sold bike on ebay - something seems not quite right

[gs5pete]

Okay, I guess I'm being paranoid but I've had my gs on ebay. Had a few enquiries and viewings from reasonably local people (<50 miles), which have elicited a few bids. All well and good.

Now, my bike is no stunner and I've made it quite clear in the auction description that there are some cosmetic faults (rust, scratches, some bubbling on engine etc) and I'd much prefer people to view it.

All going well, top bidder has asked questions (though not viewed). Then in last few seconds comes the winning bid for £1020 from someone with feedback +2 (both as a buyer) from Southampton (bike is in Birmingham)...
so who spends a grand on a 5 year old GS500 which even the owner admits is a mess without viewing it or asking any questions?

I contacted him through the ebay form last night and today he emailed to say he'll collect. I've politely told him only cash will do (no response on that front). What can go wrong? if nothing, why am I worrying like a little girl? (no offence intended to little girl readers of BCF).
All I can think of is that
1. he's genuine and is rich enough and/or desperate enough for a run around he really did just spend £1000 on my winter work horse.
or 2. he's going to show up and start haggling (in which case I tell him to f*** off).

not so bad, but my "gut feeling" is that something's up.

any pearls of wisdom from the learned BCF members?
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past bikes: KX125, CG125 (first road bike, used to pass test on), GS500 (first proper bike).

[Mr Nice Guy]

Didnt you have one of those "people with less than x feedback, contact me before bidding or dont bid at all you slabbering pissbag" thingies??
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[spikenipple]

[Timmeh]

I did a 250 mile round-trip in a van to get my Gixxer, which was also won off eBay.

I think you're being well paranoid. I rarely ask questions about the stuff I'm buying, and if the description's not good or it has rubbish/stock photos I won't bid on it.
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GSXR400 x2 | '94 RVF400 | '93 TZR125 4DL (again)
20:22:30 BLUEX5: i would love to be forced to undergo a**l plugging with different sizes
20:48:18 Temeluchus: comp you hunk of smouldering homos3x you

[gs5pete]

[dwayne_101]

i never use ebay becuase i used it twice and both times had bad things but thats just me...

sold my ps3 on ebay and he wanted it shipping to someone call john doe 200 miles from his address

and bought a sav nav which didnt come with half the things but the selling resent them out.

but if you see the cash before you let it go you cant go wrong.
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looking at getting a full uk licence, after 3 cbt's bored of doing them
selling a burgman 125 03 plate soon

[gs5pete]

Mr Nice Guy: I only set it to >= 0, I think you can also set it >=5..

Timmeh: thanks for the reassurance, I guess we're all different and some people just assume it's okay. I s'ppose the bikes got full ticket and perhaps that's all the guy cares about.

Dwayne: I haven't been as unlucky as you, but I think ebay is increasingly becoming a lair for scammers etc..
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past bikes: KX125, CG125 (first road bike, used to pass test on), GS500 (first proper bike).

[Kal]

If he haggles then turn him away and offer the second bidder a second chance.

Oh and open a dispute on his arse.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[faddius]

Check the cash if he comes with cash - get one of those testing pens or hold a few up to the light to check the watermark.

Id also suggest trying to get a friend round incase things do go wrong, they start haggling, get upset / aggravated / try intimidating you to sell for 29p.

Check his ID - name and address - from legitimate ID. Ensure its that name and address that goes onto the V5.

Do not give him the other half of the V5 that needs sending off till you pay cash into the bank and its checked, that way if it is dodgy, you can go to the cops, claim ownership of the bike as you havent sent it away, show the dodgy money and you have his name and address.

If he turns up with friends, tread carefully. I dont know what your morals are like, but I have no issue with having a knife in my back pocket.

If he comes back soon after hes left, dont answer, its only going to lead to problem.





I know some may take what I say as a bit extreme, but ive had those experiances and luckily due to my paranoia I was able to prepare to get out of them. For instance, a bunch of chavs who turned up to look at a bike, about 5 of them. Luckily, I had ensured I had a couple of friends round, and we had "honestly been playing baseball in the garden, all 3 of us were taking turns batting at the same time".
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Children in the back of cars cause accidents : Accidents in the back of cars cause children
Riding since OCT '05 - Sym Jet 50cc, Honda Varadero 125cc, Suzuki GS500, Honda VFR750, SV650s current & in posession of Aprilia RS125, Honda NS125R

[Madmanx]

I bought these two off e-bay without seeing them and they were in Leeds and Windemere,(I,m on the Isle of Man)so there is buyers like me out there.
He might just be one of them .
Let him know there is no haggling by e-mail before he collects and paypal a deposit or pay in full.
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https://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/manxhornet/Hornet001.jpg

[faddius]

That hondas nice, is it a modded hornet?
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Children in the back of cars cause accidents : Accidents in the back of cars cause children
Riding since OCT '05 - Sym Jet 50cc, Honda Varadero 125cc, Suzuki GS500, Honda VFR750, SV650s current & in posession of Aprilia RS125, Honda NS125R

[Madmanx]

[J.K.R]

[faddius]

That really is the sex wee isnt it.

I want it vibrating against my genitalia.
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Children in the back of cars cause accidents : Accidents in the back of cars cause children
Riding since OCT '05 - Sym Jet 50cc, Honda Varadero 125cc, Suzuki GS500, Honda VFR750, SV650s current & in posession of Aprilia RS125, Honda NS125R

[jimbothe]

I had a guy travel down 260 miles by train to buy my '99 Transalp off ebay and he only based it on the pictures. He rode it home

Dont worry about distance, some people will pay more than the odds if the bikes looks like 'the one for them'. They will also travel hundreds of miles.

I travelled 150 miles to look at a fzr1000 advertised in the Autotrader and it was a pile of crap so I just came home again.

My point being, it is not out of the ordinary for people to travel to pick up what they see as a bargain
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Check out our tackle shop on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/JklTackle

[jimbothe]

[ZRX61]

I have no time for haggling retards. When someone shows up to buy anything I have for sale I ask to see the money before I even open the garage. If he's so much as $1 short I tell em to fuck off.

[faddius]

[Madmanx]

How do you get on with that headlight on the Hornet? I bought one from M&P, it was called the 'demon'. I found the lights rubbish at any distance but liked the look of it. [/quote]

Piss poor illumination, I,m converting the holders to take decent bulbs.H4,s probably a set of neons knowing me.
Thats it when I got it.
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https://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll9/manxhornet/Hornet001.jpg

[jimbothe]

I still have most of my light unit here so if you break anything converting it then pm me and you can have whats here
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Check out our tackle shop on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/JklTackle

[Madmanx]

[chris-red]

The guy I bought my Speed Four off nearly did sell it to me, It was up at 3k on ebay which I wanted to pay. I sent him 2 emails about it and he didn't get back to me about it. The auction ran out and it was re advertised on ebay I send him an email again and no responce, again I then asked him if he actually wanted to sell it and to give me a call. Cut a long story short he didn't get back to me because I had a negative feedback as my last feedback because I bought an item which didn't show up.

Don't mess up the sell without even speaking to the buyer.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[ZRX61]

[faddius]

I have a distinct lack of trust for people when it comes to handling large amounts of cash.
____________________
Children in the back of cars cause accidents : Accidents in the back of cars cause children
Riding since OCT '05 - Sym Jet 50cc, Honda Varadero 125cc, Suzuki GS500, Honda VFR750, SV650s current & in posession of Aprilia RS125, Honda NS125R

[gs5pete]