You would be amazed at the number of times we get asked the question “do you buy bikes as well as sell them.” Of course we do, and we do it 52 weeks of the year.

 

Ultimately yes, we want to persuade you to sell us your bike, but all the facts here are valid, and at the very least reading this could save you from being a victim of crime.

 

Some people have an aversion to selling their bike to a dealer, and to be honest when you see the way most dealer’s work we’re not surprised. A lot of dealers spend their time telling you why your bike is no good or “wrong” and why they shouldn’t buy it before patronising you with a silly offer. We are looking for reasons to buy your bike from you rather than reasons not to buy it, after all if we haven’t bought it we cant sell it!

The main problem people have selling to a dealer is they are convinced their bike will make more money as a private sale. Certainly you do see bikes advertised privately for good money. Whether they make it or not is a different matter entirely. We purchase a lot of bikes from owners who have been advertising for months waiting for a private buyer, to no avail.

 

Consider this – did you buy your bike privately or from a trade source? The vast majority of buyers want some form of assurance that they won’t get duped when buying their new pride and joy, and so they play safe and buy through the trade. The people who will buy privately are generally looking for a bargain, and a good bargain at that. So to sell privately the bike will have to be priced less than the dealer would ask, and not just by a couple of hundred quid either!

 

Lets assume you decide to advertise your bike on the internet, MCN or your local paper. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly bike crime is a soft and very profitable alternative to robbing banks or peddling drugs, both of which attract very hefty prison sentences. Your average bike criminal, if caught, is likely to get a very severe telling off, or maybe even a few hours picking up litter, they certainly wont be getting 10-15 years.

 

How on earth could anyone prise your beloved bike from the vice like grip of your clammy hands? Well actually quite easily. We will call our criminal / bike thief / “bike buyer” Joe Bloggs.

 

Scam 1. Were Joe a simple man he would simply arrange to view your bike then listen intently as you described in detail the high security thatcham approved alarm/ immobiliser fitted, while looking over your bike he will at the same time be looking as much at your other security and where the bike is kept. Armed with all this information Joe would then pop back that night and pinch it.

Scam 2. Very similar to scam 1 only this time Joe doesn’t show up to view the bike  as arranged. Luckily he knows where you and the bike live so turns up at 3 in the morning to help himself. This is really handy when Joe is stealing to order, (essential if you’re planning to ring a bike) , and it saves him masses of legwork trying to find a specific model / colour / etc , as your advert has given Joe all the information he needed. 

Scam 3. Were Joe a violent man he would simply invite himself into your house when you were least expecting him, you gave him your address on the phone, Joe will wake you and use violent means in persuading you to hand over your keys and bike. Remember Joe knows where you live so go steady when you’re describing him to the police. To rub salt into the wound, your insurance company might argue you gave the keys away and refuse to pay out, though this is less likely if Joe has hospitalised you, so every cloud has a silver lining.

 

Scam 4. This time Joe is a really nice bloke, he looks round your bike, listens intently as you describe in detail the love you’ve bestowed upon it. He’s got a couple of others to see but thanks you for your time and promises to call you later. The next day Joe describes a couple of bikes he went to see after leaving you, their owners having totally neglected them. He now wishes to proceed with the purchase. A lovely touch here is for Joe to get the bike inspected, either by a knowledgeable mate or professionally – totally throws you and puts you off guard – after all no criminal would get a bike checked before they nick it would they! Collection day arrives and Joe turns up with his bankers draft or other monetary offering then rides away on your bike. Three days later the bank calls you up to let you know Joe’s payment was fraudulent, (see scam 3’s ending re: the insurance company’s response). This can lead to another “rubbing salt into the wound” situation, if Joe has sold your bike and the buyer bought it in good faith for market value, (after all it has just been inspected!), you may well have the displeasure of seeing “your” bike being ridden around and there is nothing you can do.

 

Assuming Joe doesn’t pay you a visit you will still have to sit by the phone waiting for calls. You will also learn that people can be incredibly rude and ignorant when looking at second hand bikes. You will also have to prepare yourself for the fact that not everyone who makes an appointment to see the bike shows up as arranged. If they do turn up then you’ll have all the fun of a test ride to look forward to, (fingers crossed they’re insured-virtually all full comp insurance only cover the rider third party on someone else’s bike, it wont cover damage to your bike). Still that all becomes irrelevant if he/she never returns from the test ride!