Reply With QuoteIf in doubt.....
Hi all, normally have no problem deciding on a course of action but this has me dithering.
I have my bike advertised on eBay classifieds and a guy in Portugal has made an offer. After some toing and froing he has come up with this message.
"Hi Mr. Ian, next monday i will have the money.
I will deliver the money to a company here in Algarve ( Portugal) and they will meet you in Uk pay the bike and bring the bike to Portugal. I will need the V5, copy of your passport and declaration of sale. I will send my details.
Best regards"
It seems as though he is using some transport company to collect it, and they are going to pay on collection. So that would seem to imply a bag of cash, Euros or sterling. So I have to trust that the cash is real or take them to the bank to pay it in, which they probably won't want to take time out to do.
Spoken to my bank who say an international bank transfer would take up to 2 days, so he would have to transfer the money in advance, probably not something he would want to do either.
Also can't help wondering why he's looking on eBay in the UK, not closer to home? Do they not sell bikes in Portugal?
Any thoughts appreciated. I'm starting to err on the side of caution and just say I'm not interested in his offer and sell to someone in the UK!
Thanks
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
If in doubt.....
I wouldn't part with anything until the money was clear in my account. I sold a bike to guy in Latvia once through Ebay and all was good but he paid via BT prior to organising collection. As a foreign buy trawling ebay UK he should understand. Otherwise walk away.
As long as it is cash, I would have thought you would be ok.
Is it an unusual bike? Or particularly cheap? The exchange rate at the moment might favour him buying from the UK maybe?
Cheers..
Jase
Ian, a cash deal is ok, just pop to the post office today and pick up an ultra violet/ counterfeit note pen, 3 in a pack for a couple of quid, check all the notes before letting bike go.
^ This. Also, IF you decide to entertain the idea, I’d ask for a photograph of his passport on today’s local news paper, his address, landline, mobile etc. However, in all honesty I’d look at the sale closer to home.. Best of luck however you decide to proceedOriginally Posted by TKH
Fas est ab hoste doceri
Seriously? Why bother even thinking about this unless you're desperate for the money.
Asked quite a number of times over on ph, can’t recall one where it’s been a scam, but uv check any notes as suggested.
Also you can find the prices on the continent are stronger than the UK and with the current exchange rates it could be its a great buy for him.
Since moving back to Canada a few years back I’ve still purchased three watches from SC. I always paid by bank transfer and the recipient had to wait as it seems to take about 5 days for the money to be transferred (I’ve since learned about apps which can do it for me such as TransferWise or whatever). However each time the person got their asking price and a bit more as I couldn’t be certain if fees on the UK side and didn’t want to short change that individual.
So while the recipient didn’t have money in their account within 24 hours it did arrive and was without too much hassle I hope. So selling to people not in the UK shouldn’t matter so much. If it was a cash deal I’d definitely meet at a bank and have the teller deposit the money in my account to make sure it was legit. Other than that I don’t see where the hassle is and I personally wouldn’t be put off.
This was my thoughts really.
Sounds good for cash, but I'm no expert in fakes sterling or Euros, so I'd probably rather not even with a pen detector.^ This. Also, IF you decide to entertain the idea, I’d ask for a photograph of his passport on today’s local news paper, his address, landline, mobile etc. However, in all honesty I’d look at the sale closer to home.. Best of luck however you decide to proceed
Not desperate, no.
Did wonder if that was the case, but can't find bike listings on eBay in Europe.
To be honest I'm thinking it's probably going to be too much hassle, what if the bike gets damaged in transit for example. What if he's not happy with the bike when it arrives?
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Quite common at the moment. A lot of BMW GS' go to Portugal. Know a guy who sold his to a guy there. Came in his van and took it back. Unsure on the logistics of using a company etc.
In the UK people think 10k is high milage for bike whereas out there they think we're idiots and lap them up!
This.....walk away.
There will always be another buyer.
Ian....that’s got scam written all over it..
Make it a condition of the sale that whoever collects it on behalf of the buyer has to accompany the seller to a local bank and pay the cash in before the bike is released to them.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
I'm not normally taken in, but you may be right.
Thought the same, but now told the guy I won't take a bag of notes anyway. Bank transfer or nothing, his choice as I have offers from people over here as well.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
There are some incredibly good banknote counterfeiters specialised in Euros, wht currency would the notes be in.
Thanks for all the advice guys, sometimes you just need someone to tell you what you already know!
Have been in touch with the guy, and we both have different ideas on how we'd be happy to proceed, so have decided to go our separate ways.
The worst case scenario is I'm still riding a Harley next year!! (I know, I know)
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Oh, it was a Harley, thought it was a real bike.
😂😂😂Oh, it was a Harley, thought it was a real bike.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Sold my old BMW R100 to a guy in Portugal. I insisted on bank transfer and happily dropped off locally to a freight forwarder arranged by buyer.
I’ve sold bikes to people all over Europe without any problem. Some pay cash, others do a bank transfer. Some pick it up themselves others use couriers. Usually all with less hassle than a UK buyer.
Don’t.
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
Are we having a duck?!
Fas est ab hoste doceri
Errrrr, NO!
This scam has been doing the rounds on ebay for a while. My friend almost fell for it, but luckily spoke to me before proceeding.
Even if his attempt to steal your bike doesn't work, he can always sell your passport details and personal data.
^What aspect was the scam, counterfeit notes?
The guy lost my trust at “Mr Ian”.
Not an uncommon mistake by foreigners.
I realise you've already moved on from this deal, but...
(a) Pay how? If bank transfer, he could do that from Portugal. If Euros, could be fake. How would you know? If UKP, still risky.
(b) V5, sure. Receipt/invoice for the sale, sure. But copy of passport? Wtf! No, he doesn't need that. It's way too risky. If his local legal jurisdiction tells him he needs it then he needs to take that sort of rubbish up with his local legislatorial representative.
Can understand passport, gives buyer confidence in sellers ID if bike not as described, stolen etc.
OP is wary but buyer might well be too. Have seen it asked for on watch deals here.
He refused to do the bank transfer after I told him that was the only way I’d accept payment. I didn’t want the transport turning up with a bag of cash, Sterling or euros. Bank is a hour round trip and they aren’t going to want to come and pay it in, and I’m no expert in counterfeit notes.
International money transfer can take 2 days apparently.
I told him I wanted the money in my account before the bike left my premises. That was when he lost interest. So did I!
As for the passport thing, I found that a bit odd as well!
You’ve had a lucky escape.It stinks.
You're definitely better off out of it. Too much to go wrong, even if he was genuine.
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