I found a bike on craigslist I want and they guy refuses to send me his VIN number. He acts like I am trying to pull some kind of scam. I just want to check the title online before seeing it in person (http://www.txdmv.gov/protection/buying_vehicle/title_check.htm) and set up my insurance.
What do you think? Should I bail? Is this guy selling a stolen bike or just doesn't know how to sell a bike?
Here is the conversation:
seller
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to me
I don't have the Vin on me. Ill shoot it to you when I get to my house later. I'm free after 4pm.
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Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Thanks
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Got that VIN?
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Also, where do you want to meet Monday? I get off work at 5:30 in Richardson.
seller
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to me
I can't meet tomorrow. I am going to a concert. Tuesday is great though
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Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
I will be out of town Wednesday-Thursday. Any chance I can see it Monday at lunch? Worst case I suppose Tuesday can work. Otherwise it will be Friday.
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Got the VIN?
seller
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to me
I'm an Xray Guy so not really able to show it at lunch. We will work it out
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Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Ok can you send the VIN? Need to get my insurance finalized so I can ride off with your bike.
Me
1:20 PM (19 hours ago)
to seller
Can you send the VIN before your concert? It is also probably on your insurance card. Need to line up my insurance during business hours.
seller
4:52 PM (15 hours ago)
to me
I can get you a carfax. No biggie. Seems like you would at least want yo look at it before buying insurance coverage. Most major insurance will give you a grace period when you purchase a new vehicle. Call them and I'm sure they can explain.
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Me
5:10 PM (15 hours ago)
to seller
Carfax is fine, but I mainly want the VIN.
They won't start charging me yet. They will retroactively charge me after I call them to let them know I bought it. Basically, I get the insurance set up ahead of time, but they retroactively charge after I tell them I bought it. This grandfathers me in on the night of the purchase since I gave them the notice.
Me
7:48 PM (12 hours ago)
to seller
VINnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
I also have to check the title etc
http://www.txdmv.gov/protection/buying_vehicle/title_check.htm
Me
8:05 PM (12 hours ago)
to seller
Nevermind the deal is off. You seem shady.
seller
7:19 AM (1 hour ago)
to me
LOL! I SEEM SHADY!
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Me
7:26 AM (1 hour ago)
to seller
Look, maybe this is your first time selling a motorcycle. I need the vin so I can check online to be sure it is not stolen and to set up my insurance. There is actually a trick with insurance companies where they give you a generic quote, but a more specific one if you provide the vin. If their records reveal accidents, the quote will come in lower than the generic. Basically a free carfax right there, with the side effect of also having the policy set up.
You display your license plate in your photos. Any thief interested in your bike can contact a public records service to find your address. I on the other hand just want the vin so I can check the bike out before getting money from the bank and meeting a stranger.
If you have nothing to hide, you should have no problem sending then vin. Not being willing to send the vin seems shady, but maybe you just have not sold many bikes before and did not know why someone would want it.
Also, cover up that license plate in your picture. That is a theft risk for you, especially when you post that you arent available until 4pm. You are basically telling a thief where you live and when you are away.
Me
7:30 AM (1 hour ago)
to seller
Do you understand why someone holding cash would not want to meet up with a stranger, look up the vin, discover the bike is stolen goods right in front of the bike thief? I am not saying you are selling a stolen bike, but it happens every day. Stolen bikes are reported to the police, their vins are recorded, and people can check the db online
Me
7:31 AM (1 hour ago)
to seller
All I want to do is put your VIN in here before coming to see the bike in person:
http://www.txdmv.gov/protection/buying_vehicle/title_check.htm
seller
7:59 AM (46 minutes ago)
to me
Actually, the bike is not at the address that is listed on the registration. So no biggie. Thanks though. I have sold over 30 motorcycles and automobiles. NOONE HAS EVER ASKED FOR THE VIN! EVER. I have in fact gotten carfax reports for people many times. Especially AFTER MEETING THEM AND HAVING THEM SEE THE VEHICLE.
I understand your concern and I thank you for your interest.
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seller
8:03 AM (43 minutes ago)
to me
I never ever bring cash the first time I am looking at a vehicle. Period. One can look up the vin or get a carfax or whatnot at any time of any day. Carfax never closes.
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Me
8:33 AM (12 minutes ago)
to seller
Why are you afraid to provide the VIN? What scam do you think I am doing?
Me
8:35 AM (10 minutes ago)
to seller
Alright. Go to any motorcycle forum and copy and paste this whole conversation and ask them if they think I am being unreasonable for asking for a vin.
Heck, many ads list the vin right in the ad
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3346026869.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcy/3343085438.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3364494898.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3364428090.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3320287587.html
What do you think? Should I bail? Is this guy selling a stolen bike or just doesn't know how to sell a bike?
Here is the conversation:
seller
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to me
I don't have the Vin on me. Ill shoot it to you when I get to my house later. I'm free after 4pm.
Sent via My Thumbs
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Thanks
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Got that VIN?
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Also, where do you want to meet Monday? I get off work at 5:30 in Richardson.
seller
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to me
I can't meet tomorrow. I am going to a concert. Tuesday is great though
Sent via My Thumbs
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
I will be out of town Wednesday-Thursday. Any chance I can see it Monday at lunch? Worst case I suppose Tuesday can work. Otherwise it will be Friday.
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Got the VIN?
seller
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to me
I'm an Xray Guy so not really able to show it at lunch. We will work it out
Sent via My Thumbs
Me
Nov 4 (2 days ago)
to seller
Ok can you send the VIN? Need to get my insurance finalized so I can ride off with your bike.
Me
1:20 PM (19 hours ago)
to seller
Can you send the VIN before your concert? It is also probably on your insurance card. Need to line up my insurance during business hours.
seller
4:52 PM (15 hours ago)
to me
I can get you a carfax. No biggie. Seems like you would at least want yo look at it before buying insurance coverage. Most major insurance will give you a grace period when you purchase a new vehicle. Call them and I'm sure they can explain.
Sent via My Thumbs
Me
5:10 PM (15 hours ago)
to seller
Carfax is fine, but I mainly want the VIN.
They won't start charging me yet. They will retroactively charge me after I call them to let them know I bought it. Basically, I get the insurance set up ahead of time, but they retroactively charge after I tell them I bought it. This grandfathers me in on the night of the purchase since I gave them the notice.
Me
7:48 PM (12 hours ago)
to seller
VINnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
I also have to check the title etc
http://www.txdmv.gov/protection/buying_vehicle/title_check.htm
Me
8:05 PM (12 hours ago)
to seller
Nevermind the deal is off. You seem shady.
seller
7:19 AM (1 hour ago)
to me
LOL! I SEEM SHADY!
Sent via My Thumbs
Me
7:26 AM (1 hour ago)
to seller
Look, maybe this is your first time selling a motorcycle. I need the vin so I can check online to be sure it is not stolen and to set up my insurance. There is actually a trick with insurance companies where they give you a generic quote, but a more specific one if you provide the vin. If their records reveal accidents, the quote will come in lower than the generic. Basically a free carfax right there, with the side effect of also having the policy set up.
You display your license plate in your photos. Any thief interested in your bike can contact a public records service to find your address. I on the other hand just want the vin so I can check the bike out before getting money from the bank and meeting a stranger.
If you have nothing to hide, you should have no problem sending then vin. Not being willing to send the vin seems shady, but maybe you just have not sold many bikes before and did not know why someone would want it.
Also, cover up that license plate in your picture. That is a theft risk for you, especially when you post that you arent available until 4pm. You are basically telling a thief where you live and when you are away.
Me
7:30 AM (1 hour ago)
to seller
Do you understand why someone holding cash would not want to meet up with a stranger, look up the vin, discover the bike is stolen goods right in front of the bike thief? I am not saying you are selling a stolen bike, but it happens every day. Stolen bikes are reported to the police, their vins are recorded, and people can check the db online
Me
7:31 AM (1 hour ago)
to seller
All I want to do is put your VIN in here before coming to see the bike in person:
http://www.txdmv.gov/protection/buying_vehicle/title_check.htm
seller
7:59 AM (46 minutes ago)
to me
Actually, the bike is not at the address that is listed on the registration. So no biggie. Thanks though. I have sold over 30 motorcycles and automobiles. NOONE HAS EVER ASKED FOR THE VIN! EVER. I have in fact gotten carfax reports for people many times. Especially AFTER MEETING THEM AND HAVING THEM SEE THE VEHICLE.
I understand your concern and I thank you for your interest.
Sent via My Thumbs
seller
8:03 AM (43 minutes ago)
to me
I never ever bring cash the first time I am looking at a vehicle. Period. One can look up the vin or get a carfax or whatnot at any time of any day. Carfax never closes.
Sent via My Thumbs
Me
8:33 AM (12 minutes ago)
to seller
Why are you afraid to provide the VIN? What scam do you think I am doing?
Me
8:35 AM (10 minutes ago)
to seller
Alright. Go to any motorcycle forum and copy and paste this whole conversation and ask them if they think I am being unreasonable for asking for a vin.
Heck, many ads list the vin right in the ad
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3346026869.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcy/3343085438.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3364494898.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3364428090.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mcd/3320287587.html