Do you want a bike but are on a budget? Well, you can save some money if you buy a used electric bike. Of course, there a few things you need to know before finishing this purchase. Certainly, you want to make sure you have made a good purchase and avoid any unnecessary expenses in the future.
Keep in mind there are a few things to consider when buying used goods such as the following.
• You don’t know the history of the used electric bike
• You may not know the seller personally
• You may not know why the person is selling the used bike in the first place
• You may not have the support, services and warranties you will get when you buy a new bike
• You may not know how much to pay
Some of these things may be harmless if it’s another type of product such as an old book. However, when it comes to a used electric bike, these issues may become more complicated and serious.
Take an instance where a seller is getting rid of their electric bike because the motor doesn’t function well. It may also be because the warranty is expired or they don’t have any other option besides selling it. Well, if you are planning to buy a used electric bike, here are tips to help you.
1. Buy From A Trusted Company
If you are buying an electric bike over the phone or online, it’s a good idea to buy from trusted companies such as eBay or Surplus Network. Here, you can enjoy various buyer protection policies in place to make sure that your purchases are safe. Additionally, you can use reliable payment services such as PayPal. Here, you can take a look at the seller feedback and make a better decision before paying for anything.
Stay away from online classifieds directories. These are mostly used for exchanging cash upon collection and trading commodities. It’s not a good idea to use them for a used electric bike. You need the support structure in the other options for the best results. If possible, you can buy a used electric bike at the local bike shop. Since it’s local, you can always visit the shop in person and ask about any issues you may come across after buying the bike.
2. Get To Know The History Of Your Used Bike
If you choose to buy your used electric bike on eBay, you have the option of asking the seller any question about the history of the bike. If the seller hasn’t posted any information about the history of the bike, don’t fail to ask. Note that, most of this information will be available on the product page of the bike but always go ahead and ask. You need to find out why the seller is selling the bike in the first place. Most sellers may say they are simply planning to upgrade to another model or because they don’t use it a lot.
3. How Much Is It Worth?
With used items, it may be tricky to find out how much it is worth. With eBay online auction is a good place to hunt for used electric bikes. Here, the price of the item will reflect the demand. Of course, there are a few tricks you can use to get cheaper products, especially used ones.
Look for auctions that end outside peak times such as bank holidays, evenings and weekends. For instance, if you buy from an auction that ends in the morning mid-week, you have a better chance of getting the best price, compared to peak times. Additionally, you can look for obscure phrases and look for items in a category. You may investigate poor descriptions that other buyers are willing to ignore.
Don’t forget to contact the seller and look at every item they have listed. It’s one of the best ways to save some money on products. If you are not buying from a safe and secure online auction, you can ask them to name a price. Do your research to find out what the new model costs and be prepared to negotiate. Often if you have a tax scheme like cycle to work buying a new bike can be cheaper than a second hand one – you can learn more here.
4. Learn How To Negotiate
During a negotiation, everyone is trying to get the best deal. Rather than confronting each other on the demands, you can work with each other to come up with a proposal for both sides. Take into account the types of concessions the seller may make. For instance, you may buy the bike and get an additional item such as a helmet.
When making payments for buying a used electric bike, don’t use bank transfer methods that may be irreversible. If you are collecting the bike in person, avoid using cheques since it may seem that you are not trustworthy. If you are collecting it in person, you need to use cash and get a receipt.
