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

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?

Cash on collection or walk away - Obviously

will he refuse to give you a frame serial number?

Yeah ideally but it's 400 miles away.............

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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 🙂

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.

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

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?

Yea, you email questions before you bid. Its just silly to ask questions after you won as its too late!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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?

THe item is [url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=260617708682&view=all&tid=0 ]HERE[/url]

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...

where is he based?

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?

namastebuzz - Member

THe item is HERE

link is not right

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

Item number 260617708682

NEVER TRUST SOMEONE WHO TYPES IN CAPITALS !

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.

Your link above brings up an 'item no longer available' quote.

Dancake's item number bring up this - [url] http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260617708682&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fcompleted.shop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_nkw%3D260617708682%2B%26_in_kw%3D1%26_ex_kw%3D%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_okw%3D260617708682%2B%26_oexkw%3D%26LH_Complete%3D1%26_udlo%3D%26_udhi%3D%26_samilow%3D%26_samihi%3D%26_sadis%3D200%26_fpos%3DPostcode%26LH_SALE_CURRENCY%3D0%26_sop%3D12%26_dmd%3D1%26_ipg%3D50%26_rdc%3D1%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=2 [/url]. A bit blimmin lengthy, but is this the bike?

No name and address no deal in my book - and I'd be considering collecting it in person at that price

If you pay using PayPal they hold the money until you give positive feedback or 21 days has elapsed.

Where is the bike located?

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

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.

[url= http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260617708682&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm570%26_nkw%3D260617708682%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1 ]Click here[/url]

[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 🙂

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.

Head angle looks pretty steep, I'd leave it

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..

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.

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.

ask to meet him half way with cash on collection?

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.

Yeah good points.

Did you sort your front mech Rob?

I'd love to meet half way but that's still 200 miles.....

Head angle looks pretty steep, I'd leave it

😆

front mech sorted by putting big ring back on 🙂

200 miles is not far for £800

hi bud.no it,s still off the bike.used the old xt today and all was well.
i,ll get round to sussing it out when i get some free time.
thanks for asking though.
i,d leave that one if i where you buzz.
that,s unless you can collect.
all you,ll get from ebay is an unpaid item strike which is sod all.

800 miles - that would cost me under 100 quid in diesel.

I take it you live in the far north of scotland or out in the islands then?

Why don't you test him by saying that a friend of yours local to him will collect in person and pay in cash, if he gets all squirmy it might give you a better feel of whether it's genuine? I sold a Turner 5 Spot on ebay for £1300ish and only had 3 transactions on my history at the time, but I put a shed load of info in the write up to give potential buyers the confidence that I was legit.

Well I simply asked the guy for the frame number, as suggested, and he's been silent since.

Which probably tells me enough.

Thanks for all the advice everyone 🙂

Yeah up in the north of Scotland so it's a long trip.

Oh well, seeing as it's the second longest night of the year I'm away out on the hardtail for a spot of singletrack.

here,s another fine example.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/18-Orange-Five-Frame-Neon-Orange-/160445428169?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item255b4af1c9

It's got darkish down here in Newcastle now.

It was always a lot lighter back home in Fort William when I was a nipper

[i] I wouldn't hand out my address to a stranger who knows I have a £1k bike...[/i]

What? someone who has bought the bike off you? Of course you'd give the bloody address!

OP, your best bet is to find someone on here who is local to check it out.
You'd be silly to part with the money without some verification that the (zero feedback) seller is legit. It does look like a fairly genuine auction, but with no feedback to go on, it's too risky.
I bought a 2 grand Yeti off Ebay, from the US and emailed previous buyers to ensure all was legit before buying. If I hadn't got any replies I wouldn't have bid.

I'm gonna say it's real, as he owns disc brake cleaner, has washed the bike before sale and knows that the hope floating rotors are 183mm. Also his story of doing 4X adds up with chicksands being a stones throw from his house.

Just looked at the link, seems genuine. nice bike for the money! I have a MK3 Comp and love it. DW link is awesome! hope it all turns out for you!

Come down next Saturday, and have a day out in Chicksands?

dont mean to be harsh mate but will you just get on with it. Looks fine to me - everybody has to start on ebay somewhen BUT if you are that nervous- drive the bloody 400 miles!! 7 hours each way isnt a disaster- if you are that nervous. Otherwise give it a miss and expect the dude to report you to ebay for breaking the rules.

Back from my ride - it's dark now. Or dark-ish.

All good points but if the guy won't answer and won't give me any contact details then it'll be pretty tough to turn up on his doorstep if I don't know where his doorstep actually is.

UPDATE***

Well got the seller's number, gave him a call.

Seemed like a really nice bloke, had a quick chat. Quite happy so paid him the dosh.

Bike arrived two days later - exactly as described. Took it out for a good thrash and it ate up all the rocky descents that I threw it at with ease. In the end I was looking for difficult stuff to tackle rather than pick a smoother line and just floated over it all.

😀

Anyway, thanks for all the advice everybody. Even those who disagreed with me - it always good to hear dissenting views coz then you re-evaluate what your own original ideas were in the first place.