Topic: Audacious request for LA area members

[medic09]

I'm interested in this bike: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280126038684&rd=1,1.  Is there any chance that someone could look this over?  I don't have an address yet; but LA's not too big, right?  Before flying out there (doubtful) or paying for shipping, I'd want to know a bit better what I'm getting into.

Thanks!

[medic09]

Well, the owner said to send him my phone # if I'm serious.  I did that, along with a detailed email explaining that I would want some more specific answers to questions like 'what is the maintenance/service/accident record of this bike'.  He could have even offered general answers.  Instead, he responded that he doesn't have time for pre-inspections by anyone, and the info provided in his listing should be enough.  Sounded kind of offended in his email.

Sounds to me like I shouldn't pursue this one.

Thanks anyway!

[Dusthawk]

Sounds fishy to me. If he "doesn't have time" for full disclosure, it sounds like something is wrong with the bike he wants to get rid of.

J.M.O.

[Gordon]

Yep.  "No time for pre-inspections" generally means he has something to hide.  Either that or he doesn't really care all that much about selling it.  Even if he's not purposely trying to hide anything, not allowing anyone to look at it before bidding greatly increases the chance that the winner of the auction will be unsatisfied with it for some reason and cause him big problems in the end. 

Some people will just never learn that taking a little extra time and care early on will ultimately save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. 

[medic09]

Thanks guys for confirming my concerns.  He seems to be a regular and pretty successful seller.  He ran a pretty good ad, but his tone was either impatient or offended that I would ask questions anyway.

I have a short list that I use to start while I'm responding to ads.  "Can you tell me about the service/maintenance/accident record?  Who has done the maintenance and repairs on this bike?  Is there *anything* wrong with it?  Why are you selling?  Any helpful information would be appreciated."

I sent him that list of questions.  He emailed back that if I'm serious, I should send my phone #.  I sent my cell, and explained that this is precisely the bike I'm looking for; but I don't want to fly out there or ship it without feeling fairly good about the answers to my questions.  I thought he would call, as he suggested.  Instead I got:

"Hello, I understand your situation but I cannot make extra time for a pre-inspection. As with any auction the description and pictures should state what the item is. I feel I have done that. If you are looking for a perfect bike with all records and have the difficulty with being far away perhaps my bike is not for you.I really dont know what else to tell you. You can possibly find another ST in your area with more looking and patience. At $3895.00 its a great deal. My feedback speaks for itself. As with any motor vehicle it is used and is being sold in as is condition and described to the best of my ability. If you understand and agree with all of the above points then dont hesitate and place your bid. It took me 9 months to find this bike and I am just ready for a different ride. I really hate to sell it at all much less for a really good price of $3895.00. I recently put $500 into it with all the service.Anyway thanks for your interest and I hope you will buy it basewd on all that I have stated.

Thanks"

In the same amount of time, he could have answered my questions or called, no?

Well, there's a Trophy and a Sprint ST for sale near Phoenix if they're still available...

[Bob Wessner]

In the same amount of time, he could have answered my questions or called, no?

That was precisely my thought as I was reading his reply to you.

[Noel]

Worth noting that the seller is not going to ship, which may have put him off of the deal. Having said that, anyone who isn't willing to allow an inspection or answer questions about condition and service history is not someone from whom I want to buy a bike.

Having said that, it's a Triumph, so the service history is extensive and the bike will be breaking down soon. Again. 

[edbikerii]

Hey, can we be fair here?  First, that is ONE BEAUTIFUL BIKE!  With the exception of "why are you selling", he answered all of your questions in the description (maybe he's revised it since you saw it last?), and the bike IS priced right -- damned cheap if you ask me.

If I were him, I would not be willing to waste much time with pre-inspections that, in my experience, are usually either tire-kickers looking for free test rides on the cool bike, or end up being low-ball "but I've got cash" offers.  In my experience, low-ball offers always start with "why are you selling?", and usually are made on bikes that are already relatively cheaply priced (easier targets in low-ballers' minds) like this one.  Low-ballers seem to get it in their heads that the seller is desperate if he's not already asking top dollar.  Unfortunately, he probably listed it cheap because he didn't want to play those games.

Doesn't Ebay have processes in place to reverse falsely described auctions (that can be substantiated)?  I've never had to use them, luckily.  Has anyone else?

[RyanLilly]

Really If you think about it there are so many buyers on ebay someone else will probably buy it no questions asked and save the seller some time. look at it from his perspective; if it brings in the same amount of money, why waste time with an inspection and a bunch of questions? Personally though, I also like to know as much a possible before a purchase.

[Gordon]

Really If you think about it there are so many buyers on ebay someone else will probably buy it no questions asked and save the seller some time. look at it from his perspective; if it brings in the same amount of money, why waste time with an inspection and a bunch of questions?

Yes, but like I said before, that kind of buyer is much more likely to be unhappy with the bike when he finally sees/rides it and cause the seller problems in the end. 

[Raul CB750K1]

Just playing the devil's advocate, is the seller knows what he is selling and he knows the price is good, he knows somebody near him will buy the bike, so if he is going to have is cash in his pocket, why wasting time with somebody far away? If he flies over there and he is disappointed it will be a problem for him.

Conversely, as we are talking about an auction, if I were the seller I would like the more bidders the better, even if that means that somebody far away will bid to increase the final price. If a nearby bidder wins, the better for me, but if the far away bidder wins, then I should stick to my auction and make the transaction smooth. I have always said that eBay sellers should not restrict bidders if they want to increase the final price and profits. You can always deny to complete the transaction if the winner pisses you off or doesn't have enough feedback. Just by adding a clause like "deposit should be paid in the next day" or so, you protect yourself, because you can always avoid applying the clause at your convenience.


Raul

[medic09]

I just noticed the bike didn't get even one bid!

Now that's pretty strange, considering how nice the pics look and the info in his ad.