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[Closed] Safe to buy a bike on eBay or walk away?

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[#1722681]

Won a bike on ebay.

The seller is new and has no feedback.

If I pay by paypal (credit card) is there any way I can get scammed?

Dealt on ebay for years and fairly savvy but this is over £800 so I'm a little more cagey.

The seller is not happy to give out contact details which also doesn't inspire confidence but I REALLY want the bike.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 8:52 pm
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So you bid and won and your now asking. I would not part with £800 to a zero feedbacker. Tell him you will collect the bike?


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 8:55 pm
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Cash on collection or walk away - Obviously


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 8:56 pm
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will he refuse to give you a frame serial number?


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 8:58 pm
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Yeah ideally but it's 400 miles away.............


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 8:58 pm
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There will be others out there. Would have gone to see it myself and if viewing wasnt an option would have walked away. Dont want to sound brutal but if you arnt prepared to complete the deal you should never had bid.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:00 pm
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You're fault if it goes wrong really. As mentioned, you must have known what you were getting into when you bid on the bike.

The seller is not happy to give out contact details which also doesn't inspire confidence but I REALLY want the bike.

I would walk away.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:02 pm
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Difficult as you have bid and won but I wouldn't be sending any money (especially that much) if he won't give contact details.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:03 pm
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Are you picking up the bike? (i'd imagine since he's not giving contact detail probably not)

but if you are, why not get somebody at home to make payment via paypal when you're there picking it up. I'm sure you can get paypal on your mobile aswell now.

A mate bought a bike off of ebay a few years back and the seller was more than happy to give his details the fact that this sellers is not does seem a bit off!

I've just sold a frame, i'll be more than happy to give the buyer my details if they ask.

James

Edit- Ninja'd


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:03 pm
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You can't be all that ebay savvy if you have won an auction and are now asking if he's a worthy vendor! You should have checked all the relevant details before you bid. If you pay via paypal and use your credit card you have some protection but I don't think section 75 applies to auctions online


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:04 pm
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I'm perfectly prepared to complete the deal - I want the bike.

You expect some degree of trust to be displayed by both sides. I,ve given him my contact details and you'd expect the same back.

Asked him for the frame number too.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:05 pm
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What he wouldn't give you the frame number even though you have bought it? Blimey - Nope I'd be out of that one myself 🙂


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:08 pm
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I'm perfectly ebay savvy - that's why I'm asking the questions.

You win the item, then you contact the seller and suss him out. There's nothing wrong with new sellers - everyone has to start somewhere. I'm not gonna waste time checking the seller's credentials before the end of the auction as I might not win the auction.

Foxyrider: No I meant I have just asked him for the frame number just now.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:09 pm
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You win the item, then you contact the seller and suss him out

hang on isnt it the other way around?

edit. This is starting to sound like a wind-up


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:10 pm
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hang on isnt it the other way around?

Well no, not really. You look at feedback before you bid but there was zero. So if you win you then suss out the seller before parting with the readies - what else would you do?


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:13 pm
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Yea, you email questions before you bid. Its just silly to ask questions after you won as its too late!


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:15 pm
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hang on isnt it the other way around?

Well no, not really. You look at feedback before you bid but there was zero. So if you win you then suss out the seller before parting with the readies - what else would you do?

YOU DONT BID.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:15 pm
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Er, if I win, then I part with the readies asap . . . and I expect my buyers to do the same. If I have any doubts, then I don't bid.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:16 pm
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I'm not "asking questions" after I've won, merely trying to establish some trustworthiness from the seller.

Naturally I'd ask any salient questions about the item before bidding.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:18 pm
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Er, if I win, then I part with the readies asap . . . and I expect my buyers to do the same. If I have any doubts, then I don't bid.

exactly.You won the bike so pay up. Thats how it works. No one forced you to bid


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:21 pm
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So why are asking if its safe to buy it if you have already established the item is legit?

Send the money and await for delivery if no arrival then file a complaint with ebay/pp


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:23 pm
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Link? If he is selling an £800 bike there is a reasonable chance someone on here might know him (or her), or even the bike.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:23 pm
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Credit card will offer you no protection via pay pal

credit card to merchant direct your covered....

it wont cover you via paypal as they sit in the middle so your contract is with PP


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:24 pm
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It's common practice to ask a zero feedback bidder to provide some contact details prior to accepting bids so it's no different to expect that from a new seller.

The listing looked fine - am I supposed to get the life story from the seller in advance just in case I win the auction?

Look, all I'm checking here is how well does the paypal protection thing work? Anyone got any experience of it?


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:25 pm
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THe item is [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=260617708682&view=all&tid=0 ]HERE[/url]


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:28 pm
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The listing looked fine - am I supposed to get the life story from the seller in advance just in case I win the auction?

Im not sure you understand how auctions work...


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:29 pm
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where is he based?


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:31 pm
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This purchased item information is no longer available.

There are a number of reasons why this information isn't available. The most common reason is that item details for purchases are not kept for more than 90 days.

How long ago did you 'win' this item?


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:32 pm
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namastebuzz - Member

THe item is HERE

link is not right


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:32 pm
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andymonty - that's incorrect. Credit Card will/does offer you protection via paypal, I bought some forks from the states. Did'nt arrive paypal got my money back within 3 days - I spoke to the Credit Card people prior to getting that result and they were waiting to act for me if paypal did'nt sort it. Happy Days


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:32 pm
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Item number 260617708682


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:34 pm
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NEVER TRUST SOMEONE WHO TYPES IN CAPITALS !


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:34 pm
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Sorry folks - link works for me so don't understand.

Just won it this w/e.

The point I'm TRYING to make is that when you contact the seller to arrange payment and shipping you'd expect some level of co-operation and trust in exchange for the several hundred quid you're about to pay them.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:38 pm
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No name and address no deal in my book - and I'd be considering collecting it in person at that price


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:43 pm
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If you pay using PayPal they hold the money until you give positive feedback or 21 days has elapsed.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:43 pm
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Where is the bike located?

Maybe there is a trustworthy member willing to go and pick it up for you.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:44 pm
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Could be legit, after all we've all gotta start somewhere. However I would have contacted the seller during the bidding process. It's a bit late to be getting cold feet now.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:46 pm
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[url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&q=Upper%20Caldecote&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl ]Is that him walking his dog?[/url]

click street view 🙂


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:49 pm
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It's in Bedford.

Saw it near the end of the auction and fired in an auction sniper bid as was heading away out. I had no reason to contact the seller anyway - until I won the auction.

Don't have cold feet at all, I have the money and I'd like the bike.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:50 pm
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Head angle looks pretty steep, I'd leave it


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:50 pm
 dano
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You are not doing the wrong thing, it is ok to walk away if the seller will not co-operate. i also see his side though, I wouldn't hand out my address to a stranger who knows I have a £1k bike...
Quirrel is right, get smone you trust locally to look at the bike..


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:51 pm
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not enough detail in the listing for someone who,s into mtb.
HOT.
if you scan the bikes on ebay enough they stick out like a sore thumb.
legit sellers usually go into at least some detail.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:51 pm
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without doubt, say you'll do cash on collection and be prepared to get it or leave it. Any normal seller would accept that happily.


 
Posted : 20/06/2010 9:53 pm
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