@DaveC - it's my own scruples which are making me want to be sure before I buy. As you say I don't want to perpetuate the stolen bikes game. I'm just updating here for info in case people are interested but will happily stop - apologies if the posts are annoying
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
bike for sale - is this dubious?
(42 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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Not annoying at all! But I know from personal experience that some people come along to look at stuff you're selling, ask a million questions, and then never buy. My point is if you are thinking of buying Do! as the seller will wonder if you're just being picky and wanting a New shop bought bike at second hand price.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I'd agree with DaveC, here. The fact that you're swithering so much means you're still not convinced it's all above board. Walk away. If your conscience isn't appeased by that action alone, obtain the bike serial number and pass on the information you've collected along with your concerns to the police and leave it to them.
If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Posted 11 years ago # -
thanks a lot for the advice - I'm an eejit for not getting the serial number... he says he got it from EBC - easy to check with them I reckon - if it's not there I'll walk away and do as you say. Thanks again
Posted 11 years ago # -
It reminds me of when we were buying our first car. We test drove one that seemed perfect and a bargain, the seller seemed lovely and genuine, was getting a divorce, couldn't keep it hence priced for a quick sale. I felt really sorry for him but fortunately not enough to not do the check on the chassis number - and discovered it was an ex-write off that had been put back on the road. We're not as good judges of character as we think we are! (or at least I'm not)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Sorry, you're going to go back to get the serial number? He'll probably swear at you and slam the door in your face.
Im my experience the shop (even EBC) might not have the serial number. I bought my first C2W bike from a shop in East Anglia. When it was stolen a couple of months later I called the shop, and the owner gave me the impression he was not interested and what was I expecting from him? Hi certainly didn't have the serial number, and even if he could lay his hands on it he just said no, and hung up.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@DaveC - no not getting the serial number - just kicking myself for not getting it when I rode the bike.
thanks again for all the advice....
Posted 11 years ago # -
As an ebay seller I would never allow anyone to pay me via paypal and then collect the item in person. This is a relitevely common fraud which works because the only item which ebay will accept as proof that the buyer received the item is an online confirmation of delivery. Quite rightly it means that the seller is always liable for lost in transit items.
Here's a story on the beeb of one poor guy who fell for it.
I would also never suggest to a seller that they allow me to do this as it makes me look dodgy.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Actually I think the EBC do keep track of the serial numbers. I managed to crack the frame on my Specialised Rockhopper originally purchased in 1997, around 2004 and I remember them checking the numbers matched up, before replacing the frame.
Incidentally the bike is still going strong, although the only original parts are the front forks, handlebars and shifters.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Just caught this thread in google when searching for info on the Revolution Country Explorer. Funnily enough, this is about the bike I picked up last night.
Hopefully everything is kosher with the bike - no grounds to think anything else. The transaction completed as normal and the bike was even better than I expected. The seller was, sure enough, a bit gruff, but seemed a fine enough guy. When I was short of change, he thought nothing of dropping to the nearest tenner.
I think if a bike was pinched, it would be quite risky to put it on ebay. I think if you were dodgy, you wouldn't invite people round to your flat.
The seller didn't seem concerned with what price the bike fetched, and didn't seem at all disappointed about the low price fetched by the Kona either. He obviously wanted a bit more space, in a small flat, with four bikes at his disposal. What caused the concern, I guess, is that he placed the ads with his phone, so didn't give all the usual bullshit. He simply duplicated the one line description for both bikes, perhaps accidentally. Not a big internet user probably.
However, after we had exchanged money and bike, he mentioned that he had given the bike a good clean, that he had taken it down to Halfords for a service, and had replaced one of the tubes a day or two earlier. I've rarely seen people bullshit about an item AFTER a sale is done. Though I have come across that particular pattern of talk from travelling people, who want you to go away thinking you have a good deal.
Anway, I'm very happy with the bike, which is like a brand new machine, and very happy with the price which is half the price of a discounted new machine, so all is well that ends well, I hope!
Interesting thread though. It is easy to get fevered in the mind or obsessive in the course of an auction. But realistically, how is anyone going to make money selling dodgy bikes on ebay for a few quid? I wonder if the seller's Irishness brought up a hidden prejudice on the part of the OP? I love the Irish myself, and the accent brings up a feeling of comfort for me.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Well done on getting a good bike - it was certainly a good deal.
I'm sorry but
I wonder if the seller's Irishness brought up a hidden prejudice on the part of the OP?
is extremely offensive - you don't know me; I clearly didn't know the seller when I posted the original post, and although this is entirely irrelevant I am lowering myself to mention that one entire side of my family is Irish.
My worries were based purely on not wanting to contribute to the very real problem of stolen bikes.
Posted 11 years ago # -
There are some inconsistencies in what the seller is alleged to have said
'Unwanted presents'
'He said he got it at EBC'
Still doesn't mean it is dodgy
Even going in to the EBC with the serial number, which wokkie could do, would not necessarily prove anything ( I mean if the names didn't match).
Think it remains a grey area
The bike thieves I used to know in wester hailes were high volume low price boys, thus a kona mountain bike £10-£20. They were interested in my frog leg brakes as hadn't seen them before. i was visiting the home to speak to their mum and asked to take my bike in. Quite a few bikes in the property in a very large electricity cupboard.
These lads would not have been interested in an EBC Country Explorer
A good friend of mine once bought a set of very expensive golf clubs from a very nice man in Muirhouse. It never even occurred to him that they had been nicked. This was the first thing I thought. So there is naive and there is suspicious and this one I call about halfway FWIW
Posted 11 years ago #
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