sold my intruder lc, than backed out

[bud van houten]

i get mixed responses when i tell friends what i did, so here's the story and what's your opinion.
i priced my bike to a couple last friday and they said they'd like to come look at it saturday. they loved the bike, but made no commitment then, as they said they were looking at another bike also. about an hour later, the lady called and said they wanted mine and would get me a cashier check monday morning. i said i wanted cash and she said that was fine, but it would probably take until wednesday to get cash(didn't understand that). sunday she called and ask a few more questions and said they difinetely wanted the bike and would call me tuesday to tell me what time they'd be over wednesday. as of this time, they had never offered any sercurity deposit and i hadn't ask for one. they own a business here in kansas city and i feel they were very sincere and were going to take the bike. BUT, the more i thought about it, the more i decided i didn't want to sell the bike. i called her early monday morning and told her this. she was not mad, but a little disappointed. said her husband really wanted the bike.
was i unreasonable, since i had no deposit, to not let them have the bike. i even told her monday that i would NOT have backed out if i'd had a deposit. some of my friends think i should not have backed out, others feel as i do, that since there were no papers signed, or a deposit, i was under no commitment. later, bud

[Firedog]

Originally Posted by bud van houten

was i unreasonable, since i had no deposit, to not let them have the bike. i even told her monday that i would NOT have backed out if i'd had a deposit. some of my friends think i should not have backed out, others feel as i do, that since there were no papers signed, or a deposit, i was under no commitment. later, bud

I don't think that it was unreasonable to change your mind, since there was no deposit or papers.

Coming from the buyer's point of view, though - if someone told me that they changed their mind about selling me something because I didn't put up a deposit, I would immediately think that they are trying to hike up the price.

I realize that this isn't what you were trying, but that's what I, as a buyer, would think.

[tlwisner]

No deposit? That doesn't seem like a serious buyer to me - and the get a cashiers check on Monday, but no cash until Wednesday thing smells like old fish to me. Too many fake cashiers checks around....

[texrider]

While your "buyers" may well have been sincere, "handshake" deals are generally reserved for folks you deal with on a regular basis.

Anyone looking at pre-owned, or other one of a kind things, should expect to pay cash on the barrel. At the very least, they would need to negotiate a down payment or deposit agreement if they needed time to get the rest of the cash together.

Anything less is really just tire-kicking, and no guarantee the item being there later, if they wanted it then.

[Clint]

The deposit is only an issue if the buyer backs out. In this case, I'd say you were rude for wasting their time. I'd have been pissed if you led me that far and chickened out. Brutal honesty. Either you're selling it or you aren't.

[stp1971]

I would have been pee-ed if I went to buy something and then the guy backed out,,but then again I would have had a deposit to throw down too. Hard one,, but it happens all the time. I went to buy a Mustang one day,, went to the bank,,withdrew the money in cash,, went to the guy and asked him one question about it and then he threw a fit saying that the deal was off and the car was not for sale.

Found out that he was offered a whopping hundred dollars more from another guy a few minutes after I left to go get the money. Oh well,,,it happens.

[texrider]

"For sale" means you'll take the money and give it over to a bona fide buyer. How could you promise the bike to a stranger who did not leave a deposit to secure the deal? If another party offered cash 10 minutes later, what then? Doesn't matter whether you sold it to someone else, or decided to keep it, it became unavailable to them, period.

[stp1971]

In the case of the guy with the Mustang,, I had known him for years. I guess we weren't that good of friends. He still will not look at me in the eye to this day.

[bud van houten]

rowdy, think you and i have butted heads before, but i really take offense in your response. yes, i ask for opinions, and you gave me one, but i think you're way off base on your comments.
i'm 61 and have bought and sold hotrod cars and customs most of my life as a side-line. i would never expect someone to hold a vehicle for four days without me putting up a deposit, and you're wrong when you say it's only an issue if the buyer backs out, it's also an issue for the seller, because if you'd read my post right, you'd see in it that i WOULD NOT have backed out if i'd had a deposit.
when i go looking for something, i always take at least a couple hundred to put down just so something like this wouoldn't happen.
i'm sure you've heard the old saying, "money talks...bull**** walks" later, bud

[Clint]

Selling it to another party would've been fine. You didn't do that, and I still think you were rude. I also think you came here and asked the question so we'd pat your ego and make it all better. Sorry, I'd be lying if I did that. Not sure how that constitutes "butting heads". As you said, you asked for our opinions.

It's nothing personal, but I wouldn't do that to someone, deposit or not. It isn't about money.

Addendum: I just reread your post and it seems I'm not alone - people you call friends feel the same way. Why the defensive posture toward me?

[stp1971]

Because your avatar has it's tongue hangin' out.

My question for ya Bud is why were you thinking of selling the bike anyways?? You just got the tank recall fixed,, it is a nice Intruder,, just wondering??

[bud van houten]

yeah, just did the recall thing, and while it was there, also had a new front tire put on. the only reason i was selling was that my brother(who also rides a volusia)had found out about a 2003 yamaha midnight silverado for sale in our hometown. but with what i would have gotten out of the intruder, i'd still have to paid around $1500 difference. just decided i didn't want to do that. i'm wanting to take a couple motorcycle trips this summer and thought the $1500 would pay for that, and i'd still have a nice ride.
as a side note, i don't like doing what i did, and was about 30 miles out of kansas city on business yesterday and came across a "99 intruder lc with 13k actual one owner miles for sale. guy bought it new, and had all service records, etc. wanted $4,500 for it. it wasn't dressed quite as much as mine, but was a really nice bike. anyway, i called the lady when i got home and told her about it and think they were going last night to check it out. later, bud

[stp1971]

Well that was cool. Sometimes it is better to keep what you got. At least then you know what you got.