Buying an ebike from TradeInn

Would it get hit with import duty?

No, for the reasons you state

Would it comes with a EU charger instead of a Uk charger?

check with them. But if EU, get an adapter.

Would I be able to warranty it at my LBS if something was to go wrong? Bike I’m looking at is a Specialized so imagine I’d just be able to take it to my local spesh dealer for warranty?

Again, check with Specialized. The dealer will be able to sort you out, but they may charge you, as they didn’t get any profit from the sale with which to help you later down the line.

Spesh e-bikes can be taken to any dealer to sort out problems. Doesn’t have to be the one you bought it from. Having said that leisure lakes told me that they wouldn’t take a warranty claim for bike bought abroad. Give a spesh dealer a ring is best

1. The duty isn't the main issue, duty on manufactured goods is pretty minor, it's the 20% UK VAT and HMRC admin fees. If they're avoiding that somehow then they're almost certainly breaking the law.

2. Unless Trade inn themselves are opening the box and switching it, yes it will have an EU charger.

3. You can ask, but no shop is duty bound to help on a bike they didn't sell. Some will but you will have to pay them for their time as they didn't make anything on the bike and if it's something major like switching a motor or replacing a cracked frame that will not be cheap. You best bet for help FOC is if you have a Spesh-owned concept store near you.

Personally I wouldn't buy an Eeb without local support but that's me, YMMV.

You can add Specialized Customer Service on WhatsApp and deal directly with them for warranty claims. Make sure you register the bike on the Specialized website though.

Personally I wouldn’t buy an Eeb without local support but that’s me, YMMV.

^ this.

1. The duty isn’t the main issue, duty on manufactured goods is pretty minor, it’s the 20% UK VAT and HMRC admin fees. If they’re avoiding that somehow then they’re almost certainly breaking the law.

Point is, it’s already factored into the price. There’s nothing additional to pay, over what’s advertised.

Thirded

You’re looking at a complex product that’s still relatively new in the market. Manufacturers are working out where the weak points are and (especially specialized) are working hard to support their customers when issues appear. This is best done through the dealer network they’ve setup.

I recently purchased a spesh (non E) and the dealer experience was amazing, albeit revealing to me how complex this bike was and that it will need looking after.

And 37% of tradeinn reviews on trustpilot are 1 star.

I’d maybe chance it for a new helmet, but I seriously wouldn’t be making a big purchase there. Actually I wouldn’t even buy a helmet there.

It probably won’t be in stock when you try and buy it anyway. Standard practice with the “Inn” websites.

Cheers for replies, I'm surprised at some of them though. Have used tradeinn/bikeinn several times in the past and I've never had an issue with stock or shipping, one of the better ones I've used IMO.

Bike I'm looking at is a few grand cheaper than anywhere in the Uk which is why I thought it was worth a punt.

I may contact specialized directly about my intentions and ask if there would be any issues with regards to warranty

It probably won’t be in stock when you try and buy it anyway. Standard practice with the “Inn” websites.

as I’ve said many times. It will be in stock in one of their warehouses. That warehouse might be on the other side of Europe, and it may have to go to several others prior to getting to you.

Not a site to order from if you are in a rush, but they aren’t trying to con you.

Have used tradeinn/bikeinn several times in the past and I’ve never had an issue with stock or shipping, one of the better ones I’ve used IMO.

That's my experience too.

I'd still not buy an ebike from them (or online at all) though.

An update, contacted specialized through their web chat which was very quick!

They confirmed that their warranty is worldwide so any specialized dealer would look after the bike regardless of where it was bought if warranty issues arise.

are trustinn still terrible, i bought some silver shimano spd shoes from them 6-7 years ago, i'd actually forgotten i'd ordered them, after 7 weeks i messaged them and they said they'd ship tomorrow, and they did..

You best bet for help FOC is if you have a Spesh-owned concept store near you.

Aren’t they all franchises?

I think they’re Specialized owned? If not it would be a bit strange because I believe that Specialized are buying quite a few bike shop chains (chains of bike shops, not chains from bike shops) at the moment.

The Harrogate and Chester stores definitely were franchises, guess it could have changed?

i was going to buy a Specialized Chisel from BikeInn, asked similar questions to you OP, but no one had bought a bike, just accessories and parts. And it was a mix of it turning up straight away and taking weeks to arrive.

So rather than risk it, i emailed around half a dozen independent Specialized dealers (as assumed they had more leeway than a concept store etc). As the emails rolled in the price dropped with each one, until one particular place said they would match BikeInn's price. So i paid nearly £700 less than the full retail price, which i was pleased as punch about!

So i guess what i am saying is, try your luck with contacting various dealers and you might be in luck, which will save the hassle and/or risk of buying abroad.