eBay

I've often wondered how I ever existed without eBay.  It truly does create a world-wide market for just about any type of goods.  
If you've eBay-ed before, you know what I mean.

If you're an eBay newbie, you may find it hard to believe that sane people will actually send money to complete strangers in hopes that they'll someday soon receive a package in the mail that includes the treasures they purchased. 

I too was skeptical, but that was many years ago.  Since then, I've become a believer.  That's not to say eBay doesn't have it's share of scammers (it does) or that you shouldn't be careful when using eBay (you should).  I am saying that in all likelihood, your transactions will work as expected.

That being said, I think eBay is one of the best avenues for purchasing or selling motorcycles.  I've had great success in the past two years (buying and selling a total of nine bikes) and there is no reason you can't succeed as well.

If you want to sell your bike on eBay, here are a couple of tips to help make sure your tranaction goes smoothly:

 - Understand up-front the eBay charges involved in listing and selling your bike.  It currently costs $30 to list your bike (insertion fee) and $40 more if it sells (transaction fee).  When listing, you'll likely incur other charges for things such as adding photos, setting a reserve price or adding the "Buy It Now" option.  

 - Research the "completed auctions" section to see for what price similar bikes have sold.  That will give you an idea but it's not set in stone.  I'm often times amazed and/or confused at what some people are willing to pay.  An auction ending one week without meeting the reserve price can be listed again the following week and sell for much more than the reserve.  Go figure.

 - If you want top dollar for your bike, make sure your photos do it justice.  I always clean my bike extremely well once I decide to sell it - and then I don't ride it again.   

 - Don't hesitate to spend extra money to include multiple photos or features that allow the photos to be enlarged.  When I buy, I like to see the details as well as read about them.  When I sell, I assume my buyer does as well.  Make sure your photos are clear and well-lighted.  I usually take bike side shots from three different angles along with close-up side shots of the engine/frame.  I'll also try to get detailed shots of anything that is a selling point (upgrades, new items, etc.).

 - I make sure to include photos of any areas of concern (missing or peeling graphics, scratched or faded plastic, torn seats, dented exhaust pipes, worn tires, etc.).  Let's get all this out in the open so no one is surprised.

 - I know this might sound crazy but I always take photos with my bike on a bike stand.  For some reason, it just looks better to me.  I hate the sight of an MX or dirt bike leaning.  I guess I'm just weird, huh?

 - Be sure to provide an accurate (no fluffing allowed) description.  Honest is definitely the best policy.  After the transaction, your buyer will be able to leave feedback concerning the transactions.  This feedback is your eBay reputation and I want people to bid on my items knowing their dealing with one of eBay's best.  In fact, I state this in the description of any item I list - "Check my feedback and bid with confidence.".  Build a solid reputation and you can do the same.

 - Always state how the buyer is to receive the bike (shipping, delivering or picking-up).  If you can ship, you'll received bids from a broader geographical area that if pick-up is the only option.  I've sometimes offered to deliver the bike within a certain distance from my location (either for a fee or to just make the deal happen).

 - If you don't have a PayPal account, you probably want to get one.  PayPal is a way to accept credit cards for your auctions.  I like it because I can get paid immediately after the auction ends.  However, be aware that PayPal also has fees.  For high-priced items - like motorcycles - these fees can put a dent in your profit.  They vary depending on the type of PayPal account you have but will likely be around 2.5% or 3% of the selling price.  

 - Because of these fees, some eBayers allow only a deposit (usually around $500) to be sent via PayPal.  The balance is then paid by cashiers check or cash when the bike is picked-up.  Do whatever works best for you.

 - When buying a bike, I've also split the PayPal fee (by paying more than my auction price) so I could use my credit card and pick-up the bike immediately.  The bottom line is that you have options.  Usually you're wanting to sell just as badly as he's wanting to buy.  Two brains working towards the same goal usually find a way to make each brain happy.


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