Selling a bike on Facebook, need some advice | GTAMotorcycle.com

Selling a bike on Facebook, need some advice

NuggyBuggy

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I just posted my Z400 for sale on Facebook Marketplace (and Kijiji). I think it's fairly priced and I've gotten a ton of responses in the first half hour or so, but I'm having tons of problems figuring out how to make Marketplace work.

1) Marketplace has this option to "list it in more places" (i.e., in various FB groups). But each time I pick a group or two (e.g., the group "Toronto Area Motorcycle Buy/Sell"), even though Facebook says it has been listed in 2 new groups, it doesn't show up in that group. I'm members of these groups, so what's up? I have this problem with multiple other groups, and it's only seems to be making it into two of those groups (Toronto Spot Bike Buy/Sell/Trade, and Buy, Sell Motorcycles, Parts and Gear Ontario).

Is there something special you need to do to get a post cross listed in some groups? Are there specific groups I ought to have it listed in, or is just being in Marketplace enough?

2) As I mentioned, I've gotten quite a few replies, and I'm not sure how best to deal with them. Is "money in hand" considered general practice? Do most buyers come first to take a look and then later come back with money? Should I go with a buyer to the MTO to transfer ownership, or should I just wait until after a sale and then notify the MTO I've sold it? How do you deal with tire kickers, and how do you separate the serious buyers from the rest?

3) I included a paragraph from the Kawasaki website describing the bike. Then I got a message saying my post was deleted for copyright infringements, even though the listing appeared on Marketplace, and response were coming in. I've edited the blurb out, but I thought including a description from a company website was pretty standard and I am quite surprised (and impressed) that Facebook can identify individual paragraphs of text like that so quickly.

4) Half the time I go to the listing, it seems like the model has changed from "Z400" to something like 668374086978840, and that's what shows up in the the listing title.

Sorry for the questions, but this will be the first thing I have ever sold on Marketplace. I'm noticing way more responses from FB than Kijiji, which is interesting.
 
Had an interest conversation with a supposedly interested party. We had gotten to arranging a time and now he wants me to run a report from a website called “detailed auto dna .com” (no spaces, obviously).

I’ve heard of scams like these, this website looked pretty good. How do they work?
 
Had an interest conversation with a supposedly interested party. We had gotten to arranging a time and now he wants me to run a report from a website called “detailed auto dna .com” (no spaces, obviously).

I’ve heard of scams like these, this website looked pretty good. How do they work?
ITS A SCAM.
Delete the convo. They are not interested in the bike, they want your money.

You will probably get more like this. You need to careful.
 
ITS A SCAM.
Delete the convo. They are not interested in the bike, they want your money.

You will probably get more like this. You need to careful.
Yup, thanks. I told him I was cancelling the “appointment” we had. I know it’s a scam, I am just interested in how it works. Are they just getting a fee for sending people who then pay for a report, or are they harvesting my info?
 
Yup, thanks. I told him I was cancelling the “appointment” we had. I know it’s a scam, I am just interested in how it works. Are they just getting a fee for sending people who then pay for a report, or are they harvesting my info?
You pay with your credit card, and now they have your cc info to use/sell.

There was no appointment, it’s just a tactic to drag you along and be more invested in the sale.
 
Lessons from my recent experience:
Kijiji is dead. Never got a single response.
Facebook is the place now, but all the scammers migrated there too.
I found that with just a few questions, I could easily weed out the scammers/tire kickers:
  • Where do you live/how far would you need to travel to come see the bike?
  • What was it about my bike that caught your interest?
Failure to answer both of these questions (or simply repeating "what's your lowest price") told me they were jokers/scammers.

On the other end, I tried to make my ad appear as human and real as possible. a few final sentences with some appeal to emotion I hope let everyone know I'm not a scam seller.
 
I noticed that the scam sellers have their items posted for a fraction of the cost of everyone else.
They really stand out.

And they use other sellers pictures.
 
I just finished selling off one of the fleet on FB Marketplace. Ad went up on Sunday, gone on Tuesday, over 8,000 hits and I responded to around 70 messages. Most were low ballers (no, I won't trade for your set of hockey cards, no test rides), maybe a dozen were serious. I advertised 2 prices - with or without safety and UVIP, buddy paid the extra - CASH in hand - knowing he was getting the straight goods.
My price was fair, he went away happy. If they don't want to agree to your terms of sale they can look elsewhere - it's still a free country.
 
I have sold bikes on Marketplace.
If some one asks if it is still available the answer is YES after the second same questuion it becomes NO
If asked what my lowest price is I ad 25% to the listing price.
I never give out any information until I hear from someone for the 3rd time.
For a nominal charge Service Ontario can supply a report on your vehicle.
 
I have sold bikes on Marketplace.
If some one asks if it is still available the answer is YES after the second same questuion it becomes NO
If asked what my lowest price is I ad 25% to the listing price.
I never give out any information until I hear from someone for the 3rd time.
For a nominal charge Service Ontario can supply a report on your vehicle.
Yup - mostly time wasters and low ballers. If they don't ask intelligent questions they get ignored.
 
Flip side of all this - I went to look at bike for an out-of-town friend.
The seller was obviously a curbsider, garage full of stuff for sale on marketplace. I walked away.
 
Every often a deal comes along that you can not say no to.
I have been known to flip a motorcycle for a profit and usually feel guilty.
Considering I often sell my reconditioned motorcycles for less than I have in them I feel I should win at least once in a while.
"Curbers"(Flippers or whatever you call them) have been around since the time of donkey carts.
It is now considered an honourable profession and there are multiple TV shows to prove it.
 
Every often a deal comes along that you can not say no to.
I have been known to flip a motorcycle for a profit and usually feel guilty.
Considering I often sell my reconditioned motorcycles for less than I have in them I feel I should win at least once in a while.
"Curbers"(Flippers or whatever you call them) have been around since the time of donkey carts.
It is now considered an honourable profession and there are multiple TV shows to prove it.
I don't mind buying something from someone if they're being truthful. When they don't know anything about what it is that they're selling or 'selling for a friend who's out of the country' the alarm bells go off.
 
With my recent effort to sell the Scrambler...1 question from Kijiji. 5 from FBMP, of which 1 lead to someone showing up.

Didn't even get the 'hey can you get me this report?' questions. I'm offended.
 
With my recent effort to sell the Scrambler...1 question from Kijiji. 5 from FBMP, of which 1 lead to someone showing up.

Didn't even get the 'hey can you get me this report?' questions. I'm offended.
I was selling a $250 GPS and was offered the report.
I feel honoured.
 
In my experience the Real Deal will call and talk to you. Then show up with cash and way to get the bike home.

Buyers know I'm serious when I show up with my trailer.
 

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