Buying bikes off eBay

[thebug]

To follow on from the post a short while ago about the bike bought on eBay which had a few issues -

I have bid on and won a bike on eBay. The ad didn't list very much at all about the bike, not even whether it was a good runner or had any damage etc, just the colour, mileage, year and that it had a V5 and a recent MOT. I asked the seller but got no reply. I banked on the fact that this would put off a lot of other buyers so I would get a decent price and I was right. My speculative bid ended up winning. I know I've taken a punt on this one and it's a massive risk. My question is this: If I go to collect the bike and it turns out to be a non-runner or a dog with serious issues, does anyone know if I can still back out of the transaction (before any money changes hands)? I have no idea how eBay looks at these things - do you reckon I could argue the item is not as described as information relating to damage or known issues was withheld from the ad?

Or am I destined to own this machine now whatever state it turns out to be in and it's my fault for taking a silly risk?

Thanks!

[L3nny]

You can, which is what I should have done, back out of the deal at any point.

If they haven't listed a fault then they haven't been honest with the listing.

Buyers can't get bad feedback. If you do it a lot Ebay may send you a warning but there isn't much else they can do.

[Aquila]

I would have thought if it had an honest MOT recently it wouldn't be much of a dog!

[Markos_46]

Just go along & pay cash - if its not as described tell him that & leave it, all he can do is open a dispute in ebay but I doubt they'd bother if they know full well its not as described.

[Red Herring]

My personal view is that you should only back out of a deal if you had originally made it based on information that turned out not to be true. That isn't the case here yet. If the bike does have a recent MOT and it is clear from the condition that it's a dodgy one that should never have been issued then you could argue that point because by saying it has a recent MOT they are by implying that it's in MOT condition, but if for instance 4th gear is broken, it's covered in rust and the fairing is covered in scratches and cracks then you've got no reason for backing out of your contract.

You knowingly took a bit of a gamble and it may pay off, if it doesn't the only person you can blame is yourself. There are of course plenty of people out there who will advise you to forget your word and walk away because there is little the seller is likely to do about it, but I'm not one of them.

[nutzboutbikes]

If the item is not as described or it is not as expected I think you are well within in your rights not to proceed with the purchase.
However if your willing to gamble and not view it before bidding then just make sure you can afford to swallow the loss if it goes t*ts up.

[7755matt]

I suspect that all the ideas of 'not as described' 'not as expected' may work if it was bought as a classified ad, or under a buy it now as, iirc, that changes the purchasers rights. Items bought as an auction are exactly that - you have the right to go and inspect it before hand, or ask questions about it, but it is ultimately caveat emptor.

[Bibio]

i think a lot of people forget that ebay is an online auction site and just like any other auction. you pays your money you takes your chance.

i personally got an absolute bargain when i bought my current bike off ebay.

[squirrel_hunter]

Well by your admission the bike was described as "colour, mileage, year and that it had a V5 and a recent MOT", providing its the same colour, mileage, year, with the V5, and a recent MOT I'd suggest the goods are as described. Congratulations on your new bike.

What have you bought?

[thebug]

A Triumph Trophy 900. Used to have one, big heavy bikes but my girlfriend will ride on it and there is somewhere to store all my stuff when I ride to the airport. Keeping my street triple for other times when a fast light narrow bike is best.

Thanks for the replies on this one, the way I'm thinking about it now is this - I fully intend to go ahead with the purchase, but there's no way my word should be any better than the sellers. If he has been honest and there's nothing major wrong to declare, I shall be honest and go through with the transaction. If he has been dishonest and knowingly withheld information which would seriously affect my decision to buy, I don't see any reason why I need to keep my end of the bargain. It's an old machine and I'm not looking for perfection, I just expect it to run and need no imminent repairs (as it was not listed as spares or repair).

Hopefully everything will work out and it'll be fine.

[johnnyrod]

I have to say it's not a very clever way to buy something - unseen, unridden, fingers crossed - so hopefully it'll work out this time. And hopefully it's not too far away.

[7755matt]

The other problem is the seller may not be with holdign anything at all - they simply may not not there are any problems

[thebug]

Not very clever - I know. That's why I banked most people would avoid it. I'll either have myself a great deal or a very large and expensive door stop for the garage. I'm hoping for the former.

[Red Herring]

I've bought several bikes unseen, including one on here from another forum member and I've never come away with a deal I wasn't happy with. You just need to have a little knowledge around people and bikes, and follow your head, not your heart!

I think if someone is advertising a bike with very basic information then you should ask a few questions and be very suspicious if you don't get an answer. If they know what they are doing there will be good reasons for not describing the condition of the bike. The alternative is they may not know anything about bikes but then they usually say so. A good look at their feedback history usually tells you which.

[NTECUK]

Yes its a bit of a gamble.
But if it's a shead you can walk away.

[7755matt]

Maybe you can, but only because ebay seems to have made it that way. It's like 'homes under the hammer' - the number of people that buy property without viewing - I'd like to see them walk away from the sale because there's a problem.

Buy it now and classifieds are one thing, not accepting that an auction sale is an auction sale is another. It may well be an expensive lesson.

[Nath1505]

Just go along and check it out, make sure everything works as it should, if anything is broken which the seller failed to mention you just tell him you won't be purchasing the bike as the description was false..... eBay is an auction site it's not a law abiding contract.

[7755matt]

I think that's the problem, by being an auction site it IS creating a legally binding contract, but no-one is likely to follow it up.

[atassiedevil]

I've bought unseen bikes off ebay before, as long as you are aware there may be pitfalls, and pay accordingly, you shouldn't have any issues.

I've a VF1000F2 Bol D'Or and a 5k miles from new VF500F2 as a result. Do your homework and research, both bikes did have issues, but i accepted they would probably have as they were non runners when i bought them.

All now thankfully resolved, and my collection is complete.

[Nath1505]

I bought my SV off eBay but went to view it first...I've made the mistake before of winning a auction and not viewing and I ended up with a piece of junk

[johnnyrod]

My brother in law has don that with two cars, you'd think he'd have learned his lesson. Before I part with that sort of money I want a fair bit of convincing, and a test ride. I don't understand buying without riding it first. I guess it's only money though, it could be worse, as long as you can still eat.

[L3nny]

When I crashed my Fireblade I put the remains on eBay. Tried to list as much of the damage as possible but I was pretty damaged myself so was difficult . When the guy who won the auction turned up he saw the engine casing was so damaged it would need a new engine so backed out. There was nothing I could do about it and you can relist for free sometimes so just stuck it back on.

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[Heorot]

I bought mine off Ebay but I had a very specific set of criteria. I must have looked at around 20 auctions before I found one that was right for me. Ironically. I found 2 auctions that suited and bid on both and got the one I was most interested in. I still insisted on a test ride before parting with the cash though.

[Craig380]

Being brutally honest when I listed my GT380 didn't stop people bidding, and I had plenty of messages making offers to end the auction early. All the details about the holed piston, tired paint, pitted chrome were there :)

[yorkie_chris]

I would have thought if it had an honest MOT recently it wouldn't be much of a dog!

Bwhahahahaha.

a) it's a very very basic test
b) The bike doesn't actually have to work to pass
c) there are lots of lenient MOT stations out there



Personally I would go along with the intent to buy. As far as I can see the inference of the advert is that it is a used bike in the condition one would reasonably expect to find a used bike of that mileage and age in. If there are any hilarious defects then I'd walk and they could stick their contract.