methods of payment for vehicle buying/selling on ebay

gg · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Karma :

hi, what's the best way to do payment with bike selling on ebay? i usually use paypal for smaller items, understand that it's intended to protect against fraud, but it charges for larger items. it should be as convenient to use paypal as it is to use ebay.

is cash on collection ok? what if they use fake bank notes?!?

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I've sold every bike for cash.

Count it carefully, don't let the buyer distract you when counting and if you're really worried buy a note checking pen.

Dazbo666 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Karma :

Cash on collection perfectly fine. I bought my first bike for cash, no problem.... and a mate of mine buys and sells cars via ebay with cash transactions ...
Just be cautious as you would for any significant amount of cash Thumbs Up

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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

I've bought and sold around 10 bikes/cars via eBay and have used cash every time. Just count it carefully and you'll be fine. You will be able to tell if someone is genuine by the way they contact you and their general behaviour. If they seem dodgy, walk away, or don't let it get that far.
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Current Ride: Daytona 600

kiddakidda · Spanner Monkey Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Karma :

For the couple of Cars I have sold on Ebay in the past I have always asked for a £50.00 PayPal deposit at auction end.

There can be some timewasters / dreamers / Paupers (delete to suit) on ebay.

andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

Never take full payment by PayPal for something like this.
An unscrupulous buyer could file a PayPal claim for goods not received. So unless you get them to sign for it, you'll lose the case.
Cash (or bankers draft) on collection is the safest.
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

Alpha-9 · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Jan 2012 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Cash on collection is best - but a paypal deposit is often worth a shout to scare off 'messers'. If you ever take it off auction early, insist on a deposit first and make it clear that it's for the bike as described - so if they find something which you haven't mentioned either way, they buy it at the price agreed, or lose their deposit - they're welcome to come and look first, of course - but may find someone else buys it in the mean time.
Paypal is far from secure, and you're paying a good chunk higher fees.
If you want to be really secure, take them to a bank and pay the cash in to your account then and there - don't think there's anyway you can be relieved of your money after that point.

whitedevil · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Nov 2010 Karma :

Cash on collection every time, also make sure you right a bill of sale that's signed, dated and has the time written on it.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

fozzym · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Karma :

Picked up a bike I bought on Ebay yesterday, I went to pick it up and payed cash. I had the guy give me a receipt which we both signed and obviously we filled in the reg doc to change into my name.

It was a very painless transaction but he was a genuine guy and so am I. I won the auction on friday night, sent a message with my landline and mobile numbers. The guy phoned me sat morning and we arranged the pick up for sunday morn. He didn't even ask for a paypal deposit.

One thing I'd say, pick up the bike from the address on the reg doc and ask to see id of the seller to make sure they are the owner. Most people will invite indoors to exchange the money and docs so be suspicious if they are waiting on the drive or worse still on the road side and then don't want you near the house.

For me its walk away time if you get the old "can't find the documents" or bought off a mate up the road and didn't want to add another owner". It is easy to get a new reg doc but not if the bike is nicked!! So let the "owner" pay the 20 quid to get a new doc and then buy it off him!

gg · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

They claim paypal is 'safe'.

As a buyer, it's pretty safe, to be fair.

As a seller, there's a whole load of pitfalls and I'd avoid it where possible for selling a vehicle. Too many ways the money can then be taken out of your account again.