Buying unseen bike over the internet
Discussion
Hey all,
I've recently found a bike i want to buy via Facebook Marketplace.
The bike is reasonably priced for what it is however it's 4 1/2 hours away from me, due to the total lack of annual leave i have remaining for the year & work commitments it's not possible for me to go & collect it for at least a number of weeks/month.
I've been chatting to the seller for the last week or so, he's sent me numerous photo's & videos of stuff i've asked for.
I've HPI'd the bike & it all checks out (full check), as does MOT history & mileage, he has the V5 in his name also.
I've got all his contact details & i've even written a little sale of good 'agreement/contract' out, which i've signed & sent to him, he's also signed it & sent it back.
He is also arranging the courier for me (at my request), it's just waiting for me to transfer him the cash now.
I feel i've done all i can to ensure it's a totally genuine sale, however it goes totally against my risk averse nature to do something like this.
I've bought cars from dealers unseen online before, but not from a private seller.
Is there anything i can do to further scam proof/set my mind at a bit more ease?
I've recently found a bike i want to buy via Facebook Marketplace.
The bike is reasonably priced for what it is however it's 4 1/2 hours away from me, due to the total lack of annual leave i have remaining for the year & work commitments it's not possible for me to go & collect it for at least a number of weeks/month.
I've been chatting to the seller for the last week or so, he's sent me numerous photo's & videos of stuff i've asked for.
I've HPI'd the bike & it all checks out (full check), as does MOT history & mileage, he has the V5 in his name also.
I've got all his contact details & i've even written a little sale of good 'agreement/contract' out, which i've signed & sent to him, he's also signed it & sent it back.
He is also arranging the courier for me (at my request), it's just waiting for me to transfer him the cash now.
I feel i've done all i can to ensure it's a totally genuine sale, however it goes totally against my risk averse nature to do something like this.
I've bought cars from dealers unseen online before, but not from a private seller.
Is there anything i can do to further scam proof/set my mind at a bit more ease?
You should be ok, you're getting all the right responses.
I bought a Multistrada blind from a dealer and bought my Panigale off the back of a ten minute chat, 7 photos and a chat with the Dealer that looked after it, first I saw f it was when it was rolled out of a van having come down from Glasgow !!!
I bought a Multistrada blind from a dealer and bought my Panigale off the back of a ten minute chat, 7 photos and a chat with the Dealer that looked after it, first I saw f it was when it was rolled out of a van having come down from Glasgow !!!
Only thing additional I would do is maybe ask for a copy of ID (driving licence) since you are transferring a substantial amount of money over unseen. I've done this before a couple of times, it gives reassurance in case there's a problem, having said that, I'd feel less easy about giving mine out if someone asked for it!!
Other stuff you can do is back ground check his name on linkedin, if you can see who he works for history etc gives some comfort.
Cheers
Nito
Other stuff you can do is back ground check his name on linkedin, if you can see who he works for history etc gives some comfort.
Cheers
Nito
I’ve bought a few things blind, before. I tend to find that speaking to the seller tells you all you need to know, even if you’re not talking about the bike that’s for sale. You get an idea of how they are as a person, their attitude etc.
If they’re sensible and polite, 9/10 the thing they’re selling has been exactly what they said it was.
If the seller is rude, evasive or stupid, the thing has always been worse than it was billed to be.
If they’re sensible and polite, 9/10 the thing they’re selling has been exactly what they said it was.
If the seller is rude, evasive or stupid, the thing has always been worse than it was billed to be.
NITO said:
Only thing additional I would do is maybe ask for a copy of ID (driving licence) since you are transferring a substantial amount of money over unseen. I've done this before a couple of times, it gives reassurance in case there's a problem, having said that, I'd feel less easy about giving mine out if someone asked for it!!
Other stuff you can do is back ground check his name on linkedin, if you can see who he works for history etc gives some comfort.
Cheers
Nito
A selfie of the owner and his photocard standing in front of the bike; I've done that for someone once when I was selling concert tickets.Other stuff you can do is back ground check his name on linkedin, if you can see who he works for history etc gives some comfort.
Cheers
Nito
Why she wanted to see my bike I have no idea...
smcapstick said:
I’ve bought a few things blind, before. I tend to find that speaking to the seller tells you all you need to know, even if you’re not talking about the bike that’s for sale. You get an idea of how they are as a person, their attitude etc.
If they’re sensible and polite, 9/10 the thing they’re selling has been exactly what they said it was.
If the seller is rude, evasive or stupid, the thing has always been worse than it was billed to be.
I’m with this. Also with Hi-res photos and responding to specific pic requests shows the bike is real and not a scam!If they’re sensible and polite, 9/10 the thing they’re selling has been exactly what they said it was.
If the seller is rude, evasive or stupid, the thing has always been worse than it was billed to be.
So have you coughed up yet and are you going to enlighten us on what you’ve bought?? If not and you need further reassurance, and assuming its Ashford in Kent, I’m not far down the road and would be happy to go along and look at it for you.
Cheers
Nito
Edited by NITO on Saturday 29th June 06:30
NITO said:
I’m with this. Also with Hi-res photos and responding to specific pic requests shows the bike is real and not a scam!
So have you coughed up yet and are you going to enlighten us on what you’ve bought?? If not and you need further reassurance, and assuming its Ashford in Kent, I’m not far down the road and would be happy to go along and look at it for you.
Cheers
Nito
Hi-res photo's i have not, however he has sent me specific videos & photo's of stuff i've asked for,So have you coughed up yet and are you going to enlighten us on what you’ve bought?? If not and you need further reassurance, and assuming its Ashford in Kent, I’m not far down the road and would be happy to go along and look at it for you.
Cheers
Nito
Edited by NITO on Saturday 29th June 06:30
He's also given me a picture of the V5 registered to him at his address.
It's not a lot of money, but a budget SRAD 750.
Stupidly, however i haven't checked insurance quotes until now, it may put a stop to it all before it's even started as i've been off bikes for a couple of years i lost the NCB i'd built up.
Nito, i'm going to PM you, i may well take you up on the offer
Edited by theguvernor15 on Monday 1st July 10:48
If your Insurance works out, limit the mileage and make sure you have a place to keep it locked up and you should get a decent quote from the comparison sites.
I have bought two bikes un seen, the private bike was exactly as described - I spent a good half an hour on the phone ( land line ) with the seller and had specific photos and copy of his driving licence and the bikes V5.
Get it done
I have bought two bikes un seen, the private bike was exactly as described - I spent a good half an hour on the phone ( land line ) with the seller and had specific photos and copy of his driving licence and the bikes V5.
Get it done
theguvernor15 said:
Nito, i'm going to PM you, i may well take you up on the offer
No problem at all. Can you post here to say when you have pm'd. I don't know how pm's work on this forum, do they just go to your email address as I don't have a forum inbox?!Edited by theguvernor15 on Monday 1st July 10:48
Cheers
Nito
theguvernor15 said:
Done.
Yeah they should go to your email account.
It's not come through. I think our organisation is blocking certain emails. In the past I've received some from for sale ads but not others but they still showed in my ad emails but it isn't the case for ones like yours. I've just creating a new username with a different email address as it wouldn't allow me to edit the old one. Can you try and resend the message to this one please and hopefully I can pick it up.Yeah they should go to your email account.
Cheers
Nito
Nitromedes said:
It's not come through. I think our organisation is blocking certain emails. In the past I've received some from for sale ads but not others but they still showed in my ad emails but it isn't the case for ones like yours. I've just creating a new username with a different email address as it wouldn't allow me to edit the old one. Can you try and resend the message to this one please and hopefully I can pick it up.
Cheers
Nito
PM'd to this one Cheers
Nito
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