Why the hell can't people describe their bikes accurately? (Rant alert)

That XS250.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250503784061

So I hitched up the trailer and trundled off to get it. And as I walk
down the seller's garden path, I think: "Yup, that looks pukka..."

And then I get closer to it and go "Wtf?"

There's oil dripping down the left-hand side of the cylinder head. Not
good news. A quick close-up squint reveals it's not the head gasket, but
the camshaft oil seal behind the points. Definitely not good news.

(For the tech-unaware: on an overhead camshaft engine, oil leaks from
the cam areas mean oil that should be lubing the cam... isn't. And oil
leaks around the ignition points mean that it conks out as the oil gets
onto the points)

"Oh, I didn't notice that...." quoth the seller. Well, it was the first
thing I spotted....

And the right-hand fork stanchion is utterly, but *utterly* fucked. The
worst pitting I've seen in ages, on every inch of exposed chrome. More
pitting than chrome, effectively. Knackered. New stanchion time: not
cheap.

Seller says he mentioned pitting in the auction page. Er, no. What he
said was: "rust pitting is very minimal (exellent for a bike of this
age) on the chrome"

Oddly, it was indeed good on all other components.

So that's (at a conservative estimate) another £100 that needs to be
spent on a bike which has already got pretty close to a top-dollar price
on it. And a load of work, stripping down the top of the engine.

I politely point out that this really isn't as described and I'm
rejecting it. Seller then announces he has some spare forks and he'll
fix it and deliver it, if I like.

Excuse me? Hello? Hello? If it's fucked and you've got the bits to fix
it, why didn't you replace the fucked bits *before* you advertised the
sodding thing?

Bloody marvellous. A Sunday morning and a 100-mile round trip because
some clown can't describe his item right. As we climbed back into the
car, The Doctor said wonderingly: "How could he say he hadn't noticed?"

I'm now wondering whether to neg him or not. Might just let it lie.

 

Ha, I was just about to play the x-post card and you've saved me the
effort.

I'd neg him for his stupidity if nothing else.

 

None big enough or hi-res enough or close enough to show the crucial
flaws. There was a close-up of the speedo, to show the mileage, though.

 

He was hoping some unobservant muppet would lay out the cash and he'd
still have the forks for sale.

 

Aaahhhhh!

 

Guffaw!


--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue

 

Tyres: not really, If it's got decent tyres, or new tyres, just say so.

Clocks, yes: verifies the mileage, up to a point. Chain, no: but a close
up of the adjusters and wear indicator might be good.

I take good side-on pix of each side, plus three quarter views and a
head-on view. Then close-ups of the engine, if it's nice and clean.
Close-ups of anything particularly clean and shiny.

Under the seat - if it's nice and clean. Shows a tidy mind, and also
shows the wiring hasn't been messed with. Lay the toolkit out under the
seat, as well.

A shot of all the paperwork spread out, if there's plenty of it.

I generally take half a dozen pix, sometimes more. And make them big: I
always size my main pix to 12" diameter, or 12" height, if portrait.
Small detail shots, no smaller than 8".

 

Well sometimes it doesn't matter how good a description you do, and
how many pictures you take... some people can't be arsed to actually
look at the auction properly before they bid.

In short, do as accurate a description as you can for your benefit
more than theirs.

 

Wisconsin ?

 

This is true.

 

Christ, for someone that likes ripping other people off, you don't half
whinge like a girl.

 

Good job I'm not ebaying my dick.

 

You shovel full of sqeezed out dogshit.

--


Nige,

BMW K1200S
Range Rover Vogue

 

So why didn't you give him a negative? He would be seen as an honest
seller with his 100% feedback. He might say you are a total timewaster
trying to get out of paying what was agreed.
It works both ways. I hope he gives you a negative.

 

If you knew anything about eBay you'd know he couldn't do that.

 

I have. Next question?

Yeah. Like I'd hitch a trailer to my car and drive 100 miles, with a
pocketful of cash, on a Sunday morning, just to avoid payment.

You really are ignorant.

 

My opinion, as ever, is that you're a ****.

HTH

 

S'ok... you can always use Photoshop to enhance it should a zoom lens
not be enough.

 

"Roger" the Todger is a well-known trolling arsehole who changes his
nick occasionally and usually posts from albisani. He knows **** all,
and like to pontificate for effect. He should fit right in.

 

Christ, you're not wrong there. A masterstroke of Curmudgeonly insight
and expression.