http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120918299012&fromMakeTrack=true

I have been looking for a Pure 7 casually for a few weeks, since my venerable P7 of 99 vintage got stolen last Christmas.

Now, theres a seller, knocking them out for £499, or half RRP. Fair enough, there are some traders out there, bankrupt stock ect. This sale is Sheffield, so I can’t physically collect and hand over cash, I;d need to be paypalling or whatever.

What concerns me, is that the feedback seems to be up to 2006, and then stops, having restarted only a couple of weeks ago, and none of it was for bikes, save one recent transaction. Possibly suggestive of a hacked account? The buyer of the recent bike related feedback bought an Orange G2 from the seller, and oddly enough, recently sold a s/h Orange G2 themselves, a few days before. Who buys and sells virtually identical bikes for a big cash loss (the s/h went for £150 ish).

Theres something I really don’t like, but I can’t put my finger on it. Does anyone who’s better with ebay than myself smell a rat? Or does it look legit? I just can’t see how someone puporting to sell “to order” can be knocking out a Pure7 for £499. Even Cyclesurgery in their sale, were knocking them out for no less than £699, and tha’ts probably wiped their profit.

Im sure there could be a kind member on STW that lives in his neck of the woods that could check out one of the 10 P7s he apparently has for sale. Looks like a complete scam to me though.

interesting image used?
Also who lists lots of bikes (see his other items) using ebay mobile?

What have Orange said?

This phrase worries me:

This bike is a special order item and can sometimes take longer for delivery

If he has 10 to sell, how can it be a “special order”? If he is ordering them from Orange he won’t be making anything on it at that price. Any Orange bods on here?

If its too good to be true, then it usually is! 😉

Looks like a scam to me.

See, I thought to myself that it looks a scam. Is there a time limit for a disputed transaction with Ebay – longer than the postage might take, for example?

But thats when I started to look at the feedback, and there’s been 1 sale, of a G2, so far. but when I looked into that, it struck me as odd that the buyer of a new G2, has just sold a s/h G2. I;ve then tried looking further into “feedback chains” but coundn’t see anything particularly untoward, save the G2 buyer seems to specialise in rare books, as a trader, unlike a casual ebayer.

Message for payment details and options

Why would you need to message for payment details when there is a perfectly good, proven payment system in place? Massive crock of festering sewer scam IMO. He will likely refuse paypal and ask for bank transfer or (God help us) Western Union.

^This^ +100000

No specifics about model
questionable seller history
Payment outside usual channels
Vastly cheaper than elsewhere
Wierd “special order” comment
Screenshot from an ipod touch!

Why are you even considering this?!?!?!

have hit ‘buy it now’ button and said to seller I’ll drop cash round, so we’ll wait and see!

could be amusing, suppose it will mean that least the seller might get their auctions pulled to save anyone else – there are others that have bought from him

there is a mobile number on one of the other ads?

Waits for “P7 just stolen in Sheffield’ post to pop up…

This bike is a special order item and can sometimes take longer for delivery to steal

</cynical>

batfink – Member

^This^ +100000

No specifics about model
questionable seller history
Payment outside usual channels
Vastly cheaper than elsewhere
Wierd “special order” comment
Screenshot from an ipod touch!

Why are you even considering this?!?!?!

This. Have you been in touch with Orange?

He also has Rockhoppers and Orange G2’s listed.

If its legit then its the most unprofessional listing I’ve seen.

See my thread from earlier this week .

If the send you a link to a private auction then that’s the scam…

That price is less than I paid for mine second hand. Cheapest I’ve seen them for new is £799.

Always work on the principle that if it looks too good to be true, thats because it is. Wouldn’t touch it with the proverbial barge-pole myself

Well if you do buy it now, pay via paypal then it’s safe enough right?

This bike is a special order item and can sometimes take longer for delivery

Is against Ebay rules anyway.

Have you contacted the seller?

I wouldn’t buy anything off Ebay without seeing a picture of the actual item.

Ebay, he say

Listing Description:

Watch out for under-priced items and expensive items where the seller offers free delivery – if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is
Be extra cautious with Presale items (e.g. concert & event tickets) – check the seller’s feedback and selling history before purchasing and don’t leave feedback until you actually receive your purchase
Watch out for strange item descriptions – they’re often an indicator of a fraudulent listing. Common warning signs are:
Differences between the location of the item on the listing page and in the item description
The item description language differing from the seller’s country
The item description reading as if it’s been translated by an automated translator
If you suspect a listing is fraudulent or inappropriate you should use the “Report this item” link at the bottom of every listing page
Don’t buy prohibited items and always report these listings to eBay

I’ve reported the listings. Ebay can decide if they’re dodgy.

Wants payment by PayPal gift payment which, if I am correct means you are not protected by PayPal so I would give this one a very wide berth.

means you are not protected by PayPal or Ebay…

While we’re on the subject of bikes I’m taking pre-order orders and deposits on a special order of 20 units of the new Nukeproof Projo DJ frame.
Be one of the first to own this spectacular bike for a deposit of 500GBP.
I’m accepting deposits in my Unity Bank plc account.
Many thanks.

i suppose we all should do the buy it nows… then await the invoice for paypal, ebay insists that all sellers take paypal, then we can continue the transaction… With the theory that the “seller” would then incure ebay fees of 10% on maybe £20k? and i believe ebay would enforce the fees? We would be safe as wouldn’t have to pay until an invoice was raised and then would be through paypal proper:) would be interesting for sure… would make the person think a little maybe:)

Seller is saying if you buy through eBay and pay through PayPal it will take 21 days for the funds to clear, at which point he will order your bike, making a total of over a month from payment to getting it, don’t think so….

How many times must these have been reported, for eBay to do nothing. I hate the thought of people getting ripped off.

Reported too, hopefully eBay will look into this. Scumbags…..

But thats when I started to look at the feedback, and there’s been 1 sale, of a G2, so far. but when I looked into that, it struck me as odd that the buyer of a new G2, has just sold a s/h G2.

And the reason for selling the 2nd hand G2

“It is not being used and I have bought a Dahon folding mountain bike to pedal around the reservoirs”

Strange as his feedback indicates that he sold his 2nd hand G2 on the 12th May, yet he bought the “NEW” G2 on the 4th May!

Theres something I really don’t like, but I can’t put my finger on it

Really? you can’t put your finger on it?
this stinks more than a stinky thing covered in stink!

Can’t believe Ebay haven’t taken the auctions off by now. Maybe they are waiting for someone to get ripped off first

Well, I asked –

Dear french9632,

Hi – You indicate you have 10+ of these avaliable – do you have one in 17 inch. Secondly, you seem to have a variety of bikes for sale – and RRP on one of these is £999. On the adage “if it looks too good to be true, it is”, can you tell me roughly how/where you sourced these? Abroad? Bike shop closing down? Or are you a dealer? Not fussed about warranty and can assemble myself, but this account seems unused since 2006 and then not for bike sales in volume, til a few days ago and I am understandably concerned about sending £500 to a stranger, where the background seems a little “unusual”, although noting the feedback on a recent G2 sale.

Sorry to sound suspicious, I don’t mean to seem rude, but I was about to buy one of these from CycleSurgery for £699 (2011 model) when I saw this.

I got a reply –

All mine are 2012 fully legit cycles
Just starting out as tried selling one last week and the interest was amazing so trying selling more at little more than the price I pay for them wholesale
Only thing my customers do is pay up front as I have to pay for them when I order them and cannot find TGIF myself at the min
All above board just seeing how it goes
Cheers

– french9632

The odd thing about his feeback/G2 sale, is that the frame size of the purchase was 17 inch, but the second hand one that the buyer of his new one sold, was 19 inch.

I think I’ll steer clear. Somehow the word “legit” worries me. Not a totally satisfactory explanation. Unless someone at Orange is getting a buddies deal through the back door, and pasing them on to a mate, I can’t see even at wholesale parts prices, that you couls tip a Pure 7 out for £499, even allowing for dealer typical mark ups.

Unless someone at Orange is getting a buddies deal through the back

He is also selling a Specialized rockhopper, a montague folding bike and a Mongoose BMX so can’t see his dealing being with Orange…

Mark

Out of interest, I asked if I could come and see the bike(s).
reply “Don’t have any in stock I order them in to suit each customer” not on item questions section

Given that orange wont supply 18 Bikes because of their proximity to JE James, I find it extremely unlikely they will support some monkey fine upstanding pillar of the community selling them from his garage on ebay. Talk about devaluing your brand. I wouldnt touch this with a big stick. Call orange and see what they say. I’m sure that once they’ve stopped laughing they’ll will tell you that they only supply through lbs/authorised dealers. Which i’ll wager this bloke isnt.

This listing has been removed, another victory for single track??

No – it ended. I was monitoring it on my phone. I tink the same seller had relisted Orange G2’s on sunday.

He is/was also selling Orange G2’s for £400. Between £100 – £400 in ‘deposit’ via PP Gift and then wait for 3 weeks.

He denied anything weird, and cliamed he didn’t have to rip people off as he ‘had too much money to do that’ Later, he also claimed he ‘needed ebay so would not do anything to risk it’

6 people had been suckered put a deposit down so he was at least £600 to the good before he starts running.

Reported to ebay for going against loads of their selling policies, including “Listing must feature a picture of the ACTUAL ITEM FOR SALE!” They didn’t give a shit though.

toppers – the problem was more with a retailer making the fuss, Orange were otherwise happy to supply. not that I’m bitter – just to clarify 😉

Got an email from the seller yesterday:

“Hi
Noticed you didn’t purchase a bike
It’s not too late as I’m ordering today but need payment before ordering
Let me know asap”

got to give him 10/10 for trying. Be interesting to see if any feedback actually appears