Is it safe to buy a bike from UK on eBay?

[wordup]

This seller claims to be in England and thus doesn't qualify for eligibility for the eBay protection plan. He said he would pay for shipping. Is there a way to safeguard an eBay purchase when buying a bike internationally? I don't want to get scammed.

[malkey]

I would be very careful as England has a high bike theft rate. There are a lot of what as known as "ringers" were they file down the frame and engine numbers down and restamp them with numbers off of a current legal motorcycle. Even if it was all above board you'd have to change the headlights and it may not be up to CA emission standards.

Also, motorcycles are more expensive in England. Wouldn't make sense for him to sell it someone over here especially with the shite exchange rates.

Ask them if they have a copy of the DVLC V5 form he can scan and email to you. The V5 is the English version of the title.

[Burst]

I wouldn't do it... if you do get scammed there will be nothing you can do.

[jamsuh]

the pays for shipping part gives it away instantly, it's an obvious scam. i contacted us customs and ca dmv not too long ago about registering a foreign vehicle, unless you have a shitload of time, patience, money, and willingness to jump thru a billion hoops w/ a little bit of luck added to that and a prayer, it's not worth it

[wordup]

Thanks for the tips. The guy says he bought the bike in the states and shipped it to the UK when he moved and didn't registered it out there. Now he bought another bike out there that he loves. He's got a 'buy it now' thing on eBay and I was trying to find out if there is any way to make a secure purchase if by some chance he's legit. I've heard that offshore escrow serives are all scams. Does eBay protect the buyers at all?

[smokescreen]

if this crack head is offering free shipping, and offering the bike at a price competitive enough to consider it, from this far away.....

It won't be a bike he's shipping for free.

[summitsix]

Same crap on craigslist. All kinds of excuses why they (seller) are in the UK. I prefer the seller who says stuff like

No low ballers on price
No test rides unless you have M1 endorsement and cash in hand
Lots of mods and can see it tomorrow

[soulofadra6o]

personally i wouldnt trust buying from ebay or craigslist...i trust cycle trader more because at least the magazine has some of the person's information and i think they delete the scams they see....buying a used bike is a gamble these days it's almost worth it to just go to a stealership and pay their prices

[sv_650]

why the hell would you a bike from UK anyway?? :squid:

[kerosene]

Uk shit is the most common type of scam. I was pulling this one fuc*er along for a while who had a silly cheap ducati for sale on ebay.

I wrote him stuff like: "I am really interrested in the bike you have for sale and the price seems fair. The only thing that worries me is that I might have to set some plutonium in your office chair and cause you a painfull death of several cancers."

The dude answered to several of these emails totally not reading them and telling the basic structure of typical money order scam. In the end my eamails were making it very clear that I was not interrested.

You have to undertsand that UK itself is not a bad plce but that atlantic is big border when going for leagal battles. Also don't buy a bike worth 10 K$ if the guy has only feedback from 10$ items.

[Natedawgg]

Dude, just riding it will be a pain. I mean, c'mon, they drive on the other side of their vehicles over there. Can you imagine trying to get used to driving on the right side of a motorcycle? F*%ks with my head every time I think of it.......

.............. the fuck's my bong?......

What was I saying?

[Thudds]

[i] I don't want to get scammed. [/B]

Follow your hunch and don't bother with anything you can not check out yourself live and in person.

[topse7en]

i've heard nothing but bad news from buying a bike in the uk. the same response is always, "i (will/have/need/going) to ship it in the coming days." don't do it. you're better off buying from ebay across the country. at least try the local ads.

[Guzzigirl2000]

sounds like someone should go ahead an post in the Wanted section and tell us what you're looking for so we can maybe help ya find it in the US

[wordup]

Thanks for all the advice folks. It was a Yamaha that was so cheap it looked too good to be true --- and of course, it was. Listed on eBay in CA, but after e-mailing him, he tells me it's in England.

I simply asked for a bunch of standard things like a fax of the title, the VIN, a current picture with a newspaper or something to show it was in his possession. Haven't heard back after I got specific about what I required. That's that. I also ran into a scammer on Recycler who kept insisting on using www.TradeItSecure.com - another scammer. I did some research and learned never to use an escrow service that says to wire money through Western Union. That was another waste of time on a deal that looked too good to be true.

Buyers beware the as$#o!e scammers selling the Yamaha R1 and R6. Ride safe. Buy safe.

[NukleoN]

Lesson learned...don't be too cheap to pay normal prices for a bike...otherwise you could be scam-baited! :D

Yeah, I'd avoid buying *edit* a used bike from England (even a legit bike) if nothing else but for the sake of avoiding unnecessary complication.

[malkey]

Originally posted by NukleoN
Yeah, I'd avoid buying from England (even a legit bike) if nothing else but for the sake of avoiding unnecessary complication. So, you wouldn't buy a Triumph then? I wouldn't trust those damn Brits either. Very dodgy bunch if you ask me... :p

[NukleoN]

Er, I mean a *used* bike from the UK or any other country. :D I'd buy a Triumph tho....maybe...if I got to ride one and I liked it better than my HARRRRR JUAN. ;)