Is Trade-me buying safe?

[Oli]

Hi there

I am looking to buy my 1st bike and am pretty much incompetent with engines. It seems trade-me is the way to go because of the large selection but also without viewing the bike (but in my case it makes little difference) is there a safe way of buying off trade-me or can you sugggest another way to buy or what to look for and what to stay away from.

Cheers

[riffer]

Welcome to KB Oli.

My suggestion:

Get a kiwibiker who's knowledgeable to check out the bike. If you're really interested in it then you use safetrader to pay for it.

This site is an amazing resource. People will help. Just ask for it.

[Southmotian]

Welcome to KB Oli.

My suggestion:

Get a kiwibiker who's knowledgeable to check out the bike. If you're really interested in it then you use safetrader to pay for it.

This site is an amazing resource. People will help. Just ask for it.

Or organise for them to take it into a bike shop near them. Make sure you pay the shop and they report their findings directly back to you, that way they are working for you and looking out for your interests, not the sellers. An hours labour should be time for them to give it a fairly decent look over.

[Bren]

always is a gamble buying a second hand vehicle no matter what medium you use to find it. the key is to reduce your odds as much as possible so ya dont get ripped. what Riffer said is a bloody good suggestion. There are a few (probably more) good KBers up your way who I am sure would help you out.

[MyGSXF:Me]

Hi there. I am looking to buy my 1st bike

Welcome to KB fellow Nelsonite!!

Yep.. Riffer had a great suggestion.. to get a kb'r to check it out for you first!!

If you find a bike in another area, you are welcome to give me a bell to help you find someone suitable in that area, to check it out for you! There's a vast amount of knowledge & experience on here.. & mostly a bloody great bunch of people!

A good friend here is also a bike mechanic.. so i'm sure he'd be more than happy to help with advice or whatever, too!

I'm also a mentor for noobies.. so if you want any help.. please give me a bell for that also!

Sure to see you on our PRIMO roads at some point!!

Jen

[Coyote]

Make sure you get whatever bike checked. Or at least go local so you can see it for yourself. Otherwise you'll end up with an old VFR400 with a dented frame, bent front wheel, dodgy brakes and buggered bearings everywhere.

[Clivoris]

Wot Riffer said. There are always a few of us that are only too happy to go poke and prod a potential purchase. Local is always safest though so you can check it out yourself with a friend who knows a bit about bikes. It's easy to buy a lemon when over-excited by the possibility of getting new wheels.

[R1madness]

Gidday Oli, you could try buying from a dealer. Several of us use Trade me as an advertising medium. At least when you buy from a dealer they are obliged to offer a warentee. That way you wont end up with an old VFR400 with a dented frame, bent front wheel, dodgy brakes and buggered bearings everywhere.
You may pay a little more but you will get a much better bike.

[toebug]

All the advise given so far is all the advise you need.

I bought my bike from the south island over trademe, I never had anyone look at it just spoke to the guy on the phone, paid the money, had it shipped. Turned out to be a score! Did the same with another bike and not such as score, previous owner failed to mention the engine knock! I still have both bikes and would do it again but I know enough about bikes to rectify issues and am willing to take the punt. Being a newbie though use the kb'ers they are a very helpful bunch.

[Steam]

I am ashamed to say I have bought two bikes on Trademe without seeing them or getting them checked out, then flying up to Auckland and riding them back to Welly.

It was foolish, but both were bloody good bikes and really good deals. I guess I got lucky.

[Nasty]

I agree with Riffer - I got my first bike sight unseen ... it was fantastic ... spoke to the owner and assessed the risk myself ... my second ... Grub and I went to see cos it was local ... my latest one of the kbers went and looked did a fantastic assessment .. and I bought it at a great price.

Buying from a shop covers you under the consumer goods and services act .. but that is about it .. it does not mean there are no faults with the bike ... but they are more experienced at correcting them which is great!

[Sofa]

Hey, I'm pretty interested a bike at the moment, but its in Fielding, and I'm in Auckland. So what I did was just set up a thread asking if anyone from around that area was keen to check out the bike for me I was lucky enough to get a very quick reply from Cowboyz and him and maybe 86gsxr are going to check it out for me tomorrow!! never met either of them, but most people seem happy enough to do this sort of stuff for you! Good luck

[FROSTY:Me]

The only issue is one of expectation. What one person sees as ferked another sees as 15 minutes work.

[Mully]

Get a kiwibiker who's knowledgeable

And some hen's teeth and some rocking horse crap.... P/T

never met either of them, but most people seem happy enough to do this sort of stuff for you!

See, this is because it's getting someone onto 2 wheels. If you have a bad first two wheels experience, you will hate it, go back to a cage and despise all those f*cking bike riders. Whereas if you become a biker (or in my case a non-biker who is trying to become one), when you see someone splitting up the motorway while you sit in traffic, you are jealous because he gets to do it, not outraged like a non-biking cager. Plus caged bikers tend to be more observant and considerate of bikers.

[cynna]

i have brought 2 bikes from trademe and had no problems but they were both local so i checked them out first

then again both the people i brought them off also got them from trademe without viewing them. its a bit of a risk but they were both happy