Purchasing and having the bike shipped.

Energy One

JayG

Member
With me being currently deployed and wanting to purchase a bike I am going to have to get it shipped to the house.

I am wondering about the shipping and financial aspect of purchasing a bike from someone that I don’t know that lives around 2500 miles away.

Has anyone purchased a bike from a distance that they had to have the bike shipped that was from a private party?

Also, to ensure the financial security aspect I have considered an escrow too ensure both parties involved would be safe but there could be other options that I am not aware of.

Jay
 

KnotSo

Admin
Staff member
Thank You for your Service:2thumbs:

Might want to have a forum member check out the scoot first.

There are a lot of scams where you buy the scoot, the seller claims that using a broker or an escrow will ensure both parties are good with the transaction, the scoot never arrives and the money is gone. Escrow acct based in UK is a red flag.

The members of Big Dog Biker have gone to check out the scoot, called the buyer to tell them about the scoot, we have helped crate it for shipping, helped get it on the truck, and even been there when it arrived to help secure it where ever you wanted it so all is good upon your arrival.

Got a linky for said scoot?
 

JayG

Member
Knotso,

I have been looking at “all of craigslist” and from what I am seeing there are several in CT, FL, and TX. Well I live in Washington so my wife and I have been discussing different options and since we have never done this the questions we had where obviously financial security and protection. It would be amazing if what you indicated about someone being at the sellers place to verify everything was in order. I guess then the money could be sent electronically to their account so they would get it as the bike is being loaded on the truck.

Jay
 

kmalysa

Active Member
My recommedations,
Be sure to have several phone conversations with the seller, you can pick-up on his/her personality. Also you can ask many questions, and sometimes get the feel if they are being open or holding something back.
Highly recommend that someone you know and trust views the bike. That same person or the Shipping Co can hand over the check and collect the bike and possiblt title, However, it is not unusual to have hime take the money and hand over the bike, then mail the title after the check has cleared his bank.
Hope this helps?
Ken
 

Brew

Troop Supporter
Again have a member that lives near the bike have a look at it and maybe test ride it as Knotso stated. It'll give you some piece of mind... Just saying!
 

jimizee028

TRUE COLORS COLLISION
I live in Baltimore MD and bought mine online from Hacienda Cycles in Scottsdale,Arizona and had it shipped,the good thing about this transaction was it was a dealership but even when the bike was late getting here and I had allready sent them a cashiers check for down payment I began really sweatin the whole transaction...with you being in harms way and all that I would hate to even think of your head not being cleared of such thoughts...like you got enough on your mind.....can you find a deal with a dealership???then at least you know your dealing with someone at least SOMEWHAT reputable.......as for the shipping aspect of it i was able to track it on a daily basis.....
 

dnespolo

Active Member
Did you shop on ebay? There is some kind of protection there. Just be careful in the craigslist there are a lot of scam. Also I think there are some member from the forum try to sell a ridgeback
 

JayG

Member
Thanks for all the info, I will be sure to see if any members live in the area once I find the Ridgeback I would like to purchase. The scams are what was concerning the wife and I, she has been really wanting me to limit the search to just the Washington area so I could have one of my buds drive it back to the house, but that really limits the options.
 

JayG

Member
I made the guy a $10.000.00 offer and he indicated he was looking for a little more. He indicated he may have had someone else looking at it. I left my offer available to him should he not sell it though so he may or may not contact me.
 

SIC FKR

Member
I just had a 07 Bulldog shipped here from Tennesse to Ca and it cost me $600. The total mileage from there to here was about 2200 miles. The guy I used only moves motorcycles and has a 40' trailer set up just for bikes. PM me if you need a contact name. I would use him anytime. It took 10 days to get here as my bike was not the only one in the route. I would use this guy for any bike I buy or want to ship. :cheers:
 

TimNY

Well-Known Member
Jay,
My hats off to you this holiday season . Thank you for your service.
I think you should wait it out,watch CL and Fee bay- for a Ridgeback close to you or as far as you are willing to travel. The way the economy is thers alot of awsome deals out there.Motivated sellers will meet you 1/2 way also when your ready to buy.Never buy anything without a experienced mechanic to look it over and a test ride.
Trust me it will be worth the wait. My 2 cents Good luck Tim
 

2004BC

FREEDOM!!!
I just sold my flawless 39,000 mile 1999 Corvette Convertible to a gentleman currently working in Iraq. We had a number of late night phone calls and I scanned and emailed all paperwork to his Aunt who is handling the transaction here in the states. I took a video of me with the title in hand and extensive walk around, starting, and running the car. Point is we somewhat became friends with extensive back and forth. Best part is his idea for transport. I'm storing the car covered and on a battery tender for him until he flies back to the US in March. I'm picking him up at Kennedy Airport and he's driving back to Iowa as sort of a present for making it out of that place. Car is titled, insured, and Iowa plates are on the car ready to go!!! Good luck on your search and definitely be very very careful!

PS Having a forum member help you out as your advocate is a big plus!:cheers:
 

Tom Chop

Active Member
"Take The Cautious Path"

:flag: Congratulations To one of "Our Finest"; aka a serviceman (or woman) of our United States military. Jay I am sure that the purchase of a Big Dog will be one of the most memorable of your life. As it turns out it has for old Tom Chop.
Jay, I ask you to imagine coming home from deployment and jumping on a 117cu.in. custom motorcycle. What could be cooler? I ask you what? That`s it! Period!
Many forum members have expressed VERY good advice on the myraid pitfalls that there are in Cyber Transactions; BE CAREFUL and VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY.
The extra cost in the checks are small change to not recieving what you have paid for. I do wish you the best of luck both in the service and your search for a Big Dog. :flag:

Take Care
Tom Chop

:cheers:
 

what?

Active Member
bought mine off ebay in June.

I live in NJ and he lived outside of Tampa. I was lucky engough to know/have someone down there to go and take a look at it. I'm pretty sure ebay offers a service for someone to go out and perform an inspection for an added fee. If they offer that, then I'm sure you could get one performed some how. Or like the guys on here said...see if one of the pound cant do it for you.

I used a certified check, had the guys address, had someone look it over and then used JC motors to ship it up here for around 600-700 bucks via 18wheeler.

Motorcycle Shipping Company, motorcycle hauling, motorcycle moving, motorcycle shipping companies

good luck
 

JayG

Member
What?

I will look into the ebay deal also. Once I locate a bike that the seller and I can agree on a price I will more than likely see if anyone here on the forum lives in the area. I am sure that I will find one before I return and will be ready to ride come summer. Thanks for the advice.

Jay
 
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