Woes of selling things...

[Nessism]

Selling stuff, more times than not, involves frustration with questions from guys that won't buy it anyway. Regarding a compression test, it's understood, by guys with experience, that a bad compression test doesn't spell doom and gloom with an old bike that's sat for a while. Anyone buying a 40 year old bike for $500, should plan to go inside the engine and renew gaskets anyway.

[93Bandit]

Selling stuff, more times than not, involves frustration with questions from guys that won't buy it anyway. Regarding a compression test, it's understood, by guys with experience, that a bad compression test doesn't spell doom and gloom with an old bike that's sat for a while. Anyone buying a 40 year old bike for $500, should plan to go inside the engine and renew gaskets anyway.

Exactly!!! At least there's a few guys out there who understand this.

[rphillips]

It can be aggravating, but it's just what happens living in the real world.

[93Bandit]

It can be aggravating, but it's just what happens living in the real world.

Definitely. I expected a certain level of time wasters. Usually how it goes trying to sell stuff. I just wanted to vent.

[trevor]

Thought I would chime in.....as you know I have bought and sold my share of bikes....just sold another 82 1100e the other day....I guess I have been lucky as I can't think of any bad experiences....this one went great and I hooked him up with a buddy to buy an exhaust and ES body parts from...he was so appreciative that he gave a very nice bottle of scotch for being great to deal with.

[93Bandit]

Sounds like the stereotypical Canadian exchange, Trevor. Lol Glad you've had good experiences.

Finally sold the 850. The guy who bought it still hassled me a bit, but the bike is gone so whatever. Now I just need to get rid of the 750 basket case.

I will put the proceeds from those two bikes into my two running bikes. It's time for new intakes and airbox snorkels on the 850L and I need to rebuild the carbs, so it's a good time to get it all done.

[93Bandit]

I finally sold the 850 to a guy who low balled me and showed up, then haggle me down more. I went lower than I wanted to, but he had cash and a trailer so I let it go. I sold it for more than I paid so whatever.

However, saw that bike posted for sale today, and he's reusing the pictures I used in my ad. It really bugs me when people do that. Also he's asking $600 for it, I was asking $500. He definitely fluffed the ad, acting like it's not that big of a project. I'll be curious to see if he actually sells it. I had to practically give it away...

[wyly]

I finally sold the 850 to a guy who low balled me and showed up, then haggle me down more. I went lower than I wanted to, but he had cash and a trailer so I let it go. I sold it for more than I paid so whatever.

However, saw that bike posted for sale today, and he's reusing the pictures I used in my ad. It really bugs me when people do that. Also he's asking $600 for it, I was asking $500. He definitely fluffed the ad, acting like it's not that big of a project. I'll be curious to see if he actually sells it. I had to practically give it away...

Offer him $300 and ask if he has a working starter so you can do a compression test.

Depending on the collectible factor some parts bikes sell for much much more for $500 all I'd expect is a complete bike and not seized, if it fires up it's a bonus.

[eil]

Let me guess, it was on FB marketplace? I get no end of weird requests any time I sell something there. My strategy is to just block anyone who only asks, "is it sill available?" and other questions that indicate they aren't serious. Eventually a serious buyer does come along and I have no problems dealing with those buyers.

And next time you have a project bike for $500 (not a basket case), hit me up. Can't promise I'll buy it but I do promise not to ask you to rebuild the starter.

[93Bandit]

Offer him $300 and ask if he has a working starter so you can do a compression test.

Depending on the collectible factor some parts bikes sell for much much more for $500 all I'd expect is a complete bike and not seized, if it fires up it's a bonus.

LOL I should! Although I sold it because I don't want to deal with it anymore.

[93Bandit]

Let me guess, it was on FB marketplace? I get no end of weird requests any time I sell something there. My strategy is to just block anyone who only asks, "is it sill available?" and other questions that indicate they aren't serious. Eventually a serious buyer does come along and I have no problems dealing with those buyers.

And next time you have a project bike for $500 (not a basket case), hit me up. Can't promise I'll buy it but I do promise not to ask you to rebuild the starter.

Yep, FB market place. It's full of tire kickers and time wasters, but occasionally you meet a sain buyer.

I would have happily sold it to you for even less than he paid me. I offered it in the classifides on here before posting it online. It's not necessarily a basket case. It looked bad because it was filthy from being stored for years and I started taking it apart. Otherwise it was a good foundation for a build. Wish I could have sold it to someone on here.

[red1100]

I've bought and either parted or sold outright 10-12 bikes in the last year or so.Usually found in barns or along side the house.Never had anybody ask for a compression check. Usually they accept my description and load it and go.Best one ever was an 8,000 mile 82 Yamaha seca 750. Original nice and straight.I decided to sell and not part out.Got a call. answered a few questions he said I'll take it.He shows up in a car with a bud and no trailer.Pays my asking price.No haggle. He sez I'll ride it home.???? He brought his own battery,carb set and exhaust from a like parts bike.Put it all together in my shop rolled it outside and it fired right up.His bud drove the car and he headed home about a 40 mile ride in the pouring rain.And he never questioned my description.That friends is moxee.

[rphillips]

Yep, You can, & will, find extremes in both directions. Never know what to expect.

[93Bandit]

I recently sold my running 750 and parts bike 750 to a guy from Ohio. Drove up, looked at them, I showed him the one runs, and he made me a very fair offer. Helped him load them up and he left with a smile. Best transaction I've ever had. I guess I do get them once in a while.

[wyly]

My last sales, a 250MT honda I wanted $400 I started it up and got it no haggling, it was well used but ran perfectly there was nothing to haggle over at just $400.

And a '76 aw450cr Maico I wanted $3400 and settled for $3K never even had to kick it over, the guy showed up with a trailer and cash took a quick look offered me 2,600 no more than 5 minutes before it was loaded and I had $3k in my hand. Sold to a private museum. In hindsight I could've got more but the mrs wanted it out of the garage and she wasn't going to stop nattering at me until it was.