I've exchanged a couple of calls with a guy in Canada that is interested in my 2003 LTC. We have agreed on a price but we are not sure about the logistics. Of course I want the cash in hand before the shipping company takes the bike and of course he wants the bike before I cash the check. I see his side of it, but there are too many scams out there for me to let the bike out of my sight without the money clearing my bank. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Selling my LT to a guy in Canada?
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I've seen your bike on Craigslist, and almost called you before I found one in Keller. Great bike.
DO NOT ship your bike one inch before the check has cleared. You can send him a copy of the title, and a bill of sale, PENDING THE CLEARING OF FUNDS. Don't trust even a bank check. Explain to your bank the details of your transaction, and have them verify funds PRIOR to shipment. They can call the bank up there.
There are tons of scams, including FAKE bank checks. Better to have your banker's blessing, then your buyer's approval. If he won't agree to safe terms, then beware.
DO NOT ship your bike one inch before the check has cleared. You can send him a copy of the title, and a bill of sale, PENDING THE CLEARING OF FUNDS. Don't trust even a bank check. Explain to your bank the details of your transaction, and have them verify funds PRIOR to shipment. They can call the bank up there.
There are tons of scams, including FAKE bank checks. Better to have your banker's blessing, then your buyer's approval. If he won't agree to safe terms, then beware.
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Beware.. Especially if he's agreed to pay more than you originally asked for....
That is a big tip off...
Could be legit.. But you never know...
There are also a bunch of hoops to jump thru before you can just import a bike into Canada...
I'd suggest trying to sell this to someone in the U.S.
Good Luck
John
That is a big tip off...
Could be legit.. But you never know...
There are also a bunch of hoops to jump thru before you can just import a bike into Canada...
I'd suggest trying to sell this to someone in the U.S.
Good Luck
John
I agree about cash in hand before shipping bike. I sent a lot of cars to Canada when I was a car salesman. There are 2 things to arrange. Have a dealer print a recall history (usually no charge) on your vin and print it to send with the bike. He will need that to register in Canada. #2 To clear US customs going out, you will need a Customs form completed and copies of docs it requires. I don't recall the name or number of the form. You can call a local major dealer and see if you can get a form from them or do a google for the form.
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I would check with dealer near the border, close to where the buyer lives. Ask them what you need to sell your bike to a Canadian.
I also agree that he should get all the paper work together, then come to you place with cash in hand. Then he can enjoy the ride home.
I also agree that he should get all the paper work together, then come to you place with cash in hand. Then he can enjoy the ride home.
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"he wants the bike before I cash the check" . . . . ?
Selling over the internet is done by in a "caveat emptor" manner - buyer beware - not seller beware!! He must meet you terms not the other way around.
If this person is truly a quality buyer, BMW enthusiast an over all good motorcycle rider he will take the risk not you.
From what you have said appears to a be a SCAM to me . . . wants to buy the bike unseen, does not meet you, and has the bike shipped while you have no security . . . right!!
Sit back, relax and make him go through all the effort - you are not a dealer and many of the issues that will come up will be foreign to you, be cooperative but remember you are looking for a buyer not a shopper that shows up with a desire, skills and abilities to make the sale happen.
I have sold two bikes in recent years ('02 K1200LT and '07' R1200GS) and in each case I had funds in place, secured by my financial institution that could not be withdrawn or cancelled. I also bought a '09K1200LT in November of last year from a member here and I went overboard in completing the transaction and making and getting the seller comfortable in the transaction - I paid off his loan, held the title and send him a certified check the picked up the bike!!
Good luck . . .
Selling over the internet is done by in a "caveat emptor" manner - buyer beware - not seller beware!! He must meet you terms not the other way around.
If this person is truly a quality buyer, BMW enthusiast an over all good motorcycle rider he will take the risk not you.
From what you have said appears to a be a SCAM to me . . . wants to buy the bike unseen, does not meet you, and has the bike shipped while you have no security . . . right!!
Sit back, relax and make him go through all the effort - you are not a dealer and many of the issues that will come up will be foreign to you, be cooperative but remember you are looking for a buyer not a shopper that shows up with a desire, skills and abilities to make the sale happen.
I have sold two bikes in recent years ('02 K1200LT and '07' R1200GS) and in each case I had funds in place, secured by my financial institution that could not be withdrawn or cancelled. I also bought a '09K1200LT in November of last year from a member here and I went overboard in completing the transaction and making and getting the seller comfortable in the transaction - I paid off his loan, held the title and send him a certified check the picked up the bike!!
Good luck . . .
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i have bought 3 bikes in the u.s. in the last 8 years and have picked all 3 up but we purchaced a bike for my brother in aztec new mexico the ligestics were to hard to set up.so we took a chance.
i would suggest a large deposit in advance 35 % and a tellers cheque for the balence
to be given to you by the shipping company.A only deal with a reputible shipping co like j.c.motors or similar
he will need a copy of the title in advance for customs as u.s. customs does a lein & theft search and the papers need to be provided in advance.they do not have to be signed over to the new owner at that time but the signed original is required at time of import.
i would suggest a large deposit in advance 35 % and a tellers cheque for the balence
to be given to you by the shipping company.A only deal with a reputible shipping co like j.c.motors or similar
he will need a copy of the title in advance for customs as u.s. customs does a lein & theft search and the papers need to be provided in advance.they do not have to be signed over to the new owner at that time but the signed original is required at time of import.
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That's why you make sure you have 100% of the funds BEFORE ship.....bobst2 said:
I was looking at importing a bike from the states because there is more variety - buyer responsible for importing bike either using a broker or doing paperwork himself, recall letter will only be supplied by Canadian dealer - if he cannot pick up bike himself reputable shipper/transporter can bring cash to complete dealWombat said:
I was patient and found a Canadian bike for around same total cost
recently sold my 92 - lots of "strange" requests/emails that could be from anywhere - lots of scams
Thanks for all the advice. The guy sounds legit, but I guess all the good scammers do...
He lives just across the border in Windsor, ON so he wants to have the bike shipped to a dealer in Detroit to have it checked out & to get the customs paperwork in order. I will ask him for half now & for the shipping company to bring the other half.
He lives just across the border in Windsor, ON so he wants to have the bike shipped to a dealer in Detroit to have it checked out & to get the customs paperwork in order. I will ask him for half now & for the shipping company to bring the other half.
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Some great advice in previous replies. Be careful of the scam.
As far as the US export paperwork goes, Need to fax copy of title and vehicle worksheet for the Port it will be crossing at. US Customs needs 72 hrs to research vehicle before stamping off the original title and it to proceed North.
The Import duties and taxes for entering Canada are the new owners responsibility and at that point you should have had all money in your hand before the title is stamped by US Customs. US Customs Detroit's Vehicle Export/Import phone number is (313) 226-3139 and they can fax you the vehicle export sheet to fax along with the title and any other questions you may have. This is a free service to export a vehicle out of the United States.
Good luck, my 2 centavos would be to have him travel down to pick up the bike and drive it across himself or with rented trailer, meanwhile with all the money in your bank, begin to contemplate your next bike purchase....
As far as the US export paperwork goes, Need to fax copy of title and vehicle worksheet for the Port it will be crossing at. US Customs needs 72 hrs to research vehicle before stamping off the original title and it to proceed North.
The Import duties and taxes for entering Canada are the new owners responsibility and at that point you should have had all money in your hand before the title is stamped by US Customs. US Customs Detroit's Vehicle Export/Import phone number is (313) 226-3139 and they can fax you the vehicle export sheet to fax along with the title and any other questions you may have. This is a free service to export a vehicle out of the United States.
Good luck, my 2 centavos would be to have him travel down to pick up the bike and drive it across himself or with rented trailer, meanwhile with all the money in your bank, begin to contemplate your next bike purchase....
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I would contact the Dealer yourself (DO NOT rely on a phone number from buyer it be fake) & see if they will handle the transaction for you. They could take the payment from the Buyer & get it to you. Plus handle anything that may come up during the sale.Wombat said:
why does he want your bike so bad, there are LT's for sale in Ontario, higher asking price but they are a lot more new here, hard to sell bikes right now so one has to consider that when buying or selling and deal appropiatlyWombat said:
I got my 2000 for about the same as buying one for less in the states plus import cost - I checked it out thoroughly
hope your bike does not end up in Detroit with no way back because he does not like it
Suggest you have the buyer do what I did for my '02LT in Louisville KY. Get a bundle of US cash, deliver the cash in person, provide the buyer with the 'no recall' letter from your local dealer, he addresses customs both US and Canadian plus duties and taxes picks up the bike in a UHaul, preferably an open trailer for ease of customs inspection at the border and off he goes.
Everybody satisfied.
Lindsay Ontario Canada
Everybody satisfied.
Lindsay Ontario Canada
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Beware....If the dealer says boo about the bike, will your buyer try and talk you down on the price, knowing that the bike is already 1500 miles away from you? Just my .02, use a local dealer for the checkout, and setup with a shipping company LOCALLY. Once it leaves Corpus, you should be fully funded.Wombat said:
There are great scammers out there, always looking for new angles.Your bike, your control. If he wants to go through all of the trouble to buy a bike that far away, across the border, then HE should jump through all of the hoops.
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Make it simple. Money in hand, then ship it wherever he pays to have it shipped. No caveats.
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