Dealers declaring themselves

[tomkil]

Hi,

I joined the forum recently with a view to buying an 1150GS; there isn't such a choice to be found anywhere else as far as I know. I want to buy privately really rather than from a dealer - for any number of reasons.

The thing is that it seems a fair proportion of the bikes for sale are being offered by dealers who, while they don't necessarily conceal the fact they're a dealer, don't make it immediately obvious either.

Is it the case that there is such a good market in this bike that dealers are buying them and then selling them on rather like speculators did houses in the Noughties? If so, all that happens is that the price of a bike for someone who genuinely wants it to ride and to keep is going to be that much higher, isn't it?

Or am I worrying about nothing, should I ignore the fact someone might be a dealer and simply look at the deal?

 

[chad]

look at the deal,fact is peeps change quite often as new models come out and this filters right down to the older bikes.

but a fair few change hands here so its a good place to start

 

[Bryn]

personally I'd also not worry about it... if the price is right and the spec is good then go for it.....

I personally wouldn't look anywhere else but here to buy a GS

 

[stolzy]

Aren't dealers legally obliged to reveal the fact when they advertise?

 

[metropolis2k]

Give them a ring and ask about 'the bike'. If they're a dealer they'll ask you which bike!

That said I don't think there's any problem with buying from a dealer. Just means you might pay a bit more.

 

[wreck diver]

If the deal is right for you,and the bikes history checks out why worry.

 

[JJH]

Hi,

I joined the forum recently with a view to buying an 1150GS; there isn't such a choice to be found anywhere else as far as I know. I want to buy privately really rather than from a dealer - for any number of reasons.

The thing is that it seems a fair proportion of the bikes for sale are being offered by dealers who, while they don't necessarily conceal the fact they're a dealer, don't make it immediately obvious either.

Is it the case that there is such a good market in this bike that dealers are buying them and then selling them on rather like speculators did houses in the Noughties? If so, all that happens is that the price of a bike for someone who genuinely wants it to ride and to keep is going to be that much higher, isn't it?

Or am I worrying about nothing, should I ignore the fact someone might be a dealer and simply look at the deal?

I dont know why u would rather buy privatly but a dealer must give u a guaente. I would rather buy from a dealer unless I know the seller.JJH

 

[oblertone]

Is it me ...

I joined the forum recently with a view to buying an 1150GS ...

... or are you saying the you think sellers on here are actually dealers masquerading as private sellers ? If you have proof of that happening then I'm sure we'd all like to know about it.

Of course, if you mean Nick Marshall, then he just buy's and sell, a lot

 

[wessie]

I dont know why u would rather buy privatly but a dealer must give u a guaente. I would rather buy from a dealer unless I know the seller.JJH

I don't know about the RoI but the original poster is from the UK anyway.

A dealer does not need to give you a guarantee but the bike must be fit for purpose and match any description.

Most dealers issue a warranty in an attempt to limit their liability. This warranty is usually not enforceable in law e.g. a dealer cannot point to his warranty to say a clutch is "normal wear & tear" if the thing packs up the day after you collect the bike. There would be an expectation under the Sale of Goods Act that you would get more than 1 day's use out of the vehicle before it needed a major repair.

 

[tomkil]

The point is that I've bought a fair number of bikes over the past couple of decades, mainly privately. It makes sense to me to buy a secondhand bike from its last owner rather than a dealer because you can judge a fair bit about a bike from its owner. If they seem decent then, for the most part, there's a fair chance the bike is too. You haven't got the benefit of this interaction if you buy from a dealer who has never had any investment in a machine other than a purely monetary one and who, with the best will in the world, is looking to maximise his profit rather then get a fair price.

I've seen at least a couple of bikes for sale on the forum that I might have been interested in. In the same way you might have a chat with someone about bikes, I've had a glance at the sellers' postings on the forum to see what they've had to say and I've noticed that they've had more than one or two bikes to sell in recent months.

It may be, of course, that they get through their bikes quickly or their mates recognise their outstanding ability to achieve a good price and ask them to sell their bikes for them. It may be that they buy and sell bikes just for the fun of it and not necessarily for a profit. Who knows?

Bottom line is, I'm after a bike and I'd rather buy from someone who's owned it for a while, looked after it well and isn't looking to offload it because he's fed up with all the problems he's having with it!

 

[JJ's GS]

I really wouldn't worry about buying from a dealer.
I was quite sceptical at first but once I'd seen the bike and the amount of extras (luggage, bars etc.) that came with it I then did a bit of research as to prices.
I traded my Fazer FZ1 and got almost as much as I would private and checked around for the same spec GS and found them £500 - £700 more than I was paying.

I was very happy with the deal and they also serviced the GS before I took it away.
I've since been back to the dealer for various bits and bobs and again they have looked after me on the price.
I always thought dealers were very expensive and don't really look after their customers very well, but I must admit I'm surprised how good they are.
The guys at Wollaston BMW in Northampton have reall looked after me and they are a friendly bunch as well.
I also like the fact I have somewhere to take it if I have a problem and I know they will sort it.

As I said I was very happy with the whole deal and their service so if you see what you want at the right price then go for it mate - It worked for me.
As long as you are happy with the deal then it is the right decision IMHO .

Good luck with it and keep us posted.

JJ

 

[Big Si]

Hi,

I joined the forum recently with a view to buying an 1150GS; there isn't such a choice to be found anywhere else as far as I know. I want to buy privately really rather than from a dealer - for any number of reasons.

The thing is that it seems a fair proportion of the bikes for sale are being offered by dealers who, while they don't necessarily conceal the fact they're a dealer, don't make it immediately obvious either.

Is it the case that there is such a good market in this bike that dealers are buying them and then selling them on rather like speculators did houses in the Noughties? If so, all that happens is that the price of a bike for someone who genuinely wants it to ride and to keep is going to be that much higher, isn't it?



Or am I worrying about nothing, should I ignore the fact someone might be a dealer and simply look at the deal?

I see the dealer @ Church Stretton (Shrops) has a couple in stock

 

[zzrman]

If so, all that happens is that the price of a bike for someone who genuinely wants it to ride and to keep is going to be that much higher, isn't it?

Or am I worrying about nothing, should I ignore the fact someone might be a dealer and simply look at the deal?

First: Declaration of interest - I work part time for a Motorrad dealer.

Second, on your first point, markets find there own level linked to the relative level of supply and demand. The price will be what it will be.

Third, it will generally cost you less to buy privately. The dealer has to pay VAT on his margin - essentially 15% of the difference between selling price and cost including cost of any repairs to put the bike into the showroom, and factor in the cost of the warranty. Your private seller doesn't pay VAT and
and doesn't offer a warranty.

So you are worrying about nothing. You can buy privately, buy from a dealer with possibly some form of warranty or buy from a Motorrad dealer with an AUB warranty. The first will probably be the least expensive and the last will probably be the most expensive. Your money, your choice.

 

[Fanum]

I've seen at least a couple of bikes for sale on the forum that I might have been interested in. In the same way you might have a chat with someone about bikes, I've had a glance at the sellers' postings on the forum to see what they've had to say and I've noticed that they've had more than one or two bikes to sell in recent months.

It may be, of course, that they get through their bikes quickly or their mates recognise their outstanding ability to achieve a good price and ask them to sell their bikes for them. It may be that they buy and sell bikes just for the fun of it and not necessarily for a profit. Who knows?

If you suspect that a bike being sold here is actually being sold by a dealer, please contact a mod.

As you say, it may well be someone like Nick M who goes through more bikes than most of us do underwear, but if we found someone who was a dealer masquerading as a private tosser, we'd have no hesitation in 'outing' them, for everyone's sakes.

There are no guarantees we get it right 100% of the time of course, but it's worth a go

 

[snerkler]

If I can afford it I always tend to buy from an authorised dealer, mainly because I'm not that clued up on the mecahnical aspect of motorbikes (and cars for that matter) and so am willing to pay the higher price for piece of mind. I know that the bike has been checked and will be sound (or should be) and that you get a good warranty package.

I've been extremely fortunate up till now that I've had no warranty issues with any of my bikes (touch wood, as I'm picking my new GSA up on monday ), but when it comes to cars I've had a couple of occasions where buying from a dealer has saved me money, even thought he initial purchase cost was more (I've had a full new aircon unit replaced under warranty in a BMW, anti roll bars and rear shocks in my Scooby).

Plus the other advantage with a dealer is you can part ex, and saves you going through the hassle of selling privately. I know from my experience that some dealers give very good part ex values, in fact matching the price that I would have initially advertised privately after checking bike trader and glass's.

So I personally wouldn't shy away from a dealer. Yes they want to make money, but if you go to the right dealer you do get the impression that they care about more than just the money (or maybe if you're sceptical that's just the sign of a dealer doing his job right ).

Having said all that, if you're not wanting to part ex, AND you know what to look for you will probably get a better deal privately. But as I said before, it might not work out a better dela in the long run

 

[tomkil]

It's not that I have a problem with dealers as such; I've bought my share of bikes from shops where what you see is what you get. Should anything go wrong, you've got someone to turn to to sort it out. In fact, if my numbers came up on the lottery, I'd be straight up to Williams' in Manchester to get myself a brand spanking new 1200.

The dealers I'm talking about are the guys who buy and sell bikes without making it obvious they are dealers. I've nothing against anyone wanting to make a living so long as they're up front about what they're doing.

Like I said above though, if I buy a bike privately I'd rather buy from the person who's owned and ridden the bike than from someone who's acquired it just so he can sell it on at a profit. If it's a proper business then at least you've got some comeback. If it's not, then you've none.

I'm after a GS and, on the budget I'm working with, it'll probably have to be an 1150 rather than a 1200. I wouldn't like to accuse anyone wrongly of being a dealer. All I know is, I want to buy from someone who knows the bike they're selling rather then someone whose only concern is to pass on a bike at a profit.