This eBay seller is offering various new 150cc motor scooters for < $1000. Locally, used 50cc scooters cost around $1000, and new 150cc scooters upwards of $3000 or more.
The seller has an overwhelmingly positive feedback. But the old “If it’s too good to be true it probably is” bells are ringing in my head.
Anyone know what the scam is here?
I wouldn’t think it’s a scam.
Vehicles are ridiculously overpriced and if that guy has access to manufacturer direct “kits” or specific parts to just build them himself, he’s likely to get all the parts for super cheap, the problem being he’d have to assembled it himself. Which according to one of the descriptions, it seems he does.
So he just gets the pieces for super cheap, unassembled and has to make up for that by putting it together himself.
EDIT: And in the end, he likely isn’t make a huge profit off these things anyways. Maybe a few hundred bucks at the most, especially after you factor in the shipping cost that he apparently just eats.
I don’t know much about scooters, but are the more expensive scooters you’re comparing it to name-brand Japanese scooters, by any chance? Because these seem to be of the no name-brand Chinese type, which would account for the disparity.
The catch is that they’re just cheap Chinese scooters. They get you around just fine, but practically everything on them feels much, much flimsier than a Vespa or a Honda or some other more established brand. They’re fun for the price, but are almost borderline too flimsy to actually use for transportation. But, hey, that’s what people said when we first started getting Japanese motorcycles in the US, so maybe they’re the way of the future.
Of course part of his angle may also be selling parts at a higher markup, since you are definitely not going to be able to get them anywhere locally.
To be fair, the only scooters I’ve ever seen anywhere are name-brand Japanese scooters (Honda, Kawasaki, etc.) and Italian (Vespa is Italian, right?).
Probably not a scam. Probably just real cheap crap that looks enough like the better versions to display well online.
(Personally, I am enough of a Luddite to want to actually see something I’m paying $1000 for.)
It was common for me to see scooters in Mexico for slightly above this price (I guess VAT would do that). They sold them in grocery stores (yeah, really). They were all made-in-China type garbage, although they looked nice.
Yes, they are cheap crappy scooters. And good luck finding parts, or anyone to work on them when they break.
Cheap chinese crap with horrible build quality. If you are lucky, you won’t get one that can’t be titled in the US! There was a rash of scoots that you had to take the sec’y of State to get a title for and they wouldn’t meet US standards.
I’m headed out to buy a used Vespa for $1500 in two hours, much better idea than a no name one. The best most reliable scooters I ever owned were Honda Elite 150’s and 250’s. I just want an Italian scooter!
This.
I’m a motorcyclist and mechanic with over 30 years of experience as both.
I used to own a motorcycle shop that sold only Italian scooters and motorcycles.
IMHO, I know more than most folks about these things.
Cheap chinese scooters are dangerous. You can’t pay me enough to ride one on a public street. The wiring is shoddy, the brakes are a joke, the quality of each individual component is frighteningly poor. Yes, they’ll work for a while, but when you need parts or repair, you’ll find precious little of both. No reputable shop or mechanic will touch them to fix them. Their liability is far too great.
The chinese used to come by and beg me to buy containers of these things at $300 per unit. You buy 3 containers of bikes; 2 to sell, 1 for parts.
I love scooters, I have 2 myself, and I think everyone should have them. Just make sure you purchase a quality bike from a reputable source. Nothing from China, ever.
Vespa
Malaguti
Kymco
Honda
Yamaha
Aprilia
Stella
Currently, these are the about only brands I’d own/ride. Parts, service, upgrades, and accessories are all easily found. I would caution anyone against purchasing any vehicle online unless you are well-informed or an expert on that particular vehicle. Find one local, ride it & get a warranty!
Caveat Emptor!