Ebay motorcycle sale problems. Looking for advice

[vlocci]

I recently sold a modified 1976 Honda CB750 on Ebay for $1600.00. (a cafe racer inspired bike) My add states clearly that the bike is to be sold with a bill of sale and last registration since I don't have a title for it.

The winning bidder pays via check, it clears, and he personally picks the bike up a few days ago. I didn't realize he was a local bidder during the ebay auction, and am thankful I don't need to deal with a shipping co.

We go over the bike as he picks it up, fill out the Bill of Sale, and I give him the last 2 registrations. He asks some questions about it, tells me how excited he is, loads it on his trailer and off he goes into the sun.

Next day he calls asking for a refund in full telling me he can't get it started after playing with it, it has all sorts of electrical problems, and it won't pass inspection. He further tells me that Motor Vehicles won't register it unless he can find the previous owner of record and pay all the past due taxes.

Realize this was a 1600.00 purchase of a 1976 bike, and it clear no title would be included.

He files a complaint with ebay as well, saying it was misrepresented and has all sorts of problems. We're pretty much at the pissing match stage, but I did offer to help him get familiar with it, how to start it, etc.

What to do now?

I don't want to take it back as I consider this sold when he paid for it and proceeded to personally pick it up without expressing a concern. I haven't a clue what he has done with/to it in the last few days of ownership, but I'm guessing not too much good.

Am I being unreasonable? Any words of advice on how to deal with this?

[stomachmonkey]

Done deal.

He had plenty of opportunity to back out.

Did it start when he picked it up?

[Rick Lee]

I think the only downside for you is negative feedback. He'll leave it out of spite, regardless of how accurate your listing was. I'd maybe try to help him get it registered though, if you can.

[Evans, Marv]

Don't expect anything in the way of assistance from Ebay. The compaint process allows a buyer or seller to register a complaint any time they want without it being verified as rational or not. I went through this process some years ago when I bought a small thing via Ebay (from somebody actually on this board at the time). I never received the items. I emailed the seller who said he had sent them and asked him to try to trace it. He never did and never responded. After a while I left negative feedback and filed a complaint with Ebay. After that, he left negative feedback for me eventhough I had paid and lived up to my part in the transaction. The only thing Ebay did was accept both of our statements and did nothing to resolve the negative feedback he left for me. I had to let it go and just go on with the feedback I had.

[Nostril Cheese]

FWIW, he's a f**king idiot if he cant figure out how to start a CB750.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Agreed. If your ad was clear, it's his slice of humble pie to eat.

Make sure you print out a copy of the ad for any future action - Ebay tends to delete items from their database just in time to be irretrievable when you need them. . .

[vlocci]

Thanks all,

I'm glad to see my though process is similar to your own.

The most recent email from the guy has threats to call the president of my company and tell him how unethical I am, report me to the state, and all sorts of other somewhat unrealistic charges.

He strikes me as the type who will never be happy, so I'm half tempted to walk away and ignore him.

Should be fun,

Vin

[Gogar]

Could you post a link to your ebay ad for us?

[stevepaa]

How did you get it registerd without title? Is that possible?

[vlocci]

I'll try to find the ebay add, but he managed to get my account locked.

I never registered the bike, just spent the winter rebuilding it and now sold it.

Uuugh,

Vin

[pavulon]

If the bike remains as described, offer to work out the issues/repairs as best you can. If there are issues that can't be worked out, try to come together on a money agreement. If nothing works, you may see him in small claims...still better than my mis-represented, mis-inspected 930 purchase that now has everyone "lawyered-up"

[1967 R50/2]

I'll give you a contrary opinion. GET THE BIKE BACK. I dunno what kind of shape it is in, but to me$1600 seems like a steal for a CB750.

If you think you can do better, get it back and treat this as a second chance.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by 1967 R50/2

I'll give you a contrary opinion. GET THE BIKE BACK. I dunno what kind of shape it is in, but to me$1600 seems like a steal for a CB750.

If you think you can do better, get it back and treat this as a second chance.

I'll second that. Offer to take it back. Do it through ebay. Then to his private email. He will either give it back or shut the F up.

[targa911S]

did you already spend his money?

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Don't expect anything in the way of assistance from Ebay.

+1000! Ebay could care less after they get their sellers fee.

[the]

Me, personally, after his first call, I would have just taken the bike back and given him his money back. It's not that much money, and you could always sell it to someone else for the same.

Does that mean that the nutjob buyer is right? No, he's a moron. But I just don't like the aggravation.

[Dixie]

still unanswered...

How did you get it registerd without title?

[Britwrench]

Actually, more to the point, why would you sell a vehicle that you don't have the title to?

Plenty of those types of bikes on Craiglist..."had it a while, didn't title it, I'll help you through the process" etc..... Sorry to be hard, but stuff like that always comes back to hurt.

[john walker's workshop]

in washington, you can register a vehicle in your name, without a title, and in 3 years it's yours. no title vehicles are otherwise usually sold for parts, never to be seen again.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

in washington, you can register a vehicle in your name, without a title, and in 3 years it's yours. no title vehicles are otherwise usually sold for parts, never to be seen again.

Same here in Arizona. It takes some extra legwork but doable.

I bought 75% of an old BMW bike without any paperwork other than a bill of sale and turning it into a sidecar rig right now.

I would get a friend who had heard the bike run to email Ebay and threaten them with a lawsuit if they do not unlock your account if you do not want to take the bike back.

On the other hand am seriously thinking of dropping Fleabay all together. They now have decided to stop selling ANY gun or weapon related items what so ever and that has pissed a lot of us freedom loving people off. My activity there has slackened off in the last year and could do without them very easily. Let them shove their nut case ideas down someone else's throat.

joe