Say in your ad that your not willing to negotiate until the person sees the bike in person. I usually set a firm price for a bike I'm trying to sell and wait a couple weeks at that price to see the response I get. If my price is too high for the market ill drop it accordingly and repeat. I've never done that more than twice before selling. The firm price usually weeds out the jokers who try to get a 9k bike for 5k. You might be surprised how much you can get for your bike if your patient enough.

 

Tire kickers. I too hate when people try to negotiate before they even see the product.

 

I had so many texts on my last bike, I even said I didn't want any texting. People are very rude when it comes to buying vehicles of any kind. Text offers are always low!


Sent from my Motorcycle iPhone app

 

If they haven't seen it and ask what the bottom dollar is...I tell them its listed in the ad. Simple.

 

Honestly, you can list in the ad that the price is firm but you'll still get these: "I know you said price is firm, but what will you take?" Every single person that buys used seems to think that they are going to stick you and get it for nothing. Idiots. I list my stuff as "Price is firm, no negotiation, negotiation offers will get no response, again do not try to negotiate, the price is absolutely firm, I don't NEED to sell."

 

Also realize that bikes are easy to part out and turn over for a decent profit. If you are conscientious about your baby make sure that the person you sell it to isn't going to rip your pride and joy to bits and turn it over for a few bucks in his greezy pocket. That's what happened to mine, BOTM March 2010.
:cryin

 

Have you ever watched pawn stars? The general population are sheeple.

 

Mine was listed for 6600 with a helmet and jacket, it was also listed in Casa grande which was an hour drive away. I asked him about the bike to get the background and info, I then offered 5800 cash and he said no that was too low and he wouldnt take anyless then 6200 I said ok thanks I will keep you in mind. emailed him 2 days later saying as long as the bike checks out I have 6000 cash in hand for the bike and I could pick it up that weekend. he said he could do that and I test rode it a mile and could tell the bike was well cared for got back told him it was sold and rode it home.

but selling my 2000 r6 i had it listed for 3300 wanting 3000 for it and had one guy come look at it saying it would take him 2-3 weeks to have the money I said ok but am not holding the bike and that weekend a friend of a friend came from two hours away to buy it for what I wanted. I always list stuff slightly above what I want for it so people think they are getting a deal start High come down to what you want for it and everyone is happy

 

I always list stuff slightly above what I want for it so people think they are getting a deal start High come down to what you want for it and everyone is happy

Exactly what I do and always works out put it up high and bring it down too what I really wanted giving them that feeling that they got it for less

 

Set your price and stick to it, with riding season coming up you should be able to get what you want.

 

the last two things i sold, i listed high, and got more than i wanted.
people like to think there getting a bargin. list high, if not much interest, give a bit off, if they ask and they will think there winning, but you still get what you want.
or if plenty of interest, say so, and thats why the price wont drop. and get more than what you wanted.

 

Don't we all shop for a good deal? I don't think you bought the R1 at twice it's value to begin with, did you?

 

yes, we all look for a deal. but not the cheapest. the cheapest is usually a heap of shit. and no, asking double wouldnt work. but have you ever looked at a few different bikes or whatever, and thought, thats a bit expensive compared to the rest then gone on to see what makes it more special, why there asking a bit more.
then its up to the seller, to sell to the buyer why its special.

of course this wouldnt work if there all band new with no differences.

 

I've bought and sold like 12 bikes on craigslist over the past two years. I've realized that it is absolutely pointless trying to bargain on price over email, phone or texts. Set your price as firm, but in reality, acknowledge the fact that you might end up dropping that a hundred or two. Be realistic with your asking price too, chances are you're not going to get anything back on your mods -- best just to put the bike back to stock and piece out those parts.

As far as buying a bike goes ... money talks. The same person who isn't really interested in negotiating via text messages is probably going to have a little more flexibility when you show up with like $7000 cash in hand. Never go look at a bike without your funds. Maybe it's like some mental delayed gratification thing, but a lot of sellers will take less today than more tomorrow.

 

I was selling a quad, I posted it low to quick sell. Guy calls me, asks me what my bottom dollar is and I told him I posted it in the ad. he comes to look at it and offers me $400 less. I said "Well thanks for your time, but no thanks". He pulled out an extra 4 bills from his other back pocket lol

 

Off topic, but reminds me of when I sold an xbox on Craigslist. Met the guy, and he wanted to write me a check for it so that he could "cancel it incase it didn't work." (it was brand new, never used). I said absolutely no way I would take a check and walked away from the deal.

Buyer got no more than 10 steps away before turning around and handing me cash :-D