selling the hog
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From:
selling the hog
Hi;
I have been trying to sell my bike. I figured I'd turn to the folks here for some advice. My bike with description can be seen here: http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/7/1/84309171.htm
I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. I'd like to know what are appropriate (safe) payment methods. Say some one wants to ride away on it now. Now, the big question, do you let anyone test ride the bike.
Thanx for your time;
nod
I have been trying to sell my bike. I figured I'd turn to the folks here for some advice. My bike with description can be seen here: http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/7/1/84309171.htm
I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. I'd like to know what are appropriate (safe) payment methods. Say some one wants to ride away on it now. Now, the big question, do you let anyone test ride the bike.
Thanx for your time;
nod
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 0
From:
RE: selling the hog
That's a tough Q - -- letting someone test ride it -- hummm- U know why -- someone gets on it and dumps it, then walks away -- or worse, rides off never to be seen- - I would have to sell through a dealer, so they can claim the liability while it's on their showroom (someone pls correct me if that's not the case)- - -Use paypal- -- seems to work pretty well - -
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 2
From: Fort Worth, Texas
RE: selling the hog
Let them do all the testing they want without riding it. Then put it in the Bill of Sale that if they return it within 24 hours with less than 20 miles on it you will refund. Make sure you have pictures of any and all damages or the lack there of. Show them the pictures and tell them that any damages will be deducted from their payment. Make sure they sign the BoS, and make sure the check clears before they take the bike.
Or take cash for the sale price as a deposit.
Or take cash for the sale price as a deposit.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 844
Likes: 16
From: Chicago
RE: selling the hog
Or, you could take it to your local police department and have them leave their own car as collateral until they return your bike. Have the Cops check to see if it's really their car, and get their driver's license information. If you really want to let them test ride it, let them do it in the parking lot of the PD. I'm sure you can find a Cop who's also a biker to oversee the transaction.
It beats them coming to your house.
A Cop buddy of mine advertised his Heritage Softail in the paper, and some guy comes to his house to look at it. He gives him $500 cash on the spot to hold the bike and asks if he can come pick it up later. My buddy tells him he won't be home later but he can come get it tomorrow morning.
That night while my buddy & his wife are out his garage gets burglarized and guess what gets taken? The guy shows up the next morning for the bike, expresses his condolences and gets his $500 back.
My buddy runs the guy's plate and guess what- he's an outlaw biker from a group known to steal bikes all over the midwest.
I wouldn't let anybody come to my house on a bet.
It beats them coming to your house.
A Cop buddy of mine advertised his Heritage Softail in the paper, and some guy comes to his house to look at it. He gives him $500 cash on the spot to hold the bike and asks if he can come pick it up later. My buddy tells him he won't be home later but he can come get it tomorrow morning.
That night while my buddy & his wife are out his garage gets burglarized and guess what gets taken? The guy shows up the next morning for the bike, expresses his condolences and gets his $500 back.
My buddy runs the guy's plate and guess what- he's an outlaw biker from a group known to steal bikes all over the midwest.
I wouldn't let anybody come to my house on a bet.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: STOCKTON CA
RE: selling the hog
I sold a car to a guy in Japan over Ebay recently and I was really nervous about scams and making sure the payment cleared before they picked it up and put it on a ship. What I did to protect myself was this: I went to my credit union and opened another account which cost me $1. I the told the teller I was having a large sum of money transfered to the new account and as soon as it was deposited I needed it transfered to my normal account. Well the money came in and the teller called me I imediatly had them transfer the money and close the new account. This way he had no information about my bank account. Well the car shipped and now some kid that owns an auto stereo store in Osaka is driving the corvette I had for 20 years. Pretty easy way to safe gaurd you account numbers when wiring large sums of money/
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 15
From: PA
RE: selling the hog
I've sold a few bikes and generally roll the dice on the test ride thing. I tried my best to measure up who I'm dealing with and would base my decision on that. Maybe I'm lucky but I never got burned.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 1
From:
RE: selling the hog
Problem is, I would never buy a used bike that I couldn't ride first. When I bought my first, my Brother rode it (I had no endorsment) and I stayed at the guy's house with the vehicle we came in. My Brother showed him his license, and I had him hold mine. Worked for this transaction.
Maybe you could hold the keys to the arriving vehicle. Holding the guy's licence might work, but he/she may not want to give it up for fear of being pulled over without a license. In this case, a blown up photo copy would be good.
The more information, the better.
The Cop idea is good.
Maybe you could hold the keys to the arriving vehicle. Holding the guy's licence might work, but he/she may not want to give it up for fear of being pulled over without a license. In this case, a blown up photo copy would be good.
The more information, the better.
The Cop idea is good.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,234
Likes: 106
RE: selling the hog
ORIGINAL: nod
Hi;
I have been trying to sell my bike. I figured I'd turn to the folks here for some advice. My bike with description can be seen here: http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/7/1/84309171.htm
I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. I'd like to know what are appropriate (safe) payment methods. Say some one wants to ride away on it now. Now, the big question, do you let anyone test ride the bike.
Thanx for your time;
nod
Hi;
I have been trying to sell my bike. I figured I'd turn to the folks here for some advice. My bike with description can be seen here: http://adcache.cycletrader.com/5/7/1/84309171.htm
I'd like to know if the price is reasonable. I'd like to know what are appropriate (safe) payment methods. Say some one wants to ride away on it now. Now, the big question, do you let anyone test ride the bike.
Thanx for your time;
nod
Have him follow you to a walmart parking lot and leave his keys with you. That way if he leaves the lot you can chase him down in his own car.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: East Central Missouri
RE: selling the hog
I've sold several bikes. The business that I work for sells cars, boats, atv's, HD's, whatever. We've sold several used HD's and we do not give test rides. Just like Coaster said you have too play it by ear. If it's someone you know, maybe so. But anytime you let someone ride it you are taking a chance. Anything can happen. When someone asks me if they can ride it, I tell them I will ride it and they can listen to it go through the gears and watch me stop and take off and such. I've sold several that way. I tell them my insurance will not allow it.
Be careful selling on the internet. I recently sold a car through Auto Trader, and I had 4 or 5 people try to scam me. I finally did sell it though. You just have to be careful......You know about how they pay and so forth.
The price seems about right.
Phil
Be careful selling on the internet. I recently sold a car through Auto Trader, and I had 4 or 5 people try to scam me. I finally did sell it though. You just have to be careful......You know about how they pay and so forth.
The price seems about right.
Phil
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From:
RE: selling the hog
I've sold quite a few bikes on Ebay. The beautiful thing there is that there are no test rides, noone coming to the house and the bike doesn't get shipped until the form of payment clears. Haven't had a problem yet this way. One I even delivered to no man's land between the Canadian/US border. That guy paid with a Canadian cashiers check that I had to wait quite a while for it to clear as my bank was leary of the out of country check. The bike sat in my garage until the funds cleared.