Buying Sight Unseen?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 2,393
From: Florida
Buying Sight Unseen?
Anybody have experience buying a used bike sight unseen?
I've found a bike I really like on the Internet. The bike is in the northeast US and I'm in Florida. They say they will ship it for $600. The price of the bike is good.
I love the pictures of it on their web site. It's a bike I've been looking for for quite a while.
But how do I know what I'm getting? The seller is not a Harley dealer. It's a company called Motorcycles 508. They get mixed reviews on the Internet. Some really bad, some really good.
I'm going to pay $8 to look up the VIN. Ask them about return policy, try to get some sort of guarantee on the condition of the bike, etc. Anything else I should be looking into?
I've found a bike I really like on the Internet. The bike is in the northeast US and I'm in Florida. They say they will ship it for $600. The price of the bike is good.
I love the pictures of it on their web site. It's a bike I've been looking for for quite a while.
But how do I know what I'm getting? The seller is not a Harley dealer. It's a company called Motorcycles 508. They get mixed reviews on the Internet. Some really bad, some really good.
I'm going to pay $8 to look up the VIN. Ask them about return policy, try to get some sort of guarantee on the condition of the bike, etc. Anything else I should be looking into?
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 57
Likes: 36
From: Malcolm, NE
You could ask them to take it to a HD Dealer of your choice and have them do an inspection?? At your expense of course, but it could save you thousands too. I just bought an 08 Ultra Classic and the pics looked awesome. It was local so I could hear & ride it. Good thing 'cause it needed a Compensator, and a Clutch Pulley I wasn't aware of. The cost of the Compensator was figured into my offer, plus a few other obvious issues like a torn seat and tires. Good Luck!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,845
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From: Eastern,North Carolina
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,181
Likes: 488
From: Central California
Nope. Wouldn't even consider it. Way too many cases of "over-representation" to risk hard earned money on. Not only that, but there are probably scores of good used machines within driving distance that you can see, touch, even ride.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 97
Likes: 36
From: North Central Massachusetts
That place is about 2 hours away from me, but this is the first I've heard of them. Not that that means much - there are plenty of independent shops even closer to me that I didn't know about until recently.
The only way I'd buy sight unseen is probably through RumbleOn, and even then it would have to be a hell of a deal.
The only way I'd buy sight unseen is probably through RumbleOn, and even then it would have to be a hell of a deal.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 459
From: Here and now
I have bought a bike sight unseen but if there were more than one or two bad reviews regarding the quality of a bike purchased I would have passed.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Likes: 1,013
I've bought many vehicles from photos only. At least 20-25 cars from Ebay over the last 20 years.
There was only one car that wasn't quite what the seller said it was, and it didn't bother me that much because for the price
I paid, I still made $4K on it when I sold to to some guy in Japan.
I demand close up photos, and a good phone conversation before I'll even consider buying.
I flip classic cars as a hobby, and if it wasn't for sites like Ebay, I would have never found so many good deals.
I've never lost a cent on any of the cars, normally make $3-10K each.
I bought my Road King from a member here, and the bike was exactly as described, almost perfect.
It's all about good pics, and honesty. If they refuse to send close up pics, and fail a phone interview, I move on to the next one.
If you are worried, just hop on a plane and go see it in person..
There was only one car that wasn't quite what the seller said it was, and it didn't bother me that much because for the price
I paid, I still made $4K on it when I sold to to some guy in Japan.
I demand close up photos, and a good phone conversation before I'll even consider buying.
I flip classic cars as a hobby, and if it wasn't for sites like Ebay, I would have never found so many good deals.
I've never lost a cent on any of the cars, normally make $3-10K each.
I bought my Road King from a member here, and the bike was exactly as described, almost perfect.
It's all about good pics, and honesty. If they refuse to send close up pics, and fail a phone interview, I move on to the next one.
If you are worried, just hop on a plane and go see it in person..
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,234
Likes: 6,170
From: Black Hills
Well, here's one buyers experience dealing with a distant seller. What are you willing to risk?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/evo-c...s-failure.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/evo-c...s-failure.html
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 758
Likes: 134
From: Florida Panhandle