Gregwaits reminds me of a good point; I've had potential buyers swear that they will be at my house at a certain day and time- they don't show, and I blow my time. I have a quirk- I would much rather blow money, but my time is the most precious thing I have. These days I tell people that I make no promises; on time, first come first served. @ sides to everything. I wasn't going to diss your choice, but since so many others already are- A Katana ?!
The ones that make me laugh are the guys who are SO ENTHUSED LOVE IT >I just need to talk to my wife<
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa See ya wouldn't wanna beeya !
A couple of weeks ago I saw an ad for a Sanglas -spanish bike- for 500 euro. It's not really collectable as it has a Yamaha XS400 engine. I said to myself "enough with four bikes, don't ring the guy". Three days later the ad was still there and I made a call. The bike has been sitting for four years, starter motor doesn't work -I suspect the starter clutch- 500 euro, at just 10 minutes drive from my home. I make an appointment with the man but he tells me somebody will call him at 17:00 to make an appointment. "Fair enough, then let's meet at 16:30 so I have the first chance".
I go there, see the bike, in good shape, the price is right, I like it. I was honest to the man and told him: "I like the bike, but I have another four, two of them in restoration process. Let me think a little about it, and also let me discuss it with my wife. I know what I want but you know women need to feel their opinion counts". He told me OK, but he was meeting another one later. I told him "OK, if he buys it then good for you".
I returned home, talked to my wife who was not very enthusiastic, but at the end I convinced her. Phoned the man and he told me "another guy was here but what a jerk, when he came he told me "wow, this bike is bigger than I expect". Didn't he know what he was looking for". So we made a deal over the phone but I needed a trailer, he accepted to consider the bike sold but insisted I would not back off. I told him I didn't struck a deal in the spot because I wanted to be sure, and I was calling after that so I was sure. I couldn't get the trailer in three days and phoned him. No problem on his side but he seemed a little concerned I would change my mind while he was turning prospective buyers off. I told him I would pay him and make the title transfer even if the bike remained in his home until I could get the trailer. That's what we did and I picked the bike up a few days ago.
I belong to a Sanglas club and one of the members posted an ad selling parts for my other bike. I called him and meet at his house. After we had been chatting for a while about parts and so, he tells me: "do you know I was about to buy your new bike?" -I posted about it in the forum too-. I was shocked. So it was you the one who met the seller and told him it was bigger than you think? WTF! You already have one bike like that, you know how big is it!. He told me "listen, I couldn't resist the low price so I had to see it with my very eyes. Once I was there I could see the bike was in good shape, the seller seemed to be a nice man, but I thought I hade enough with five bikes to get a sixth one. I was embarrased to admit it, or tell my wife wouldn't let me, so I played the newbie telling him I had only ride mopeds and it seemed too big for me". Funny thing is the guy has a BMW R1200, and several Sanglas bikes. He is a commercial pilot. I wonder what the seller thought about him...
Now back to the original post, everytime I make an appointment to see a vehicle I ask if somebody will see it before me. When the seller says people has called but nobody has an appointment, I insist I WANT THE FIRST CHANCE. And if for our timetable it takes a few days to finally meet and some other buyer arrange to have a more flexible schedule, I insist I want to have the right to decide even if somebody sees it first. In that case I ask the seller to tell the buyer he has promised to me I will have the first option, and in case I don't want it he will be second. Actually I don't think it can work if somebody put the money down before me, but when you want something and you are doing your part it's normal to ask the seller to do his part too.
Raul
