shipping a scooter - advice ?

[CROSSBOLT]

Stig, I volunteer to ride your Burg to Seattle and take the bus home!

Karl

[Abner_Bjorn]

I have shipped two scooters this summer without incident.  One from Denver to Austin.  I sent the buyer a PayPal invoice for 1/2.  He arranged shipping on uship.com.  He found a guy delivering a trailer 30 miles from me and heading back to Texas empty.  He was able to get the scooter shipped to his door for $180.  As soon as the shipper contacted me to set an appointment, I sent the PayPal invoice for the second half.  Once the second half payment was received, I mailed the paper work and one key priority mail.  Second scooter was from Denver to Hawaii.  Same payment method.  I had to deliver the scooter to a nearby Honda dealer who crated it for the shipper to pick up.   Was really simple.  The guy in Hawaii sent me his profile on Uship, so I could see he had been trying to buy this type of scooter for the last 7 months.    Both of these sold for more than I could have got locally.  Don't listen to the naysayers, just be diligent as I'm sure you always are. 

[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig, I volunteer to ride your Burg to Seattle and take the bus home!

Karl

You're on Karl!
I'm  making PP&J sandwiches for you ...bought a cold pack to keep the moonpies from melting into a lump, and refilled a couple Amsoil bottles with fresh drinking water.
Here's 20 bucks to get you started home from Seattle.
There's  another $200 for gas under the seat.
Meet at O'Dark:30, under the bridge.
ATTGAT - !
Stig

[Stig / Major Tom]

I have shipped two scooters this summer without incident.  One from Denver to Austin.  I sent the buyer a PayPal invoice for 1/2.  He arranged shipping on uship.com.  He found a guy delivering a trailer 30 miles from me and heading back to Texas empty.  He was able to get the scooter shipped to his door for $180.  As soon as the shipper contacted me to set an appointment, I sent the PayPal invoice for the second half.  Once the second half payment was received, I mailed the paper work and one key priority mail.  Second scooter was from Denver to Hawaii.  Same payment method.  I had to deliver the scooter to a nearby Honda dealer who crated it for the shipper to pick up.   Was really simple.  The guy in Hawaii sent me his profile on Uship, so I could see he had been trying to buy this type of scooter for the last 7 months.    Both of these sold for more than I could have got locally.  Don't listen to the naysayers, just be diligent as I'm sure you always are. 

Thank you for your post!
Fingers crossed...and ....well, I  tend to think the best of people.
With caution , pretty certain things will work out.
But again, thanks for your comments. And thanks to all who've weighed in on this. Truly appreciated.
Stig

[Forbes1964]

I have shipped two scooters this summer without incident.  One from Denver to Austin.  I sent the buyer a PayPal invoice for 1/2.  He arranged shipping on uship.com.  He found a guy delivering a trailer 30 miles from me and heading back to Texas empty.  He was able to get the scooter shipped to his door for $180.  As soon as the shipper contacted me to set an appointment, I sent the PayPal invoice for the second half.  Once the second half payment was received, I mailed the paper work and one key priority mail.  Second scooter was from Denver to Hawaii.  Same payment method.  I had to deliver the scooter to a nearby Honda dealer who crated it for the shipper to pick up.   Was really simple.  The guy in Hawaii sent me his profile on Uship, so I could see he had been trying to buy this type of scooter for the last 7 months.    Both of these sold for more than I could have got locally.  Don't listen to the naysayers, just be diligent as I'm sure you always are.



Great pattern to follow. Seems like you did due diligence. You avoided two extremes: showing blind trust and being gullible , AND avoiding paranoia that would have prevented you from selling to a legitimate purchaser. As with most things in life , striking that delicate balance is the key.

I had a great experience with Uship as well. And when I met the couple  who delivered my tractor, I got the satisfaction of knowing that I had also supported a "regular " independent husband and wife owned business. I think that many of the people Uship deals with are that type of business.

[Redk]

Really, this should not be a difficult task.
There's empty pickup beds and trailers with free space going every which direction...
Putting the contacts together, and the liability insurance are the major concerns after payment.
Great thread !
redk

[toddfahrner]

I'm the buyer. Bike arrived today via http://1aamotorcycles.com/, who had the best quote. I bit my tongue with all the comments here about what kind of scam I must be pulling, but held off responding until everything buttoned up. Stig's bike was by far the best condition, low mileage AN400  I could find at a good price, low enough to offset the shipping cost. I felt comfortable buying sight unseen because of Stig's above-board public profile and reputation as very diligent about maintenance, much of the service history documented in another forum. That's worth a lot to me for my first motor vehicle at age 51 (I'm a bicycle guy).

I picked it up at the freight terminal and rode it 70 miles in rush hour traffic to a campsite where I'm currently hanging in my hammock admiring the milky way. First ride on any motorized 2-wheeler! The wind buffeting at highway speed was a bit scary, but i'll learn. Twisties fun! I let tailgaters pass because taking it slow until I'm more skilled. It's been a pleasure. Thanks Stig!

[Tromper]

I'm the buyer. Bike arrived today via http://1aamotorcycles.com/, who had the best quote. I bit my tongue with all the comments here about what kind of scam I must be pulling, but held off responding until everything buttoned up. Stig's bike was by far the best condition, low mileage AN400  I could find at a good price, low enough to offset the shipping cost. I felt comfortable buying sight unseen because of Stig's above-board public profile and reputation as very diligent about maintenance, much of the service history documented in another forum. That's worth a lot to me for my first motor vehicle at age 51 (I'm a bicycle guy).

I picked it up at the freight terminal and rode it 70 miles in rush hour traffic to a campsite where I'm currently hanging in my hammock admiring the milky way. First ride on any motorized 2-wheeler! The wind buffeting at highway speed was a bit scary, but i'll learn. Twisties fun! I let tailgaters pass because taking it slow until I'm more skilled. It's been a pleasure. Thanks Stig!

Glad it worked out for all concerned Todd.  Just remember to keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up & ya should be good to go.

Vaguely possible I'll see ya on the road at some point.  I try to do a run to cementhenge via FR25 once a year or so & have been known to bump to Portland as well.

[Stig / Major Tom]

I'm the buyer. Bike arrived today via http://1aamotorcycles.com/, who had the best quote. I bit my tongue with all the comments here about what kind of scam I must be pulling, but held off responding until everything buttoned up. Stig's bike was by far the best condition, low mileage AN400  I could find at a good price, low enough to offset the shipping cost. I felt comfortable buying sight unseen because of Stig's above-board public profile and reputation as very diligent about maintenance, much of the service history documented in another forum. That's worth a lot to me for my first motor vehicle at age 51 (I'm a bicycle guy).

I picked it up at the freight terminal and rode it 70 miles in rush hour traffic to a campsite where I'm currently hanging in my hammock admiring the milky way. First ride on any motorized 2-wheeler! The wind buffeting at highway speed was a bit scary, but i'll learn. Twisties fun! I let tailgaters pass because taking it slow until I'm more skilled. It's been a pleasure. Thanks Stig!

Todd old Bean ---
You were a pleasure to deal with!
I trust you'll take it easy for awhile. ...and stay on top of the oil/filter changes?
Most guys go with a taller screen for highway riding on the 400....I happen to like the breeze with that sport Ermax, but it is exciting at 70mph!
The battery tender pig tail is in the left side, waiting for a tender to keep the big YUASA 100% if parked for awhile.
Glad to have met you --- plenty of good people still around...even on the Left Coast!
Ride safe
Tom