Headsup. The fraudster is now also operating: rashfordsuk.com and trendbicycles.co.uk
They also for the first time tried to pretend to be a legitimate customer on reddit, but got caught in their lie: https://www.reddit.com/user/Harvey-chapman/
I've reported both to National Fraud Intelligence Bureau
Thread resurrection time!
Just been looking for a Specialized Diverge and found the bellow:
Anyone any idea if they are legit?
Companies House Seema to suggest a dormant company since 1995, with a related company called Cortonglen which was dissolved last year, but I think Cortonglen was trading as Buyabike? The address on companies House and the website also don't match.
Lots of Google reviews and a few Trust pilot reviews, also the Google maps images look correct but I guess these can be faked..
Price looks a bit good to be true as well considering there is nothing in stock anywhere else.
I called the number and they do answer, and it sounds like a bike shop in the background!
PS they have an active Facebook as well, so either a good fake or a bargain?!
Looks legit to me. Definitely not anything like the scam described in this thread.
Their shop appears on street view.
They accept PayPal, which is s good sign, they'd never have that on a scam site.
Anyone local know the shop?
Buy a Bike
Preston Rd, Charnock Richard, Chorley PR7 5LH
Just make sure the website hasn't been hijacked or cloned
Contact UK distributors for the brands they claim to stock and ask them.
Based on the limited information online and dormant status for many years...avoid.
Only one director - john arthur smith, born 1938 so now 83.
Definitely avoid.
My feeling was the company used to exist, and it was dissolved last year, and this is a scam, and they have appropriated the company name. The website looks so legit though it's making me second guess myself.
https://vat-search.co.uk/Vgxe_Cortonglen+LTD+%7C+BUY-A-Bike
Above also says the company is inactive.
I've just searched Shimano Service, Merida and Reise & Muller websites for dealers in Chorley area and all come up with Buy a Bike.
The click & collect section refers to collection from '...any of our stores'.
I'm going with this being a clever scam.
Anyone local know the shop?, Buy a Bike
Preston Rd, Charnock Richard, Chorley PR7 5LH
Yip its about 3 miles from me, been here for years and sound (thumbs up)
and anybody who listens to local radio will have no option but to know of them, they have a tune in an advert they run, that's been running for years and is certainly catchy
Ah awesome, thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Buy a Bike
Preston Rd, Charnock Richard, Chorley PR7 5LHJust make sure the website hasn’t been hijacked or cloned
Buy-a-bike used to be a proper shop, they had a Palmer Specialized in years ago. Not been past for awhile so don't know if they folded.
They had a jingle on local radio.
Edited to add - bollox beaten by 5minutes!
Does that mean bike sales are now a thing again?
Cheers, got the radio jingle in my head now!
Buy-a-bike....
Buy-a-bike....
...at Charnock Richard,
...bike
...shop!
Buy a bike incorporated in 1995, submitted annual accounts in 1997 showing shareholder funds of £2, dormant since.
Could be registered under different company name.
Parent company was CORTONGLEN LIMITED dissolved last year. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04161855/filing-history
Not sure i fully understand the significance of that though.
Not a completely improbable range of bikes for sale and it looks like the Specialized bikes are the only ones on sale.
As someone else said, use PayPal or a credit card if you're going to go for it.
Damn I can't get that jingle out of my head
No idea about this Charnock mob but no doubt scammers for in-demand items are upping their game. I reckon if I was spending a load of cash on an untrusted / unverified source (which in all likelihood I wouldn't do) I'd be asking for a video call to get an idea of stock / inventory. Would also put they shysters who sell things they don't actually have in stock back in their boxes.
