Buying a bike from Ebay?

[yorkie_chris]

It's dead simple, eBay means nothing it's just a way to go look at a secondhand vehicle like any other

Don't do what mate did, got a right mess of bike thought I haven't seen yet but it made Maggie Thather look attractive next to it

Bought 2 bikes off ebay, both were as described. I don't think there is any more inherint risk than buying off autotrader, pistonheads or whatever. Just take the precautions you would normally take buying a second hand vehicle and walk away if its not as described. I am always a bit suspicious when there are tons of pictures but none of them show one side of the vehicle.

I've bought three bikes from ebay. Not had a problem with any of them. But I wouldn't buy one if I had to pay before picking it up (if I were not able to view it before auction end). I once bought a bandit on a spur of the moment thing. I saw it, it looked okay but only had a few seconds left before the auction end. I chucked in a quick bid and won it. Luckily for me the bike was a good one. Even got it delivered for free.

Got my Daytona from an ebay listing.

I asked him if it didnt reach the reserve, would he sell it off ebay as a private sale so got it that way and he avoided costs and relisting fees.

Bought and sold a number of bikes on Ebay. It's like everything else, it can lead to good and bad experiences. The key aspects seem to me to be:
- the feedback system, whilst not perfect and only a guide, helps a lot. It's unlikely (but not impossible) for someone with a high number of transactions sold, having 100% feedback, to be a crook. Better if the items sold are for larger amounts, like bikes.
- Always be aware that interpretations can differ as to the condition of the bike. However, if the bike turns out to be 'not as described', you are clearly within your rights to decline to take it.
- As has been said, where possible, pay only when you collect. This isn't always possible and some people insist on substantial deposits. On the other hand, some people take you on trust and are happy to accept payment on collection.
- Most important to me is to talk a few times to the seller, getting the answers you need BEFORE committing to purchase. 9 times out of ten, you'll be able to gauge what the bikes likely to be like.
- build up good feedback yourself, there's no substitute for it. If you have little or none, conform to the seller's requests for contact prior to bidding (quite a common request), so that they can get a sense of you being genuine.
- Finally, for a bike, you are on common ground. At the end of the day, you are both likely to be bike enthusiasts and can find a lot in common. Be courteous, but fair and firm. Clarity is always good, if couched in friendly conversation.

Good luck.

Just to further that a little, when I've bought bikes that asked for a deposit as soon as auction ended, I've never done it, just gone the next or same day with all the money.

You've won the auction and the bikes legally yours to buy, ebay won't do anything for at least 7 days and the sellers hardly going to turn you away if you're standing there with all the moolah are they? Reduces the risk a little. Never had a problem doing that.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Kilted Ginger

Devils advocate.
Be careful, I was at a car garage this week and police showed up with 20K car
It had been bought from ebay, hpi check done etc. Reg and Vin all ok.
NO, it was cloned, Vins had been doctored (very professionally) only came to light when he bought road tax, dvla contacted police as 2 cars had applied for tax at opposite ends of country.
Guy who bought it lost everything, hpi insurance does not cover cloned cars, only that the reg and vin you are checking is ok.
Just a word of warning.

cloning might be worth it for a 20K car, but a £2K bike???

Originally Posted by Stu

cloning might be worth it for a 20K car, but a £2K bike???

You got a spare 2K to chuck away...?

2 Grand is 2 grand whichever way you look at it.

It's probably easier to sell 5 bikes for 2k than it is to sell a 20k car at the moment too.

Originally Posted by Kilted Ginger

Devils advocate.
Be careful, I was at a car garage this week and police showed up with 20K car
It had been bought from ebay, hpi check done etc. Reg and Vin all ok.
NO, it was cloned, Vins had been doctored (very professionally) only came to light when he bought road tax, dvla contacted police as 2 cars had applied for tax at opposite ends of country.
Guy who bought it lost everything, hpi insurance does not cover cloned cars, only that the reg and vin you are checking is ok.
Just a word of warning.

Some HPi's do cover you thats one of the points of checking via HPI it can come with cover to protect u.