Nervous seller = nervous buyer

[soforene]

Gentlemen, your thoughts on a recent experience please.

I saw a bike I liked on BikeTrader (6K) advertised with lots of history.
Emailed the seller (via the system) asking what details he had.
He replied "Lots" (I was hoping for more details).
I emailed again asking to view and for the reg so I could carry out a HPI check prior to viewing (he's 180 miles away).
He replied that he wouldn't supply the reg No. (due to receiving "scam emails") but to call him on the telesales No.
I did so and he again refused to give the Reg. No. but I could come and view (once again stating that if I needed to call him I could do so on the telesales No. as opposed to a genuine Home No.).

I agreed to come view but woke with niggling doubts (No HPI, No Tel. No) and so emailed him saying forget it.

Have I been a nervous Nellie?
Would you have taken a punt and driven 180 miles on trust?

[Frost]

Unless you speak with a nigerian accent i'd say he is avoiding giving you details needlessly. This could mean he is expecting negative fallout and wants to make things as hard as possible for you to track him down.
Plenty more bikes in the sea.

[G]

I can see why people are worried about giving out details - but they have to have some trust - I wouldn't risk it for a 360 mile trip.

I'd like to see a sort of 'escrow' system where by the seller list everything they've said about a bike and puts some money forward - if it's not as described, the buyer is compensated for his troubles for the lying seller. Too many times I've done big miles (400 mile round trip in one case) for a vehicle no where near like described.

[ninja_butler]

At best he's a time waster, at worst he's selling a dodgy bike. It's your call as to whether you think the seller can be trusted but from what you've written he sounds like nothing but a pain in the ass to me.

[bennybroadbea...]

Sounds fishy - I don't think I'd waste my time doing a 360 mile trip incase it was no good.

At the end of the day he is trying to sell something and you have to give some information away if you want to sell it!
____________________
Current Ride: Kwak ZX6R in Black!
Previous whores: KTM Superduke - CBR600RR5 - CBR600RR3 - Triumph TT600 - Derbi Senda!

[Rogerborg]

The bike is probably fine, but the seller is just (yet) another angry prat who doesn't understand that his paranoia will only dissuade genuine buyers without actually protecting him from rogues.

I wouldn't waste time on the trip - imagine what he'll demand before giving you a test ride.

There are plenty of other bikes out there at that price.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[JustGraham]

sounds dodgy to me

it could be registered on a stolen v5c (log book)
if you do go to see it, ask if he can prove who he says he is, ask to see his driving licence (check address matches with logbook)
and you can see the watermarks are on v5, ect

also make a note of car/bike number plates on drive/outside house

but at the end of the day he mabe just don't want he's number plates to cloned, etc as there's lods of cars at the moment with this problem

[pork6156]

To be honest, I just would not travel 180 miles just to look at a bike or car, in fact I would not travel that distance to buy either. You will find something more local, just have to be patient.

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[soforene]

[Pete.]

I wouldn't waste time making that trip either. He's probably not scamming, but definately sounds like hard work and someone who likes to have things all his way. If you make the journey you aren't going to be able to bargain with him over faults or condition coz he knows you've come a long way. Might not even bother turning up for the meet.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Alex A]

I wouldn't have even called the premium charge number.

F*ck that.

[Darth]

[iooi]

[swiftb]

probably sick of idiots wasting his time - which you do tend to get a lot of when selling anything theses days.
I wouldnt give out my reg over the phone or net- id just tell the potential buyer its hpi clear and fine and dont have a problem with them hpi checking it themselves once they have actually bothered to come and view the bike, they will get the reg then and can do what they like with it.
Though your the only one who can judge if he is being cagey for any reason - the way he acts on the phone etc so if youve been put off for some reason then id just leave it and look elsewhere.

[Irn-Bru]

I wouldn't drive 5 miles to view something if the buyer was like that never mind 360. It's simple, if they don't give the reg (which people usually want for insurance quotes more than anything!) then I've no interest - 1 potential buyer gone.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Alex A]

What's the issue with providing a registration? It's on show to the public all year. Stupid.

[Walloper]

[Rogerborg]

[swiftb]

[Im-a-Ridah]