike, asking to hold the buyer's ID, a deposit check, and having them smile at my digital camera... seems to disuade certain folks from going ahead with the ride....

Are you sure its not the glasses

NO....he's just a big "Nash the Slash" fan (Canadian musician)

Not another canadian music thread...

I would have thought after that horrible Celine Dion experiment, Canadians would have given up on music. h34r: :lol:

 

[smitty141]

My local dealer doesn't let people test ride even the used bikes. Kind of surprised me but I bought a used bke from him anyway. Gave me a 20 mile refund guarantee. Of course 20 miles didn't even get the bike to my garage but I understand the problem. I would not let a stranger ride any of my bikes.

This whole problem is even more the reason I just traveled almost 1800 miles to do a deal with my bike.

Usually I just do the dealer thing and take it really hard.

I have only sold one used bike and the girl that was buying it was a friend of the owner of one of the Jerry's sub shops around here so I trusted her and she didn't even ride it her boyfriend came to do the test ride.

Look out for counterfeit money too :glare:

Gene, That money was real, I swear. . I checked it myself...(myself and sparky just did some trading)

When I sell a bikes, I always had the cash upfront and there drivers lic. I let them take a short ride and tell them if they bring it back in one piece and don't like it they can have there money back. No joy rides, if they don't have the money just keep walking.. I sold a bike to a guy in Canada, he brought cash (USD). I bought a test pen from a office suppy store. You mark the bills, and by the color tells you if its real, or funny money. It might be a little insulting to mark all a guys money, but its better than getting burn with just one bad bill.

 

[Timbo2015]

A few years ago I was selling my V65 Sabre. I woman in Michigan was interested in it, but she wanted to have a guy in the area take a look at it first. She knew him from the Sab/Mag website, I think, and he was somewhat of an expert on the bike. I met the guy in the local Walmart parking lot. He did a few checks. then went for a quick ride across the lot. He took off hard in first gear, then second, then hit the brakes, locking up the front tire and crashing. He went a grand total of maybe 200 yards in a straight line and crashed! No helmet, either. He had a fair amount of blood coming from his forehead, but repeatedly refused any offers of medical aid.

After he regained his wits he said "I guess I just bought it if she doesn't want it" He came over a week later and we made a Saturday afternoon project of fixing what was damaged. The woman ended up buying it at my asking price.

 

[FlyingLow]

You came outta that one smelling like a rose .

That was an honorable gesture on their part.

 

[HOV]

I've sold dozens of bikes in the past. Here's my procedure:

1. In the ad, I state clearly that this bike will not be sold to a beginner rider (unless I'm selling a small bike suited for beginners.) All prospective buyers must show a valid class M license and bring the entire asking price in cash to the test drive.

2. When the test drive comes up, I ask them for the test ride deposit (full asking price) and remind them that if they damage the bike in any way, I will not refund them the test ride deposit, and simply sign the title over.

One step I don't do is create a test ride conditional bill of sale that outlines these terms. Buyer would sign before riding.

This is the only way I have figured that is completely safe for both parties. A refund guarantee may put the buyer in an akward position because the seller doesn't really have to comply once the deal is done. And there goes any "AS-IS" clause for the seller.

 

[trimmantom]

I concur with HOV,

If they want a test ride, put the money in my hand and you can take a test ride.

If you don't like the bike,and you don't wreck it,when you come back with the bike you get your dough back.That's real simply logic and eliminates joy riders especially on sport bikes.

 

[motorgod]

I've sold dozens of bikes in the past. Here's my procedure:
1. In the ad, I state clearly that this bike will not be sold to a beginner rider (unless I'm selling a small bike suited for beginners.) All prospective buyers must show a valid class M license and bring the entire asking price in cash to the test drive.

2. When the test drive comes up, I ask them for the test ride deposit (full asking price) and remind them that if they damage the bike in any way, I will not refund them the test ride deposit, and simply sign the title over.

One step I don't do is create a test ride conditional bill of sale that outlines these terms. Buyer would sign before riding.

This is the only way I have figured that is completely safe for both parties. A refund guarantee may put the buyer in an akward position because the seller doesn't really have to comply once the deal is done. And there goes any "AS-IS" clause for the seller.

On the face of it this sounds like a good idea until...you have absolutely no way of knowing if the license is valid or counterfeit. Many people who have their licenses suspended do not relinquish them. I have seen NUMEROUS counterfeit driver's licenses that have fooled LEO's until the number is run only to discover it comes back to a little old lady in Pasedena. Problem #2....when he dumps the bike the injury claim is going on your insurance...and how are you going to enforce the "and remind them that if they damage the bike in any way I will not refund them the test ride deposit" that is a huge civil issue that has no teeth on your part.

I have also sold many bikes. It has always been my experience that legitimate buyers do not ask for a test ride. I guess it is an unwritten rule.