Late afternoon I was on the phone today to buy a Suzuki DL650 from a member of another forum, who'd PM'd me his number. I told him there was little point in me taking a train to Bolton just to view, so if I came I'd be bringing my riding gear and cash. We discussed the bike and I asked a few questions with that in mind. I told him that on the strength of the conversation and photos, I'd be coming down to buy the bike and would book my train ticket. He told me the registration, which I'd asked for so I could get the insurance quote on Monday ready to go live on Tuesday. We arranged the time and he said he'd come to the station to pick me up. I got off the phone and immediately booked my ticket from Penrith to Bolton so as to ensure a cheap ticket--and even sent a quick PM to another forum member who was selling some engine bars with a view of nipping over to Sheffield after to pick them up. I also cancelled a test ride that I had booked to ride a Royal Enfield Himalayan on Wednesday afternoon. In my mind we'd made an gentleman's agreement and the deal was done. But no.
At 20:15 the phone rings and it's the seller phoning me to tell me that someone had turned up at his door with a deposit for the bike and he couldn't refuse it (he could, but didn't). I told him that was just plain wrong, that we had an agreement and I'd booked my train ticket and was all set. Words were exchanged and I ended the conversation. 5 minutes later he rings again, now offering to reimburse my train fare. I told him it wasn't about the money, it was about the principle, about honour and trust, so I refused his offer. If he was a young bloke I'd have given him more latitude, but this bloke is in his late 60s early 70s.
Ironically, I was just thinking after the earlier conversation how much better it was to buy a bike from a forum member than ebay. The fact is that's the second time I've been let down badly buying from a forum member and I'm frankly feeling really disillusioned. At least on ebay a seller's reputation can be quantified. Increasingly, and sadly, a man's word means very little. What a cynical fecking world we live in.
Sorry for the rant, I just had to get that off my chest.