Be more careful with test rides!

**Mokoro** · 18th August 2006, 19:48

Originally Posted by Trademe Auto email

"1992 KAWASAKI ZXR 250C" (reference: *******)

The following reason was given by the seller:
bike has been withdrawn from sale due to a test rider dropping and
damaging

This is the second accident I've heard of from Trademe, in which a tester has crashed the sellers bike, or at least dropped it...
Stuff that! I feel sorry for the seller

My policy would always be "you test ride? you drop, you buy"

**_intense_** · 18th August 2006, 19:53

Originally Posted by Mokoro

My policy would always be "you test ride? you drop, you buy"

Yeah man, for sure this is the way to go, but unless there something in writing, are there any legal grounds for accountability? I know when i bought my cbr600 via trade me i wasnt expecting to get a ride and as a seller i would have been cool with that, but the owner after sussing me out i guess, said "you wana go for a squirt mate?" and jumped on his R1 to escort me around on a half hour test ride.

Be very careful as to EXACTLY what your insurance covers you for to.

**McJim** · 18th August 2006, 19:58

Yeah, a friend of mine bought his first bike off trade me - he got me to turn up too to look at bits for a second opinion - we are both on Learner licences so we had no intention of taking the bike for a spin. We looked at the bike, sat on the bike, turned the engine over, looked at the brake discs, listened to the engine, looked at the state of the chain and then asked the guy to take the bike to Holeshot to get it evaluated.

The bike got bought without getting ridden or dropped and my friend is one happy customer.

But Trademe should supply an appropriate form online for the tester to sign holding them responsible for any damage done while testing.

**Crisis management** · 18th August 2006, 20:13

I must admit I have bought bikes without test riding them but that is the exception rather than the rule. There are to many things you can determine about the bike by riding it that it seems foolish not to test ride.
This assumes you have the competency to ride the bike obviously, but in the case of a slightly dodgy punter that can be got around by making the sale conditional on a test ride ie. the seller gets the money before the test ride.
I know that trademe seems to drag out all sorts of test pilots and complete morons but in the interests of fair trading a buyer must be able to sample the goods before deciding.

**TerminalAddict** · 18th August 2006, 20:36

I have no comment on this matter

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=17064

**davereid** · 18th August 2006, 20:55

Its great to get a bargin, and sometimes trademe is the place. But trademe is an auction. So you have no rights whatsoever under fairtrading law, consumer rights law, etc etc. I watch as people buy chinese scooters on trademe. The seller says "get parts anywhere". Of course thats rubbish. These guys survive because if you complain they just blacklist you. They keep good trademe ratings by selling 100 $10 bangles and 2 dodgy scooters and keeping 98% good feedback. Trademe offer "address verified" but its crap as they will never release it even if you have been ripped off.
I started www.tradertracker.co.nz to keep an eye on it, but I must admit, its had f all interest. But I still think TM allows rip off traders to hide behind their tm identity.

Dave

**Korea** · 18th August 2006, 21:17

My policy on test riding involves 2 questions:
a) Do you have the money? (Show me~!)
b) If you test ride the bike and it all seems in order are you 100% sure you will buy the bike?

If the answer to both questions is 'yes', then sure you can take it for a test ride (leave your wallet, phone, girlfriend

with me while you're gone)

I think this is fairly reasonable if you're selling privately and will let you know how serious the buyer is.

Another approach I've heard of is: No test pilots but if you buy it and decide it's not right you get your money back.

(Both assume that you believe the bike is all in good order - otherwise how much is wrong with it will affect the agreed price and a test ride is a necessity)

**marty** · 18th August 2006, 21:23

it's simple - a refundable deposit equalling either the insurance excess (if they fit your insurance co's profile - over 25 & licensed) or a refundable deposit equalling the value of the bike if it doesn't.

try getting a test ride at a bike shop without either.

**davereid** · 18th August 2006, 21:27

Thats great for the seller. And actually i think most sellers are genuine. But there are lots of "privte sellers" that are actually dealers, with dodgy st!t they dump on the auctions. So, if you cant take it for a ride how do you really know ? I confess my interest - I sell scooters... but you can always ride em, and always come back for repairs... I admit it p!sses me big time to have a 17 year old student come in wanting spares for a scooter off trademe and they cant get the parts ! They thought they bought cheap transport but when the ECM Fs out and the seller cant be contacted cos they are blacklisted its gutting.

**Toast** · 18th August 2006, 21:29

I was helping a mate sell his GPX250 and the dude came back to the end of the street. All sweet we thought...

My mate said to the test-rider's mate who was standing with us 'phew, good thing he didn't crash it...'

To which I said, jokingly, 'hoho, nah bro, you want him to crash it so he's gotta buy it, eh...'

Naturally, no more than 2 seconds later as he's coming to a halt, he loses his balance and splashes yellow plastic all over the tarmac...

felt a bit guilty did I

Good bastard though, bought the bike at the agreed price, no funny shit.

**davereid** · 18th August 2006, 21:34

hehe I'll cheerfully take biker advise on www.tradertracker.co.nz ... let me know why its such a dog and I'll try and fix it... be caring... I'm almost a pensioner....

**pixc** · 18th August 2006, 21:41

I purchased my bike off trademe. I dont know anything about bikes...nothing at all. No one wanted to help me. I didnt know anyone that could. I saw it ...it was sooo pretty. Its got a shiney blue tank and it was clean. That was it. I didnt start it..i didnt know how really. If I did...what the hell was I meant to look for or listen for. I have no idea..and still dont. I basically handed over the cash..and the person I brought it off helped me wheel it into the back of the van. She got top dollar for the bike, but im still happy with my purchase.

Myself, my own opinion, I wouldnt bother looking without the cash in hand for starters, and if I crashed, dropped or scratched it, its mine. If it wasnt as advertised..then Id pay for the damage to be fixed. I admit and pay for my muckups period. Pisses me of though when others dont.

**igor** · 18th August 2006, 21:49

Originally Posted by marty

it's simple - a refundable deposit equalling either the insurance excess (if they fit your insurance co's profile - over 25 & licensed) or a refundable deposit equalling the value of the bike if it doesn't.

try getting a test ride at a bike shop without either.

when can i take the BUSAbusa for a testy. can u take the numberplate off. out the backa CB towards wharepapa sth. up 2 TA and find bevan GIBBS and a quick trip bak 2 ya abode

**davereid** · 18th August 2006, 21:50

yeah I was the same - my first bike was a 50cc suzuki a50.. it was a great bike everthing the seller claimed. I just looked at it... and had to own it. And I guess that is why 10... er 15... er 20.. err a few years later I still love bikes !