Easy Like Monday Morning

By Lee Collins •  Updated: 09/05/16 •  4 min read
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I almost got scammed this weekend.

It’s true.

I’ve been looking for a dual-sport motorcycle for a long time but, because of an ankle surgery my wife, Natalie, had concerns about having to hold up the bike constantly.

So we started looking at trikes as an alternative. Even as nice as the Can-Am Spyder is, I just wasn’t feeling it.

I want something I can take camping. To get off the beaten path. That’s why I’ve have Land Rovers, Jeeps and other off-road vehicles for as long as I remember.

I LOVE camping.

Anyway, I found the holy grail of adventure bikes – a 2002 BMW 1150. And – get this – it had a sidecar!

Mind blown.

The price was right so I reach out to the guy to let him know I’m interested. I check on shipping since the bike is in Texas and I live in Georgia.

That’s where the wheels fell off. (No pun intended).

I ask the guy to talk before I commit funds to escrow.

No dice.

I ask them if they rode it from Texas to Jersey.

No reply.

He then tells me we’ll be doing the transaction through eBay Motors, so shipping would be covered and we’d both be protected.

Weird, the bike isn’t listed on eBay. (I checked.)

I ask him about this and got back the same reply. He kept sending the same reply over and over no matter what I asked. It read:

“You will receive the bike and all the documents for 5 days inspection , all i need is your shipping address. It comes with all the documents needed for registration, it has a clear and clean title and it can be registered into your name at any time. Please reply me with your full name, shipping address and phone# so that i can forward them to eBay. They will send you a complete list with instructions.”

I mean, he made it sound so enticing. No matter how I replied or what I asked for, he sent this. Over and over. Luckily I know if the vehicle is not actually listed on eBay it does not qualify for eBay protection.

Thanks, but no thank you. Too many red flags. Obvious scam.

Then I did a search for the bike and found it. In “show room quality” on a popular motorcycle site. Definitely NOT for sale. And definitely would never be for sale at the price they had listed.

Most people would be angry and would be scorching the earth.

Yes, I did report the fella.

But I’m easy like Monday morning… so, I’m grateful for the experience. Here’s why:

I didn’t really “feel” the Can-Am Spyder. And I certainly didn’t feel spending $25k on a bike I don’t really like.

Even though I’m a wee disappointed that I’m not arranging shipping for that motorcycle this morning, I now 100% know what I want.

I want an adventure bike. A BMW 800 or 1150/1200. Or a Triumph 800. Those make my heart flutter. I want something I can take off-road.

I’m a “life begins where the pavement ends” kind of guy.

Yet I had NEVER thought of a sidecar option.

With some digging I actually found an expedition sidecar that will be perfect for my dual-sport motorcycle, and we’re about to head out to look at motorcycles today to see which one I really want (BMW or Triumph).

I already have the sidecar picked out – now, I just need the motorcycle to go with it.

Think of it like this – if your business is like a sidecar, you need the motorcycle to go with it. The vehicle. The engine. Otherwise your sidecar just sits there and rusts. You don’t go anywhere without a vehicle.

That vehicle is Email Marketing.

If you need help with that we have 2 ways we can help you with that:

  1. Email Drip Campaign
  2. Monthly Email Newsletter

Lee Collins

Air Force veteran and former corporate VP, Lee Collins started marketing online in 1999. He is best known as an early pioneer of Direct Response Marketing on the Internet, but also gained recognition as the creator of Hybrid Marketing and Repeat Profit Systems. When Lee isn't helping his clients solve million-dollar marketing and systems problems, he enjoys time with his wife contemplating by a campfire, exploring a mountain or desert trail in his Jeep Gladiator, or planning their next epic BBQ roadtrip.