urgent advice/help re private sale of bike

[midden]

completely safe, it's the longer roll number required to make purchases, along with the 3 digit security number on back of card

Ahh I see -- so whats yours then

lol why how much you going to put in it?

[Explorer Mart]

I sold my DRZ 400 like this last November, I must admit I was also concerned at first thinking it might have been a scam, but he paid me a deposit and then transferred the full amount into my bank and arranged for a courier to collect the bike. I also transferred the money into another bank account.
Get the courier to sign, stating that he's taken the bike, with the reg No and frame No on the document.

[sinto607276]

Hi people, I'm looking for some help/advice.

My son has his bike advertised on ebay, as a classified ad, and someone did a deal over the phone and arranged to buy it without seeing it. Not something I would do, but we've sold his last 2 bikes this way.

The fella was going to transfer a £200 deposit into my son's bank account and then pay cash on collection. Whole price not far off £3k.

My son spoke to him again to arrange the details and he said he was going to transfer the full amount and pick the bike up on Saturday.
He has since spoken to/texted my son and said it was going to cost too much to hire a van for the weekend so was going to arrange for a courier to collect it (he lives 250 miles away).

My son has checked his account and the full amount has been transferred. Obviously we are going to check with the bank that the funds are there and available and not able to be recalled by the buyer. In fact we'll even get the money out of that account into another before Saturday and won't let the bike go until funds are available.

Does this sound ok to people?? I've never done a deal this way before.

Thanks,
Shaun

Shaun, as your now ok about the money it's in the bank so to speak....key into Google "dealing with v5 issues without buyer present"
Rather than me copy and pasting, it'll give you some good stuff about your thoughts, etc
Colin

[Rikki]

Does anyone know how much it would cost for a courier to collect a motorcycle & deliver it 250 miles away? How does this cost compare with van hire + fuel? Unless there is a significant saving then this would make me suspicious. Also, have you checked the buyer's ebay feedback?

[sinto607276]

Does anyone know how much it would cost for a courier to collect a motorcycle & deliver it 250 miles away? How does this cost compare with van hire + fuel? Unless there is a significant saving then this would make me suspicious. Also, have you checked the buyer's ebay feedback?

Motorcycle transport is relatively cheap, it's a lot less than hiring a van, fuel etc
I looked into it to get a bike from down south and by time I worked out costs to go and collect it, I was way more cheaper to get it collected, deal fell through but learned it was cheaper ☺

[Andy FZS]

I had mine delivered from Bristol to Hull for about £120 just over a year ago if that helps.

[mustardbufc]

Thanks for that sinto, varied responses on those,  but general concensus seems to be send it off to dvla unsigned by newnowner.
Rang the bank last night. Money definitely there, available and irretrievable by sender. We'll transfer it today though anyway.
Main problem with van hire I've found, especially if you need an early start,  is you have to hire it for a whole weekend, not just a day.

[Deefer666]

Sounds like a scam done on a local bike shop, if he his transfering money from a credit card into your bank then the money can be snatched back at any time if the credit card proves to be fraudulent.... by the time this happens the bike is long gone over seas and you are out of pocket. The bike shop that gone done down here had 8 bikes taken this way (I would have been suspicious after the second but there ya go)

I believe the "buyers" were all from the Hull area and its off road style bikes that were being targeted like this

[brooker81]

Yeah i got done by a similar one. Buyer says never recieved bike/wheels in my case then paypal refund full amount as paypal ALWAYS favours buyer. They can even take it back from your bank account.

[Fazerider]

Perhaps you could protect yourself from that sort of scam by getting a consignment reference number from the courier when he turns up to collect and verifying it with the purchaser by email or text before letting the bike go.

[fazersharp]

Sounds like a scam done on a local bike shop, if he his transfering money from a credit card into your bank then the money can be snatched back at any time if the credit card proves to be fraudulent.... by the time this happens the bike is long gone over seas and you are out of pocket. The bike shop that gone done down here had 8 bikes taken this way (I would have been suspicious after the second but there ya go)

I believe the "buyers" were all from the Hull area and its off road style bikes that were being targeted like this

Is that because it was a business and not an individual I would of thought that it was the creditcards loss. I dont see how it can be snatched back, perhaps you should ask the bank this question too and get it in writing via an email or something.
All this hassle and angst is not worth it I would rather it take longer to sell and wait for someone who can turn up in person with cash, or if he is getting another bike consider part ex

[Nightfury]

Ask the buyer what courier company he is using and contact them yourself to arrange a collection time. Is it a courier company or his mate with a van? Maybe take some photos of the bike being loaded, reg number of the van included, as proof of dispatch. A reputable courier should have no problem with this if you explain the situation. You are also covered then if the buyer says that the bike is scratched or damaged when he receives it.

[mustardbufc]

Supposed to be a reputable company, not just a man in his van. Told him we're expecting to see the relevant paperwork.

Been to the bank this morning. Asked the same questions again as last night. It was a bank transfer from one personal account to another, no credit card or paypal involved. Payment to the bank had a marker saying what it was for.
Money was available and has been transferred to another account. So all looks ok on that front. Will take the advice on the photos and courier documentation though.

[Nightfury]

It is such a shame that in this day and age we have to be so mistrusting. It makes it very difficult for the genuine, honest people out there. :\

[nickodemon]

I have bought two bikes that i haven't personally viewed. I asked lots of questions and got lots of photos and proof of ownership before sending full amount via bank transfer. One was a fazer on this site, the other was a versys i recently purchased. I sent my own courier. Both bikes were as described and was well happy.

[sinto607276]

It was a bank transfer from one personal account to another, no credit card or paypal involved. Payment to the bank had a marker saying what it was for.
Money was available and has been transferred to another account. So all looks ok on that front.

Well from what you've said there, I don't think there is anything to worry about but you are right to be cautious, better to be save than sorry.
If the guy has paid upfront in the manner he has, I would be more than happy to go with the deal and as he was good with his word, yoy should be well pleased and return the favour to him by making sure all the relevant paperwork is done and dusted for him. But as I say in my work everyday...."do a C.M.A. exercise everytime"

[mustardbufc]

[quote author=mustardbufc link=topic=16544.msg190697#msg190697 date=1428667142]
It was a bank transfer from one personal account to another, no credit card or paypal involved. Payment to the bank had a marker saying what it was for.
Money was available and has been transferred to another account. So all looks ok on that front.

Well from what you've said there, I don't think there is anything to worry about but you are right to be cautious, better to be save than sorry.
If the guy has paid upfront in the manner he has, I would be more than happy to go with the deal and as he was good with his word, yoy should be well pleased and return the favour to him by making sure all the relevant paperwork is done and dusted for him. But as I say in my work everyday...."do a C.M.A. exercise everytime"
[/quote

Now have the courier details and tracking/order numbers and they all check out. They're a dedicated bike courier.

Dvla said to post him the filled in V5, but send a covering letter to them.

All seems ok. Thanks very much for all the replies.

[sinto607276]

Your welcome, Few beers tomorrow night fella once it's out your way.

One last thing before you send the V5, get a copy of it, it's a lot easier to get all the details if needed, but I really don't think you'll have a problem, just anytime I've sold a vehicle I would copy the V5 then I had all details of vehicle till I got confirmation from dvla that details have been transferred to new owner.

[noggythenog]

I know im already in the be suspicious camp but all i say is that if it is enough to bother you this much then it isnt worth it already regardless of genuine the deal "could" be.......look after number 1.......but i also appreciate that your son has already commited to something that you (probably through past experience) feel uneasy about & with good reason because you are wise.....but what control do "you" have over it anyway....you can only advise him so far......so long as it isnt yor money then perhaps he will learn the lesson.....or do the same thing again in future because this deal goes well....except with a much more expensive bike...who knows.


One thing is for sure...we will all either be stung or lead ourselves to be stung at some point.....probably better doing it with the cheaper bikes and cars though :b  ie non  :faz

[chaz]

Chaz, what did you do with the part of the V5 the new owner gets and other paperwork?
Did you do as Sinto suggests?

sent it with the courier, I'd got the money he got the trike every one happy, except he couldn't ride it as it was a bit of a beast, so he sold it but I was talking to its latest owner and he said it was really well made?