# Open Letter to Idiot Private Motorcycle Sellers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 5, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-letter-to-idiot-private-motorcycle-sellers/471218 "2008-11-05T05:26:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 17
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-letter-to-idiot-private-motorcycle-sellers/471218/17 "2008-11-05T18:52:28Z")
> [@InLucemEdita](#): > > This is what I don’t get about the no-test-drive thing. > Worst case scenario in either the car or bike case is that they steal or wreck the car or bike. People wreck cars on test drives, too, but still everyone expects to be able to test drive a car without being considered rude or unreasonable. > > I don’t mind if you want to see my m-class license, even hold it if you like, but I’d still never buy a used car or bike without a test drive. I haven’t ridden a motorcycle since i was in my teens, on my friends’ farms, and i’m certainly not in the market for one. But if i were, i simply can’t imagine buying one without riding it first. On the more general topic of pricing second-hand goods, i’m constantly amazed by the prices some people think they can get for their used stuff. As far as i’m concerned, people can ask whatever they want for their shit, but it really does seem that plenty of people on the internet either (a) have no idea what that particular item can be purchased for, or (b) believe that there are enough rubes out there who won’t do any pricing or comparison shopping. Early this year, i was considering getting a decent second-hand digital SLR camera. An ad for such a camera appeared in the classified section of my university’s online newspaper. It gave a price, but was not clear about exactly what equipment was included (how many lenses? batteries? memory cards? etc.). I sent an email to the seller, asking what was included in the package, and she sent me back a list of items. I replied, thanking her for her time, and letting her know that i wasn’t interested, because i could buy exactly the same equipment, brand new, with full warranty, from one of America’s most trusted camera dealers (B&H in New York) for about $100 less than the price she was asking for her one-year-old used equipment. Look, i know that electronic equipment doesn’t hold its value, and that the price of new stuff drops quickly, especially at the top of the technology curve. But the fact that you paid $1400 a year ago does not mean i’m going to give you $1000 now when the same thing can be purchased brand new for $899. If you find some moron willing to pay that sort of money, then good luck to you; but it won’t be me. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-letter-to-idiot-private-motorcycle-sellers/471218)._