[Closed] People buying off the classified then selling on for a profit

I wish I'd seen his auction for XT brakes a couple of days ago - just bought some SLX's

It's business. Millions of business's do it everyday around the world.

Not sure about naming names but I agree when it is done it doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the classfieds. Sold a set of forks on here and they were on eBay before I even had an email to say they had arrived as I requested.

[i]It's business. Millions of business's do it everyday around the world. [/i]

I disagree that the classifieds is a business...or it certainly shouldn't be used as one.

I think daffy has spoke about this, basically he is a serial parts swapper, and if he can be arsed to constantly do auctions far enough. On the other hand I doubt he has used these wheels so this is not part swapping just a small business.

No the classifieds is not a business.

But the principle of buying something cheap, then selling it on for a profit is.

This properly pees me off, I've been after a set of pro 2s on a decent rim for ages and here is someone trawling the classifieds for wheels he was never going to use just because they were going for a song.

I think the rules clearly state that the classifieds is not for people solely for the purpose of making a profit?

[b]Offroading[/b] - You know that's not the point. It's not in the spirit of the classifieds.

Not really community minded is it?

I have bought a few things off here for really good prices. The people that have sold them to me could have got more on ebay, but either don't want to or are using the classifieds in the community sense that it is supposed to be.

not done it myself but if you have something to sell on here then who cares what happens to it afterward? if they ebay it then they have to deal with the hassle and the fee's, good luck to them.
if you moan because they make more money on ebay then why didn't you ebay them yourself?

Not cricket imo.

I got a set of Pro2's laced to 321 rims including tyres. Only cost a £100 posted, the seller also could of got alot more on ebay for them.

Totally agree it's not really in the spirit of the community. The classifieds are a great part of this forum and we should try and keep it that way.

I think the rules clearly state that the classifieds is not for people solely for the purpose of making a profit

Yeah but he is not selling them on classfieds, ebay is a business!!

At least he actually bought them - the last 3 things I've "sold" on here have had all the chat, all the emails, and then contact has suddenly dried up, wasting my time. Oh, and other muppets offering pennies for something worth pounds.

I'm thinking ebay is the way to go now.

[b]Mr Smith[/b] - I think that you are missing the point. I'm not moaning because he's making money. I unhappy about it because that's not what the classifieds are for.

I think that JonR has a point. He had no intention of using them. It was just a financial transaction. Daffy is prolific enough on here to know that those wheels were never destined for any of his bikes.

I don't want to be a knob about it. I just wanted to raise what I perceived to be an issue.

I agree with that Andy. To be honnest Daffy has done the same to me - i sold him something once and he re-sold it for £25 more than he paid for it. Something should be said or done as he's shafting the STW community - there as you say are users who could actually use the item rather than sell it on.

But there's nothing illegal or "wrong" with selling things at a profit.

What really grates is when a buyer is giving it the old 'Only got £XXX left in the Paypal account','I would but pay day is next week so I can only go to £XXX' etc so you let them have it cheaper thinking at least its going to get used by another forum dweller (karma and all that) and actually its to increase their bloody profit margin.

Then there are others haggling prices down only to then sell it on....

Very obvious example on there as i type

Personally I wouldn't do what daffy is clearly doing. But when I sold a couple of bits on classifieds I checked the going rate on ebay then knocked a fiver off, thought that was fair for the lack of hassle, but I certainly wouldn't sell something here and lose out on £20

What really grates is when a buyer is giving it the old 'Only got £XXX left in the Paypal account','I would but pay day is next week so I can only go to £XXX' etc so you let them have it cheaper thinking at least its going to get use by another forum dweller (karma and all that) and actually its to increase their bloody profit margin.

taka?

[i]But there's nothing illegal or "wrong" with selling things at a profit. [/i]

I quite agree.

The Santa Cruz springs to mind...

[i]taka? [/i] Nope

[i]The Santa Cruz springs to mind... [/i] The dinged Superlight?

taka?
he only 16 if I remember so money is probably a bit limited for him.

I've sold stuff on here before way below what I could get on eBay for it

Not because I couldn't be bothered to do it but because It's good to pass stuff on at a good price to people who have a similar way of life & [presumably] similar standards rather than always getting what the market will stand. I [& others] often pass stuff on to other cyclists at what it cost us rather than what I could get for it. For that person then to immediately move it on for a profit can be somewhat dis-heartening
Oh - I guess the 'greed is good' brigade will be totally lost with this concept but there you go.

IMO the classifieds were pretty much always a place of help rather than commerce but it's been changing over the last couple of years - for the worse, I fear

As a community we are allowed to decide who we sell and buy stuff from. If you notice a user behaving in a way you see as detrimental to the community you don't have to deal with them. If the majority of sellers/buyers did this then it would end this kind of behaviour. I know that before christmas I had users that I had no interest in dealing with, but now they may have new usernames.

taka?
he only 16 if I remember so money is probably a bit limited for him.

Doesn't stop him haggling prices even though he has stuff for sale on the classifieds though, does it?

Money is limited for all of us Tails, doesn't mean we all haggle to knock a few quid off to get a bargain 😉

wasnt dinged, it had a bit of skaffold pole welded to it to keep it going!

Wasn't so anoyed about him asking about it, but was a bit anoyed after he recieved a lot of advice (admiteldy from armchair engineers) saying theres no ay any of them would ride it. He then put it o the classifided for double what he'd already told everyone he'd paid for it!

[i]it had a bit of skaffold pole welded to it to keep it going![/i]

I'm thinking of a different SL sale then

ay your not wrong steve austin someone offered me £25 for an item I could have made £40 for so I turned down there offer. Haggling works both ways, you don't have to accept there offer.

Nuke- it could have been.

Tails- I too am only 16, cash is a problem but I manage to survive with my bikes and still somehow manage to find that extra couple of quid for an upgrade every once in a while.

Admitted I have done some not quite perfect deals but I have given and recieved some karma parts, in an attempt to get the balance right.

What about the people that are now trying to sell Shimano stuff including the current price rise!!
Someone tried to flog me a USED XT mech for nearly £20 yesterday! If it was used, certainly bought before the price hike!! TTP imo

WTF with this thread? People can put any price they want. I think its neither 'business' or mad- the difference is hardly going to lead to a global empire is it?!

"COST ALMOST £270 when bought new last month"

how do you know it's the same wheels ?

if it is, I'd be more worried about "COST ALMOST £270 when bought new last month" since that'd be untrue, rather than just taking "commercial" advantage of the classifieds (though I don't much like that)

I think it's a shame. I think the great thing about STW Classifieds is that people aren't trying to wring you for as much as possible. I've got some great bargains off here and so try to pass them on. Sharki - someone I'd had no previous contact with - even gave me some almost new tyres and an old offroad light completely for free a few weeks ago. It's not a business, it's a community and that's why we don't make as much money on it as ebay - for me, it's not about that.

All very idealistic I know, but it's how I feel!

WTF with this thread? People can put any price they want. I think its neither 'business' or mad- the difference is hardly going to lead to a global empire is it?!

Quite simple really, the rules on the classifieds forum state

If we suspect that a user is exploiting our forum to earn additional income or solely for the purposes of making a profit then we are very likely to consider that as ‘Trade’ activity

From looking at the standards that Daffy has for his bikes you can see he was never going to put pro2s on WTB rims on any of his multitude of bikes so he bought those wheels purely to sell on and hence has not only broken the rules but also has deprived somebody from STW who would have actually fitted them and used them of a good set of wheels.

Someone tried to flog me a USED XT mech for nearly £20 yesterday! If it was used, certainly bought before the price hike!! TTP imo

I think thats fair if you can't get it for less (you probably can) and you want it, pay the money. I have a set of new xtr rings no way i'll sell them for ton, when a single big ring is £150+ new

Checking his feedback shows two other sets of wheels sold in the last few weeks.

Something should be said or done as he's shafting the STW community

I'm not sure I agree, seems like a bit of sour grapes really, the seller offered them for £110, someone comes along and buys them.

Once that person has bought them then they can do what they like with them.

I've been very fortunate and had some good deals from the classifieds while looking for bits for my 456, I also missed out on some bits, maybe Daffy beat me to them, no big deal, if you are patient a similar bit will come up in a day or two. I bought the STW boys a beer, I have used most of the parts except some bars, I might swap a few things about, at some point some of it might go on ebay or back on the classifieds. Personally I like selling stuff on ebay, it's fun.

racing_ralph - Member
What about the people that are now trying to sell Shimano stuff including the current price rise!!
Someone tried to flog me a USED XT mech for nearly £20 yesterday! If it was used, certainly bought before the price hike!! TTP imo

I don't think that's unreasonable if it's in good condition, given that the cheapest they were before the price rises was in the region of £30.

Perhaps you're just tight?

Checking his feedback shows two other sets of wheels sold in the last few weeks.

oh and another thing, isn't it all a bit weird, this hounding of the wrongdoer shit that is so popular on this forum?

you can get em new from merlin for £23 now!!

well buy from them instead then!

From looking at the standards that Daffy has for his bikes you can see he was never going to put pro2s on WTB rims on any of his multitude of bikes so he bought those wheels purely to sell on and hence has not only broken the rules but also has deprived somebody from STW who would have actually fitted them and used them of a good set of wheels.

But has he broken any rules he didn't buy on ebay and sell on STW he bought on here for asking price and sold on for profit on fleabay, personally if daffy wants to buy off me and I felt he would make a £50 profit I would prefer to sell to someone who I felt would use them.

Once that person has bought them then they can do what they like with them.

its not as simple as that. How many times have you had a scan on the ads looking for something, only to see the same names getting their 'dibbs' in, and buying stuff fast?
Its great if you are a seller as you will get a quick sale.
Bad for buyers as you have to watch the ads like a hawk to beat the Traders to the sales.

btw, I got a CS200CAD for sale, and a 34 tooth surly chainring up this evening 😀

Well I must be doing something wrong, I've gone through a fair few frames and bits from here trying different setups and occasionally break even, but usually get less than I paid. The loss is nowhere near what buying new and selling on would be so it usually seems OK.

The ebay stuff does seem a bit odd at times like early Inbred track end version frame that I thought would make a nice SS hack went for £162.

I guess for me it depends on what I'm selling, for stuff I just want to sell, if it sells I don't really care what buyer does with it. Now and again there's stuff I have more attachment too and, irrationally I suppose, I'd like it to go to a good home where it will be enjoyed.

oh and another thing, isn't it all a bit weird, this hounding of the wrongdoer shit that is so popular on this forum?

One set of wheels - I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, but three sets in three weeks?

Nick - Member

oh and another thing, isn't it all a bit weird, this hounding of the wrongdoer shit that is so popular on this forum?

No, that about being a community and watching out for one another, instead of being allowed to be bullied/or taken for a ride by some muppet.

I agree with the sentiments of this thread, going by the posting above, it seems Daffy is abusing the classifieds.
I believe this should be pointed out to the Admins and them allowed to make the decision - though considering what WOF did for months/years on the old forum classifieds (as in using it as a business) i doubt anything will happen..

From the Classifieds Rules section:

[i]Lets try and define what we mean by ‘private’.
The ’spirit’ of our forum is one where users can turn their old, surplus or unwanted kit into extra cash to enable them to buy new bits to help them get out and continue riding. The Classified Forum is not a place where users can trade parts bought elsewhere and then sold at a profit. If we suspect that a user is exploiting our forum to earn additional income or solely for the purposes of making a profit then we are very likely to consider that as ‘Trade’ activity and we’ll ask you to stop. We will look at each instance reported to us or spotted by us on a case by case basis and then we will act at our discretion.[/i]

From reading that it sounds very much like he's not playing by the 'rules' (or spirit) of the forum. Easy answer is not to sell anything to him or report him to the mods.

Woah...personally my posts were against the practise that the OP described and not Daffy; think Daffy should be given the benefit of doubt.

I don't think the ebayer in question liked my offer of £110 posted 😐

Id agre that daffy's actions are certainly not in the spirit of the classifieds. Ive always maintained that the classifieds is a buyers market and eBay is a seller's market. Linking them together is invariably trying to turn a profit. I dont agree with the view that it's not our "business" as I certainly price something I sell in the classifieds at a kind of karma/community discount price and Im sure others do the same and it is an abuse of their generosity to turn something round unless they specifically are putting a low price on something in order for a quick sale to avoid the hassle of an eBay auction.

He's listed as a business on ebay. I wouldn't be happy if a bike shop was leeching things from the classifieds to sell on. As ST themselves have said, it's intended for private use not for people looking to turn a profit.

However, what proof is there that they are actually the same wheels? They are standard issue on a lot of Orange bikes. Could be a different seller?

...it's his balcony in the photo.

Not meaning to grass him in or owt!

I have to say, the original seller went v low - £110 with tyres and a hub conversion ?

However, what proof is there that they are actually the same wheels? They are standard issue on a lot of Orange bikes. Could be a different seller?

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-shimano-xtr-m975-disc-wheelset

=

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220345959591

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-hope-green-xc3-team-wheels-15kg-315

=

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220344292191

Definitely not in the spirit of the classifieds, as the majority mention. I bought some items a few months ago which it turned out I didn't need in the end. As a result I contacted the sellers and advised them that I intended to resell them on as I didn't want it to look like I was deliberately seeking to make a profit. One guy (can't remember who) responded by telling me to get as much as I could!

I can see what he has done it, certainly some of the stuff i have sold on here i could have got a lot more for on ebay, having said that, i have bought some right bargains off here, so am happy to pass on the good will.

Ebay does seem to get some silly high prices for bike stuff, a pair of 2006 Reba Races went for £122 + postage the other day...Sold mine for £80 posted.

End of the day, up to him, might be really short of cash at the moment...

OK, just lighting my brand now...

BUUUUUUURN HIIIIIIMM!!!!!

HEY! Now lets get a few things clear!

1. The wheels are for sale at that price "OR BEST OFFER"!!! I agreed to buy the wheels etc for a new SS project that I was starting, but i'm really ****ing short of cash right now and so decided to sell them. Also bear in mind that I'll loose between 11 and 15% in Fees. Ever heard of "door in the face" technique? So imagine they sell for the max figure (unlikely but hey) I'd loose about £25 in fees so I'd make £32....****ing WOOP! now imagine they sell for £140, I'd loose £21 in fees, thats £9 profit...splendid!

I'd agreed a price with the seller so I couldn't back out of it without letting them down. I also bought a Hope red BB on EBay for £51 recently and then sold it on the classifieds for the proud total of £48 posted - ****ing good profiteering there!

The other wheelsets, well lets see

Hope XC3, bought for £550 off here including brakes, didn't really like them tried to sell on here for £500, eventually sold on the bay for £535 (I lost a nice healthy 13% in fees there £70) yet another astonishing profit of -£35 for one rides use!

Shimano XTR wheelset, bought from Merlin for £380, sold on ebay for £234, (-£146) I'm doing well so fair aint I?

The Crossmaxs were the best though, CK Singlespeed wheels, Bought brand new from Stif for just shy of £600, traded on the classifieds for those crossmaxs + £100. (The rear bearing in the crossmaxs was cream crackered and I lost yet another £47 in fees) An astonishing profit oooooof.....wait for it......-£210!!

I'm good at this business lark aint I.

FFS!

Jeez - I've given stuff away on the classifieds rather than bin it. I think this is definitely abusing their purpose, and I agree with Steve about repeatedly seeing the same names come up whenever I'm looking to buy something.

If it bothers you and the person has made a profit then report it to the Inland Revenue as that person will need to pay tax on the profit. You've got their real name and address after all.
Obvioulsy this is going on all over ebay with no repercussion for the vast majority I guess.

might be really short of cash at the moment...

Have you seen his bikes?

I agree that it is an abuse of both the spirit and the rules of the classifieds - not on imo. If those rules weren't in place then maybe it would be different.

Daffy - Member

HEY! Now lets get a few things clear!

I'm good at this business lark aint I.

FFS!

Ever thought of starting a bank?

I have to say that similar things have happened to me. Both selling stuff and buying stuff. Its the way of the world I think. Things do go for different prices. I would like to say that for me it was never intentional to buy low and sell high, but thats how it panned out.

As an example, 4 or 5 years ago before Ti was this almighty metal dominating everything from bolts to disc rotors I bought a Ti stem and flat bars combo, both cost me around £20 posted from here. If I sold it on now, I might get closer to £40 for the pair. Unintentional, Ive used them, but demand has gone up.

As people have said, are they the same wheels? Also, he might have put time and effort into A) cleaning the wheels up, maybe truing, etc. B) making an ebay auction and getting a decent photo. Im not saying Im justifying it, but if hes willing to put in the effort to maybe improve or clean up the item, fair be it. Also, everyone charges what they like for their items judging on other peoples items. If they sell them for less, why moan if they maybe didnt put the effort on Ebay, or with better photos, or even just putting them up for a more expensive price and then haggling with interested buyers? Haggling works both ways, and yes in the spirit of a community such as this its fair to think we should stick together but when people desperately need the money, they will sell for less. The time factor has always been aparent in classifieds, and has just become worse with the economies downturn.

If they are the same wheels, at least you know not to buy them now!

Duffy ,

If you decide to sell the Magura SL's I missed out on ,please give me a shout 🙂 😉

Will do,but I've been asking for some for weeks and i've not got much time to ride at the moment.

Classic thread in the lets jump to conclusions STW tradition, makes me proud to be part of this 'community'

considering what WOF did for months/years on the old forum classifieds (as in using it as a business)

Daffy's ethics may be debatable, and to be fair on the strength of his numbers he should get a job at Morgan Stanley 🙂

But at least he had the decency to register his ebay account as a 'business' user

Unlike the other guy

Now wheres my matches 🙂

I believe this should be pointed out to the Admins and them allowed to make the decision -

I did that not so long ago. About someone with far more obvoius bargain-hunting and ebay-selling activity than Daffy. The admins responded very politely but didn't really seem to mind. After a similar (but less name-and-shame-tastic iirc) thread to this one, the classifieds rules changed a bit. Nevertheless the stw-er I pointed out to the admins continues to buy stuff on here and continues to sell stuff on ebay. He did change his ebay name from sounding very similar to his stw one though. *waves*

seems to me that "one" could avoid hassle, fees and *ahem* misunderstandings like this by just selling on stw - especially shortly after buying something cheap on here

What a crock. Daffy buys and sells loads of stuff, always has. I'd be pretty happy to buy anything from him, as it's a name I recognise from the Forum, and I 'd rather have that than a bunch of chancy 16 year olds flogging their dads kit...If I thought the price was OK, then it wouldn't bother me at all that he'd just bought it from somewhere else.

Get over yourselves.

seems to me that "one" could avoid hassle, fees and *ahem* misunderstandings like this by just selling on stw - especially shortly after buying something cheap on here

[wooden spoon out]...you'd think so wouldn't you?

If i didn't want to use a bike I bought on here for a song, I suppose i could post it back on here for the same i paid for it plus postage. Or look back at the thread I bought it from and ask the other people that replied to it first. No ebay fees. No paypal fees if you do it 'gifty' style. Easier to list. The more i think about it the more i can't understand why you would bother with ebay.

[/wooden spoon back drawer]

Scardypants, The reason that I didn't put them back on here was because in order to recoup my money I'd have to charge an additional £15-£27 to cover posted and.....Here's the kicker...

I knew it would be picked up and I'd be flamed on the forum for "making a profit"

That's why I put the damned things on ebay.

I buy and sell stuff through the classifieds quite a bit. Everything I buy will be used but I like to try stuff out so sometimes it may only be used once or twice. I will then put it back on the classifieds and i will try and get my money back, if I dont fair enough but if I sell it and someone then makes a profit out of it by going onto Ebay then good on them. Personally I cant be bothered with Ebay, far to much hassle and as pointed out earlier the charges are way to much.

If I agree to sell something at a price then I am happy with what I get, if I dont get what I want i keep it or worst case go onto Ebay. I dont see the problem really as long as people are getting what they want for what they are selling? The only thing I guess is if people who actually want the stuff are beaten to it by people who then sell the stuff on for profit which I guess doesnt seem quite as fair.

Classic thread in the lets jump to conclusions STW tradition, makes me proud to be part of this 'community'

Indeed.
I see all the nay-sayers have gone a bit quiet now Daffy's responded.
Some people need to put their brain into gear before opening their mouth.

Personally, I can't afford to 'give' expensive stuff away, but smaller items sell well on here and there's no fees to pay which means I can sell stuff cheaper.
Best thing was my Stumpy FSR frame. I only wanted £200+post, advertised it on here at £225 IIRC, got one offer of £150 which I turned down. Stuck it on Ebay, got £352.....

We've all been at the burning. Where were you?

martin, i hope you did not sell the stem i sold you at a profit..... 😥

My business plan is now in tatters, thanks you lot! 😥

[i]oh and another thing, isn't it all a bit weird, this hounding of the wrongdoer shit that is so popular on this forum? [/i]

it certainly is. But it's just what you expect from some of the Daily Mail-esque numpties on here. Probably if someone said they were a paediatrician, they'd find their house petrol-bombed.