Lost Sale

[GWguy]

Looked at a used bike tonight. Looked nice, price was reasonable, agreed to get it inspected before we went any further.

Deal breaker? He steadfastly refused to allow me to take it for even a short test ride. I told him we were done.

Too bad. I was really interested and was ready to follow thru with a sale after the inspection.

 

[RPMDAD]

Damn, GW i couldn't even imaging buying a bike without a test ride. Have no idea what the seller is thinking. Every bike i ever sold, the buyer wanted a test drive, and i always said yes.

 

[kom526]

Probably didn't have Allstate

 

[GWguy]

Probably didn't have Allstate

That was exactly his reason. He was afraid if I dumped it then he has a messed up bike and and I walk away.

Sorry, but there is no way I would drop tens of thousands of $$ without a test ride. You can glean so much. Tracking, braking, accel, throttle response and performance issues, etc.....

 

[glhs837]

I do see the point, I don't think I would agree to offer a test ride unless the buyer both showed the cash to buy the bike and agreed to buy it if they broke it on the test ride.

 

[RPMDAD]

Wow, sorry GW, but i have never owned a bike that was worth tens of thousands. Guess i have always been on the cheep side of bikes. Just curious what year and kind of bike was it?

 

[GWguy]

Wow, sorry GW, but i have never owned a bike that was worth tens of thousands. Guess i have always been on the cheep side of bikes. Just curious what year and kind of bike was it?

I don't want to call the guy out by identifying the bike. He's entitled to his opinion and his sale, not my place to disparage him.

We just didn't agree on this.

 

[DoWhat]

I do see the point, I don't think I would agree to offer a test ride unless the buyer both showed the cash to buy the bike and agreed to buy it if they broke it on the test ride.

So if GW agrees, takes the bike out, comes back and tells the guy that there is something wrong with the clutch. The guy can now accuse GW of breaking it and has to buy it?

 

[GWguy]

So if GW agrees, takes the bike out, comes back and tells the guy that there is something wrong with the clutch. The guy can now accuse GW of breaking it and has to buy it?

Who carries that much cash for a first meeting anyway? I expected to maybe make a good faith down payment to show him I was serious, but that's it.

A dealer never expects you to show proof of payment before test driving a car or bike. Never had an issue with that for a private used car or bike sale either.

 

[DoWhat]

Who carries that much cash for a first meeting anyway? I expected to maybe make a good faith down payment to show him I was serious, but that's it.

A dealer never expects you to show proof of payment before test driving a car or bike. Never had an issue with that for a private used car or bike sale either.

I agree with you.
When I sold my Ducati years ago, the guy asked to take it for a test ride. I handed him the key and told him to have fun but please be careful.

It sold that same day.

 

[itsbob]

I agree with you.
When I sold my Ducati years ago, the guy asked to take it for a test ride. I handed him the key and told him to have fun but please be careful.

It sold that same day.

Did the same with the beemer... people have to realize, in the end it's just a machine. I wouldn't expect anyone to buy any vehicle from me without a test drive, nor would I buy one without..

 

[kwillia]

A guy I know went with his dad to meet a guy who was interested in buying his motorcycle after seeing the ad on Craigslist. They met him, chatted with him, handed him the keys and waited and waited and waited... never saw him or the bike again. PG cops said, "Oh well. There is nothing we can do about it."

 

[Gilligan]

Sorry, but there is no way I would drop tens of thousands of $$ without a test ride. You can glean so much. Tracking, braking, accel, throttle response and performance issues, etc.....

Come ride the '47. I'm thinking about selling it. I'll even address your concerns in advance.

Tracking: Some
braking: A little
accel: sorta
throttle response: yes
performance issues: yes

 

[GWguy]

Come ride the '47. I'm thinking about selling it. I'll even address your concerns in advance.

Tracking: Some
braking: A little
accel: sorta
throttle response: yes
performance issues: yes

Ok, that's funny right there......

 

[glhs837]

Clutch issues, no, but how about dropping it? How the heck do I have any idea as to your riding skill set or ability on a machine such as mine. Maybe you are a lifelong cruiser guy, and my bikes high CG would screw you up.

I'm not saying anyone should buy without a test ride, what I'm saying is to address that before meeting and reach an agreement about it. Folks get bikes damaged on test rides, and get bikes stolen. Last car I bought, the guy let me take it for a spin, but I left my car worth 15 times the value of the one I was buying behind.

When I bought the Vstrom, the guy let me take a test ride, but asked me to keep it in the parking lot. Of course, that bike has only 600 miles on it. And we agreed that if I damaged the bike, I had bought it. I know myself well enough to know that wasn't going to happen

 

[Dukesdad]

I have sold a few in the last couple of years. Not multi thousand dollar bikes though. I am a your cash in my hand when you test ride it guy.

I sold one last year to a guy that just wanted me to ride it around for him so he could hear it run. He lives in south east DC and was afraid to ride it down St. Andrews Church road.???