ebay woes

[TonyB]

OK so how does a person get around the wankers in the USA only wanting to sell to people in the US. I cannot see any difference with my money compared to their money. I'd love to pay them a visit and expand their elimentary canal with whatever it is they are selling...

[Maicojames]

 Tony:as a yank , I do not understand it at all. My bike was sniped at last second by the guy here in Tx over Brad 090, but would have been glad to sellto Oz. As I have had to liquidate, I have likely sold more parts to Oz and Europe than in the US. (yes even France).

  I think at times they don't want to fool with international shipping, but with most parts it is the same drop off at the same place. Some people are just assholes-and while I certainly am one of them it is mind boggling how one would not sell to Oz.
  In fact, it seems like you guys  just do not piss and whine about every cent-and that's while knowing that shipping is outrageous for you. Almost like someone in the states should be marketing to you, for you or buying on E-bay on your behalf.

  Of course, some times are just tough too..after selling my bike I paid off some impending doom. Now that I have a few( but very few) $, no one has that spare AW440 engine, or frame, or forks.....
James

[Wombat]

I wondered the same thing; I think it's because the logistics involved can be daunting. International money transfers/insurances/crating for sea travel etc. Some people simply have a bike to sell and just want the money with no hassle. I like to think a true blue VMXer wouldn't mind putting in a bit of effort to help a fellow 'Veteran'.

[cyclegod]

OK so how does a person get around the wankers in the USA only wanting to sell to people in the US. I cannot see any difference with my money compared to their money. I'd love to pay them a visit and expand their elimentary canal with whatever it is they are selling...

Ask them, will you sell to an Australian bidder?, I have on a number of occasions and been rewarded with a yes each time.
Have a look at what I just recently won and have already received...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEAFB%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190148582719&rd=1

[TonyB]

Cyclegod, I have bought from guys in the states who will sell to "others" - I bought a 495KTM from Vegas a few months ago, no hassles he got his money he ran the bike down to longbeach in his pickup charged me $200 and all was sweet. This other bloke i'm referring to has been swapping emails with me but eventually he realised I was outside the US and then he mentioned that he did not want to sell to outside US, I wonder if its becuaee he would have to issue a proof of ownership - titles etc to get bike oput of US, maybe he doesnt have them maybe its hot?? who knows. I'll spend my money here...

[firko]

I've been buying bikes and parts via eBay from the US since 1999 and have found that if you ask nicely most sellers will change the post to allow you to bid. I did once have a doozie however who told me he refused to sell to socialist or communist countries. After I told him that Australia isn't either and he came back telling me that I don't know what free society is all about and he wasn't going to contribute to my education! I didn't bother emailing him back as he definitely had some demons swimming around in his brain fluid! All I was buying was a  bloody t shirt!  He lived in Texas too James! What a loony.

He of course is a wery weird exception. Most Americans go overboard to help. Brian, the guy I recently bought my Hindall Ducati from is a gem. He couldn't have been more helpful, as was the guy I bought a 350 Ducati engine from last week. Just be courteous, explain how much you need the part/ bike/whatever and most importantly explain to them that you'll pay with Paypal. 99% of them will come around.

[BJJ]

hey Cyclegod,  no beef man,  but that item lists australia already 

[Maicojames]

I've been buying bikes and parts via eBay from the US since 1999 and have found that if you ask nicely most sellers will change the post to allow you to bid. I did once have a doozie however who told me he refused to sell to socialist or communist countries. After I told him that Australia isn't either and he came back telling me that I don't know what free society is all about and he wasn't going to contribute to my education! I didn't bother emailing him back as he definitely had some demons swimming around in his brain fluid! All I was buying was a  bloody t shirt!  He lived in Texas too James! What a loony.

He of course is a wery weird exception. Most Americans go overboard to help. Brian, the guy I recently bought my Hindall Ducati from is a gem. He couldn't have been more helpful, as was the guy I bought a 350 Ducati engine from last week. Just be courteous, explain how much you need the part/ bike/whatever and most importantly explain to them that you'll pay with Paypal. 99% of them will come around.

\

  Socialist or communist countries? Let's see who is over getting thier asses shot off with US now...hey it's you Australians. Again some are just jerks, misinformed  and that is always worse than uninformed.

Firko, as far as Texas there's more here who aren't from here now-waving the rebel flags and all that crap-usually from the midwest or east coast...but i have to tolerate them to live here.  Hell, I guess e-mail me if you need an e-bay part that someone won't sell outside of US.

BTW Firko, I know a three step process to make a Husky turn better.

[Tahitian_Red]

James,

Would that be the process that begins with taking the gas cap off of the Husky? 

I sold an eBay item to someone in the UK and it was a bad experience.  The English gent was great, but either the US Postal Service or the British customs screwed something up and three months later a got a tattered and torn package back.  I had to go through a weird PayPal refund process also.  I guess for me it's the system, not the people.

I too would sell to buyers in Oz, especially if they have experience getting things shipped from here to there. 

[maicomc490t]

OK here's my take on the shipping issue.

Like Firko I have bought stacks of stuff out from the US and would have to say 99% of guys have been very helpful and obliging. Occassionally you will come across a dickhead or three but hey, they are everywhere. Occassionally you will encounter a trailer park dweller who thinks Australia is where Arny comes from but they are in the minority - or you may encounter a thief as mentioned below !!!

What amuses me are the ones who won't sell internationally and you frequently see them sell stuff so cheaply because they are effectively closing out any additional competition - too bad for them I say (really I say f*** em but this is a family show hence Batman doesn't get a gig anymore, lol)

When buying ask the seller if he will trade internationally and if he says yes put in a low 'test' bid because sometimes sellers are unaware that the options they have selected may cause our exclusion and can be reset. Always tell the seller you are aware of additional postal costs (believe me they can be high - especially from the UK) and if possible make friends with afew US based enthusiasts who can receive and on ship items for you if you are really desparate for the bits. Always check the sellers feedback and contact the people who have had a bad experience. Also it helps if you assure the seller you are not going to be a hassling prick from day one and let him know you will work with him on the options to get it here.

Now to more important stuff ie EXPENSIVE purchases. I had a scumbag ebay seller (Thurlow Paul Scmieding, 28 Lee Circuit, Concord, North Carolina) rip me off to the total of $2850US following a 'buy it now' purchase made in mid 2005 for what was a nice restorable 81 490 Maico with some Wheelsmith mods and as yet I have received neither the bike, a full refund or anything else from him and he claims to be an enthusiast. He has made all sorts of wild bullshit stories even resorting to saying he had kept the money due to a court decision to do with storage and mechanics fees which were never discussed nor agreed to as I would rather have had the bike shipped then and there or walked away from the deal without sending a dime (and he never could tell me the court or file number etc despite repeated requests). This banjo plucking thief even claims to have a mate in OZ who rides a Montessa - that would be bullshit too. The bike was supposed to arrive in March 06 and didn't and he has been lying ever since.

Bottom line is be VERY VERY careful if sending a lot of money overseas and the advice I had is to use a trusted intermediary to pay within the States using a US Postal Service money order which if defaulted on counts as a Federal felony and can earn jail time which is what the good ol' Thurlow should be experiencing but hey he'll get cancer anyway, lol!!! There are also Escrow services which act on your behalf and after what that scumbag did to myself and my family by relieving us of $4000AU at the time I would use an Escrow next time

Most guys are great and quite often will go out of their way to help you - just do your homework and also familiarise yourself with USPS.com which gives all the postal details as some things are simply unshippable by normal post and require couriers and shipping.

If you intend to ship in bikes there are a number of good impoters who have all the right contacts to get by all the bullshit GST etc.

Need more info just ask.................

[Maicojames]

That is now the second 490 81 Maico that I know about someone getting screwed over on in Oz. Total complete BS. I know at times that we may buy parts or bikes which look way better on e-bay than in person, but in VMX we are a small world. you never know who knows who....rest assured we likely know all through various friends.

Again, e-mail me if someone here really needs a part that some nimbrod won't ship out of US...BTW it's really ironic that some lunatic would dare lecture Firko for example on free society, etc and not ship to him, and that most of our enemies in US are within.

James

[cyclegod]

hey Cyclegod,  no beef man,  but that item lists australia already 

He had to change the "posts to" to include Australia in order for me to be able to bid in the first place 

[lukeb1961]

Now to more important stuff ie EXPENSIVE purchases. I had a scumbag ebay seller (Thurlow Paul Scmieding, 28 Lee Circuit, Concord, North Carolina) rip me off to the total of $2850US following a 'buy it now' purchase made in mid 2005 for what was a nice restorable 81 490 Maico with some Wheelsmith mods and as yet I have received neither the bike, a full refund or anything else from him and he claims to be an enthusiast.

ah bugger.. I was in Charlotte just a few weeks ago and visited various VMX types. If I'd known, we could have scooted out to Concord to say 'Hello'.. it's oh, 35km - maybe a 1/2 hour north west of Charlotte.

[maicomc490t]

Hey 'lukeb'

Thanks for the offer of paying the thieving Schmieding a visit but the scumbag just wouldn't be worth the extra gas. He has more bullshit factor that any person I have ever dealt with. The prick just thinks that the money I sent him is his without qualification and nothing, but nothing will convince him otherwise, but hey who cares when his pancreas starts to rot and the doc says "sorry Thurlow, or Paul or whatever your frigin name is - you have only six months to live cos you have cancer of the pancreas which sadly when detected is too late" maybe he might think back to the Aussie he stiffed in 2005 !!! At least he can keep himself entertained playing the banjo with his six fingered hands while he waits, lmfao !!!

Of interest to James, I was the also the second story regarding getting taken on a 490 (actually the first I think given Thurlow Paul Schmieding was the second to rip me) but I am pleased to say that guy whose name I will not mention for what is to follow eventually did the right thing. In that case, sure he did the wrong thing and never sent on the bike but I found out later he was doing it hard and felt very bad about it and REFUNDED MY MONEY IN FULL and as funny as it may seem I still exchange email with him and WOULD buy from him again - everyone deserves a second chance! Interestingly that played out on the Maico forum in the States and I publically cleared his name for his eventual reversal of conscience and the decent way he behaved.

If anyone knows Thurlow get him to come on here and entertain us all with his bullshit but in the meantime if buying on ebay please be very careful although nearly all my experiences have been very pleasant.
See you at the back of the pack,

Dave Mac

[Maicojames]

Dave Mac, I did not mention you or you know who( who i have also bought from)-but you know I meant you. Yes, I recall when this played out on the Maico board. BTW I am not in N.C., but might be available for "collections"-I work for AW Maico parts.. -this is a joke-I was joking that I would collect-if you pay me in AW Maico parts

James