How not to sell a bike

**Mom** · 5th March 2011, 08:36

As the title says and hopefully not just an educational journey for those wishing to sell their bikes, but hopefully will give a few giggles along the way.

I want to buy a new bike. I am vertically challenged and dont want to ride a cruiser. I find the perfect bike for me, fits my height and just so happens to be my dream bike

Not only that it is within the funds I have available to spend.

You would think at this point that all is in order and I would soon be the proud owner of the most gorgeous bike in the world

Think again good folks.

I arrrange an appraisal to be done on the bike by someone that knows his fish, he comes back with an honest appraisal, highlighting a few things that need to be sorted (brakes primarily) and tells me what he thinks is a fair price. I then contact the dealer that sold the bike for some advice, he also comes back and tells me the same sort of price as the appraisal. It is exactly where I thought the market lay so I am now ready to deal.

The seller had $10k ono on the Tard Me listing. I contacted the owner by email and made an opening offer of $8.5k which was refused. So, I went back at $9k and asked for an indication of what she would accept. She turned down my offer and did not respond with a counter. I emailed her again and asked for an idea of what she would accept and heard nothing back.

Checking the listing (as it was about to expire) and discover the price is now $11.5K! I fired her off an email saying that I had been prepared to pay up to $10K for the bike but no way I was paying $11.5 I wished her well with the sale.

I am now going to start posting direct quotes of the correspondance from this "seller", I use that term loosely.

**Mom** · 5th March 2011, 08:37

She responds with

You did not hear back from me as I have had Internet issues. I was prepared to honour the original price for those who entered negotiations with me prior to the price increase. Seeking clarification from me and not jumping to conclusions here would have been key. Perhaps offering your best price upfront would have resulted in you getting the sale.

I went back with something equally pithy and got this response.

After having a good think about it, I'm happy to accept your offer of $10k to purchase my bike. It was taken to Wellington motorcycles today for a quick check over, the diagnostics have been done, it's 100%. You're getting a beautiful motorcycle, I have been really reluctant to sell, but please know it's been looked after and I hope it's as much fun for you as it's been for me. Once the funds are received in my account, I can authorise the pick-up. Does Internet banking work for you?

Oh goody thinks me. But sadly I was mistaken.

I was going to Wellington the next weekend so asked if I could arrange a test ride while I was down there. Short answer to that was NO. Ok, how about I arrange to have the bike taken to Wellington Motorcycles so I could ride it out of there? I am talking picked up by WMC at my expense mind you. That was a big negatory. I either want the bike or I dont. I am not showing enough interest in actually buying the bike apparently. When pressed she said not showing enough interest equated to not putting money in her bank account

I told her deal was over rover. Few days later I get this.

Please confirm you are still wanting to proceed with this sale? I'm fielding many enquiries and require your offer and my acceptance confirmed by yourself as soon as possible. Or if there are any issues, please let me know as soon as possible?

Helloooooo

**Mom** · 5th March 2011, 08:50

Now the fun really begins.

It appears I am not the only one that wants to buy this bike.

They who shall remain nameless also tried.

This response to an offer of $8.5K

hi, the price is fixed at $11500 ono. If you're able to get closer to
this, then we can start doing business. Reason for price rise, is the
original price was listed at 10k in error, and comparing similiar
private sale models, colour, low km etc, its a fair price.

The offer was upped and...

My lowest price was $10,500. However, if you are able to meet me halfway at $10K, then its yours. If I don't sell it (at the price I'm wanting), I'm more than happy to hold onto it. Its a beautiful motorcycle, I've looked after exceptionally well. It will also be worth a lot more in years to come. Parts are cheap as chips too. I have turned down offers of $9500 & $10K to date - (there are people out there prepared to pay closer to what I know its worth). I like the fact you've been waiting, watching the market for a few years now, hence why I'll let it go to 'you' for $10k.

Followed closely by this when the buyer he was not prepared to pay more.

No worries. Best of luck in finding a motorcycle in your price range. Hope its a 'Buell'! :-)

I received a message this morning from another who also attempted to buy the bike, her response to that was.

I have turned down offers in excess of $10000. You are a dork!

Funniest bit of all I found an email from her that I had not responded to so I asked her if she was still interested in selling her bike.

Her reply made my day

Surely you recall our phone conversation, where you withdrew your offer! I'm more than happy to hold onto this motorcycle, especially if it meant not selling to 'you' given our previous dealings and your tyre kicking traits. Good luck in finding what you're looking for. As you pointed out, there are plenty other Buell's out there ... go buy one of them!

**bsasuper** · 5th March 2011, 08:55

Get over it dude,I dont know who's sader, you for posting this coro shit or the seller, who just dosnt want to sell the bike yet

**hayd3n** · 5th March 2011, 08:57

im sure they made more than one of those bikes?
is the lsiting on tardme?

**onearmedbandit** · 5th March 2011, 08:58

Walk away Mom, there will be other bikes and the owner of this particular example sounds nuttier than extra-crunchy peanut butter.

My 2c.

**onearmedbandit** · 5th March 2011, 09:01

Originally Posted by bsasuper

Get over it dude,I dont know who's sader, you for posting this coro shit or the seller, who just dosnt want to sell the bike yet

Too early in the morning for you to think properly 'dude'?

**Mom** · 5th March 2011, 09:06

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Too early in the morning for you to think properly 'dude'?

Yeah, probably got a bit of a headache too. I am over it, and am currently talking to a fella in HB that has one the same for sale. He seems a much more resonable bloke really. I am also heading out tomorrow to test ride another bike in Auckalnd, not a buell but hey I will buy what I can that fits my pocket and leg length.

I only posted this for amusements sake really. Some people just dont get it.

**bogan** · 5th March 2011, 09:07

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Walk away Mom, there will be other bikes and the owner of this particular example sounds nuttier than extra-crunchy peanut butter.

My 2c.

Indeed, although there's two kinds of crazy, the good and the bad. Never buy a bike from the bad kind of crazies, you just don't know what it's been through. And the good kind of crazies just hoard instead of selling anyway

**Mully** · 5th March 2011, 09:16

Probably a lucky escape, all things considered - the fact that you weren't allowed to have it checked out or ride it to my mind = somethings wrong with it. And probably something major.

**Maha** · 5th March 2011, 09:40

Probably what started this thread is the fact the seller wants $10K of someones hard earned cash but will not accommodate any potential buyer/s desire to enter into an adult and mature negotiation. Its...take it or leave it...its...you've seen it give me your money and take it away. Fair enough, its her bike, and she has the attitude to match.

From the seller...''My lowest price was $10,500''
Yet she was prepeared to take the $10K offered ten days ago?...sounds dishonest to me. That and the fact that the listing has been extended for an extra 5 days proves to me that no offer above the $10K mark has been put to her.

There are way better options out there, the list grows.