Avoiding getting ripped off on FB Marketplace/ Buyer wants to do bank transfer of deposit

ACF10

Evening all, 
So I'm looking at selling on my motorcycle and having put it up on FB Marketplace today, have a fair bit of interest from local areas. 
One buyer in particular is keen, although he says he doesn't get paid until Monday next week. As a result, he would be looking to pay a deposit today by bank transfer and sort the rest on collection. He's not really asked many questions apart from whether this would be okay/whether the V5 is included. 
I just wanted to know if this is safe practice, in other words I'm not being had on/ I won't end up with a transaction being reversed and my bike nicked or whatever. Also if there are any tips on not being ripped off in general that'd be welcome. 

It's just that I've never heard of someone giving a private seller a deposit like this without viewing beforehand! 

Best, 

ACF. 

Grumpy_chap

How much deposit is being suggested?
How much is the bike?
Why doesn't the buyer simply make an appointment to view on Saturday, and pay a deposit then if they like the bike?

daveyjp

Some buyers find what they want and are happy to pay a deposit to get it off the market.

A couple of weeks ago I made an appointment on a Wednesday to see a car on the Saturday.  Between me leaving home and getting to the dealer someone else had reserved it and paid a deposit online

The other person hadn't seen it as they were 150 miles away, but they obviously wanted that car.

tacpot12

It's difficult to see how you could be ripped off if he pays the deposit by bank transfer and you have some evidence that the money is a deposit (I would ask for the deposit to be an odd amount like £45.67 or £50.01), but you also need cleared funds before you release the bike.

For your protection I would say that he doesn't get to see the keys or ride the bike until he has bought the it, and he gets 15 minutes to return the bike in identical condition after he has bought it for a full and immediate refund. Write this on his receipt and the time that you give him the keys. Take the photos before he comes.

If I was the buyer, my only concern would be how I get the bike back in 15 minutes if it breaks down, so note on the receipt that he also gets a refund if he breaks down AND he calls you within 15 minutes with a valid What3Words location of where he is broken down, AND the bike is in identical condition, and that he only gets the refund when the bike is recovered to your house (you need to get it locked up before you refund his money). Make sure he has a charged mobile phone with the What3Words app on it before you accept his money. Note on the receipt that he has to wait until you pick him up. Ideally a friend would drive you to his location, and then run him home while you wait for the recovery driver. If he wants to wait and come home with you to get his money, that's also fine, but he has to appreciate that recovery will take some time and that he doesn't get his money back until you have the bike safely back at your house. 
 
You need cash (ensure you can check for forgeries), or a bankers draft, or a bank transfer to have completed before you go to get the keys from inside your house. Kept the bike chained up until you have his cleared funds.

ACF10

Grumpy_chap said:

How much deposit is being suggested?
How much is the bike?
Why doesn't the buyer simply make an appointment to view on Saturday, and pay a deposit then if they like the bike?

- Nothing suggested just yet. Although I'll probably say £100 would be fair, the dealer I've bought my new bike from want to have a little look tomorrow (depends if what I'm being offered isn't awful). 
- Selling for £600
- This is a good point! Quite frankly I never thought of it that way! I think it's because it is a bit of a journey by public transport so he wanted to do one trip

ACF10

daveyjp said:

Some buyers find what they want and are happy to pay a deposit to get it off the market.

A couple of weeks ago I made an appointment on a Wednesday to see a car on the Saturday.  Between me leaving home and getting to the dealer someone else had reserved it and paid a deposit online

The other person hadn't seen it as they were 150 miles away, but they obviously wanted that car.

Tbh good point. Maybe I'm being a bit too sceptical. 
Funnily enough I bought the bike I'm selling now at an auction online as seen... my new bike I bought more or less as seen too! 

onlyfoolsandparking

Not really your problem that he doesn't get paid till next Monday (or whenever you said) I can't see any problem with taking a deposit although I've never bothered going down that route with all the bikes I've sold over the years.

Just tell him nicely that you've had lots of interest and your selling it on a 'first come first served' basis, if he really wants it he'll find a way as all serious buyers do.