Hi, I'm in the process of buying a used motorcycle (GE-VD-NE area), but when I contact people to come and see the bike and do a test ride, there is either little enthusiasm or just no response.
Where I come from it is normal to take the car or bike for a ride to see how it feels and works before you even consider placing a bid, but I get the feeling that this might not be the case here in Switzerland since there seems to be little interest in my messages.
Can anyone confirm this? or maybe I'm doing something else wrong. How is contact and meetings/test drives best achieved? I normally just send an email through the website where they placed the ad, where I explain that I am interested in buying and would like to come and see it and do a test ride (always polite and in French, since I have already experienced that English usually gets me nowhere in this)
I find that most people here cancel the number plates and the insurance, and then try to sell the car or bike, and so to do a test drive legally is very difficult.
I agree with you, the owners usually pretend it is out of the question.
We've certainly test driven every car or motorcycle we've bought, whether from dealers or private, but yes, usually they are unregistered, which isn't a problem for dealers (the only bike I've bought without trying was a wreck, cost me CHF 50 to put it back on the road ).
So do you end up buying it without knowing how well it works, or just take the risk of test driving it anyways? And what is the typical way do do things if you decide to buy it untested and it for instance starts popping out of gear on you way home..? Back home I would turn around on the spot and demand a hefty amount of my money back or a cancellation of the sale, but does it work the same way here?
It is a minefield, the warranties do not cover 100% of the problems, and if the seller cannot at least drive me around for 30 minutes I would walk away from the deal. Alternatively ask for a TCS report on the car.
To clarify, I am a beginner, and the bikes I'm looking at is in the 1500fr price range. Dealers simply do not have those bikes, as far as I've found.
I am not looking for any warranties, as I know they are almost never given when you buy from a private person. However, I'm used to being covered by legislation which states that I have the right to cancel the sale if the seller has not informed about defects that he obviously knew about at the time of sale. But I guess it's not the same here then?
TCS test would also be a chunky percentage of the total price, but a good tip even so!
I'm not sure whether you have the right to cancel in every case, but the seller definitely is liable for any defects he hasn't told you about. But if that happens you need to sue, which costs , is uncertain and will take considerabel time. And that's even assuming you can prove he knew at the time of sale.
Better to avoid such a deal if possible. See Fish Paste above.
Thanks for all the replies so far, this is interesting. Do you have any experience in how easily people will drop the "well, sue me" on you in such a case? I assume people are generally keen on avoiding the courts? I am, but I have had to try a case previously, but in a sort of preliminary court that is meant to solve these types of issues without having to bother the actual courts. Does such a thing exist here as well? Even though successful, it was a hassle I'd rather avoid doing over again...
Have TCS test it as previously said might be an option, otherwise if you're good customer of a garage ask them to borrow you their test plate, then attach it to any bike you want to test and off you go.
Having a garage test the bike might be another option but then you'll have to pay for it or (less likely) split costs with seller.
If the seller cannot prove to you that the item is in working order, I would cancel and tell the seller why. I would need proof the item works correctly.
In Swiss law you can demand your money back if the item is not fit for purpose.
There are court run mediation services for disputes here, but the finding is not legally binding. However with the finding one has a good chance in the relevant court.
I'd rather not, that is why I'm asking these questions
If it turned out that people are very rarely that dishonest I would be more confident trusting that the guys simply cancelled the registration to save some francs, but if tricks like that are common, I would be more wary. I do have the impression that Swiss people are usually honest, though. As you guys are saying, it is a safe bet to get one from a dealer, but the same bikes are usually more than double the price there... Pretty tough on a student budget, but then again, buying a 1500fr potato isn't any better.
As you might have understood by now, I'm really keen on just getting one asap so I can start riding especially annoying since I found a couple of very ok looking ones that recently passed the MFK/expertise (although that is no guarantee of their condition)
If they passed the MFK shortly before plates removal I'd be confident they are in working order. Seller probably got the MFK done just as proof of good condition for a bike that buyers cannot test drive. However you can always ask the seller to turn it on: this is not against any rule and you get an idea of its state. If it does not start or you hear any strange noise just walk away.
I'm really starting to wonder what I have misunderstood with these people...
Today I went to see two motorcycles from two different sellers in Geneva, and I had specifically asked them both if I could do a test drive. However, when I got to the first one, the bike didn't have licence plates!
So I asked him politely:
- "Well then it is not possible to do a test drive?"
- "No."
And guess what happened at the next one? The very same thing!
Good thing train rides aren't expensive in Switzerland, since I'm going all over it for nothing..
Yes I always ask them to at least start them, but as you say, it makes me walk away for the least sign of trouble when I can't test it and see if there is in fact a problem. From my search for insurance prices these bikes are not expensive to insure, so I don't get why they cancel the insurance ASAP? 20fr for an extra month would let them sell their bike much more easily... (if it works like it should)
I notice you say "working order". What do they actually test when it comes to the engine, transmission, brakes and suspension of a motorcycle in the MFK? As far as I've heard they only check things like oil leaks, brake wear, smoke and noise, whereas the engine could be utter shite at some rpms, and the gearbox could have been fixed by Mr. Wormwood.
PS. I am still very grateful for your replies, you're a helpful bunch