"Camp Freddy, everyone in the world is bent"

[DJFish]

This is the second time I've contacted a seller on a popular internet auction site to enquire about bikes for sale.

A GT Transeo Disc 1.0 and Giant XR2 to be precise.

Each time the bike was advertised with a library picture.
Each time I heard nothing back from the seller once I'd asked if they were in possession of a receipt from the point of sale.

Is there anywhere on the internet where one can buy a 2nd hand bike with a reasonable chance of avoiding receiving stolen goods?

Cheers
Dave

[curlie467]

I would try places like bike radar, or specialist cycling forums etc.

[RRS_Staffs]

1) "popular internet auction site"

2) "library picture"

[Mr Will]

Stop trying to find a "bargain". If it's underpriced there will be a reason for it.

Applies to Bikes, Cars and just about anything else you can buy second hand on the internet.

[Engineer1]

I don't know there are still the little old lady, house clearance following bereavement who will sell cheap because they don't know what it is actually worth, but they will be rare, and are unlikely to use library pictures.

[DJFish]

I wouldn't say I'm after a bargain as such, more that I'm happy to save a few bob on a "previously cherished" bike, just as I would on a car rather than paying list price and losing a packet as soon as it rolled out of the shop.

Then again I wouldn't buy a car on a popular internet auction site either.....

I suspect the sale section of Wiggle/Evans/Chain Reactions may be my best bet however I've had a good look on Bike Radar and that seems like an excellent website, thanks for the suggestion.

[Mr Will]

DJFish said:

I wouldn't say I'm after a bargain as such, more that I'm happy to save a few bob on a "previously cherished" bike, just as I would on a car rather than paying list price and losing a packet as soon as it rolled out of the shop.

Then again I wouldn't buy a car on a popular internet auction site either.....

I suspect the sale section of Wiggle/Evans/Chain Reactions may be my best bet however I've had a good look on Bike Radar and that seems like an excellent website, thanks for the suggestion.

I'm not saying don't buy second hand, just when on bike is 25% cheaper than all the other second hand ones it's probably a bad sign...

[Chicane-UK]

Nothing wrong with eBay - just make sure you only buy from people with good feedback! And as others have said, if something seems too cheap to be true, it's usually because it is. Always look for photos of the actual item, a description from someone knows what they're talking about (not just a cut and paste from the website) and as I say good feedback. Can't go too wrong.

Bought an excellent Giant Bowery single speed / fixie from a guy with an unblemished record and the bike was exactly as advertised. Been faultless since the day I got it!

[anonymous-user]

I sold a bike on Ebay today (5 bikes in the garage was putting a strain on the marriage!), for a fair price. The buyer turned up within 1 hour of auction ending, paid cash, feedback left, my best ever sale!