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Biketart, selling items they don't have / can't get.

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[#13536412]

I can't seem to work out the deal with biketarts eBay store. I ordered something, marked as despatched, two weeks later nothing, refunded. Ordered again different account. 2 weeks later nothing, get a message sorry royal mail have informed us they lost it and we don't have stock. I call them out on their BS. They still have multiple listed on eBay. Ordered another, marked as despatched. Shock horror. Nothing. 

What's their deal here do we think? Feedback leaves me to believe this is the MO. Just can't work out why?


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:15 am
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Have used them several times, but not been affected as you describe. 

I do tend to check websites and only order if they state 'in stock'. If it says 'in stock with supplier' I go elsewhere 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:24 am
kelvin reacted
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I use them quite often, both their main online store and their eBay store. Never had this happen.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:27 am
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Online shops often sell from distributer/supplier stock.

I've been caught out before when ordering Hope stuff. Says 'in stock at suppliers warehouse' and then never turns up, bit of chasing I got a refund. Happened twice a couple of years ago when trying to buy chainrings in a specific colour for a Hope chainset.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:43 am
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I ordered a shifter from their ebay store & specifically chose their listing as it states in the description that it came with inner & outer cable which no other description said and outer cable is not normally supplied.

When it turned up, it didn't come with the outer. I asked them to supply the outer as per the ebay description.
They said it was an error in the listing (yeah, right) and they are unable to supply the outer.

They are obviously doing it to make their listing look more appealing than other similar listings at similar prices. 
I have just checked & the listing still contains the same 'error'.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:49 am
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Have used them several times, but not been affected as you describe. 

I do tend to check websites and only order if they state 'in stock'. If it says 'in stock with supplier' I go elsewhere

This is my experience, and modus operandi.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:52 am
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They've still got £4000 of mine! And no sign of the bike, or delivery date... Strange way to operate, I must say.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:58 am
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I do tend to check websites and only order if they state 'in stock'. If it says 'in stock with supplier' I go elsewhere

The problem is that it says this on the website and you can make the call, but on eBay it will just say 'in stock'. So you don't know either way!


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 11:01 am
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I've had this recently, to be fair though I think it was where they were basically re-selling someone else's stock (one up dropper post)

Mildly annoying as I'd booked the bike into the shop to get the other bits of the order installed, but they gave me the option to cancel the order as they couldn't fulfill it. Got a refund quickly so no complaints really.


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 12:25 pm
 a11y
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Posted by: citizenlee

I use them quite often, both their main online store and their eBay store. Never had this happen.

+1, no issues here either.

What the OP describes is why I won't ever use Winstanleys ever again: marked as in stock, but quickly becomes apparent stuff isn't.

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 1:11 pm
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I've had this recently, to be fair though I think it was where they were basically re-selling someone else's stock

This really winds me up because it seems completely needless.

I'm all for supporting independent retail, it's entirely fair that a shop has to charge a premium price that's justified by them having to hold stock.  But if you're not holding stock then you're not offering customers that benefit of getting things quickly.  If I wanted it in 7-10 days I'd order from Ali-Express or a direct to consumer business at half the price.

Even more annoying when you accidentally do it on Amazon "prime" and then realize the free shipping was 10+ days and it's just being dropshipped from China.

 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 2:24 pm
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Shocker they just cancelled the third "customer asked to cancel" 


 
Posted : 24/07/2026 10:03 pm
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Why are you ordering from eBay rather than their website? is it cheaper? (often I find the reverse is true).

I don't know how shops with huge numbers of listings manage their eBay shops - I'm guessing that at least some shop/warehouse stock systems must be able to link to eBay somehow to update.  I'd also guess that link can be a bit fragile, might not be realtime and sometimes (possibly just for some listings) will just break.

I ordered a Makita drill from Buyaparcel a little while back. I actually ordered 2, one of which came with a macpac inlay and they cancelled one of the orders. 

Load of online bikeshops are clearly selling a lot of stuff that they don't actually have in stock but are getting delivery next day or so when needed.  Again that link breaks sometimes. it doesn't feel like it's worth getting upset about. 

I order stuff from BikeInn sometimes and it's weeks before they even despatch the order. 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 1:01 pm
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It is what a few retailers do and is bad practice.  If on their website is states "with suppliers' then you know that and can make a decision but if selling on eBay I think you are actually supposed to have the item you are selling and can send straight out.


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 2:42 pm
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"Why are you ordering from eBay rather than their website? is it cheaper?" 20% off certain sellers. It's in stock on their site annoyingly. 


 
Posted : 25/07/2026 10:58 pm
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Posted by: wysiwyg

"Why are you ordering from eBay rather than their website? is it cheaper?" 20% off certain sellers. It's in stock on their site annoyingly. 

of course. Was forgetting eBay discount codes. 

 


 
Posted : 26/07/2026 9:07 am
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I order stuff from BikeInn sometimes and it's weeks before they even despatch the order. 

You say that, but I ordered some tyres from them last Tuesday and they turned up yesterday, so you never know! 😆


 
Posted : 26/07/2026 11:30 am
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Good chance they have it and it's just being shit canned cause using the eBay codes bringing it below their cost price 


 
Posted : 26/07/2026 1:23 pm
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The code is paid by eBay I believe? They're already at basically trade price. 


 
Posted : 26/07/2026 8:10 pm
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Cost is borne by the seller. My neighbour sells vinyl (records, not flooring) on eBay and never opts in as the extra cost would wreck his bottom line.

It also seems to be all or nothing on your listing, so you can't offer 20% off the stuff you really want rid of. 


 
Posted : 26/07/2026 8:58 pm