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British Bikes / Re: Buying a bike over the internet
« on: November 13, 2009, 07:03:44 AM »
Go there, and see it. Put it in your car and bring it home. There are too many scams about to run the risk.
Recently I was made aware of a very convincing scam of a bike advertised in the UK. Photos, were good and the story convincing; deceased uncle etc and so forth. Numbers were quoted, but the photos a little bit limited. Extra photos weren't possible because the bike was in Scilly or somesuch inaccessible place. However, it was an obscure make, and was recognised by one of the obscure make fraternity. The owner was contacted, but his bike was not for sale.
The explanation was deceptively simple. The photos had been gathered from the last time this bike was sold, along with the advert details of that time 6 years ago, and the whole thing was bogus. Some poor wretch may well have paid his money, travelled down to Scilly and been very upset to find, well, errr, nothing at all.
Against that, I have just bought a bike sight unseen from the UK, and am tickled pink with what has arrived here in Oz. I did have someone go and check it out for me, though.
As for protection? Caveat Emptor.
cheers,
JFerg
Recently I was made aware of a very convincing scam of a bike advertised in the UK. Photos, were good and the story convincing; deceased uncle etc and so forth. Numbers were quoted, but the photos a little bit limited. Extra photos weren't possible because the bike was in Scilly or somesuch inaccessible place. However, it was an obscure make, and was recognised by one of the obscure make fraternity. The owner was contacted, but his bike was not for sale.
The explanation was deceptively simple. The photos had been gathered from the last time this bike was sold, along with the advert details of that time 6 years ago, and the whole thing was bogus. Some poor wretch may well have paid his money, travelled down to Scilly and been very upset to find, well, errr, nothing at all.
Against that, I have just bought a bike sight unseen from the UK, and am tickled pink with what has arrived here in Oz. I did have someone go and check it out for me, though.
As for protection? Caveat Emptor.
cheers,
JFerg