Anyone else been ripped off by a fellow WW?

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

Moderators: robbosmans, Moderator Team

User avatar
theremery
Posts: 2658
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:56 am
Location: New Zealand

by theremery

I buy from the forum a lot (and I mean a LOT!) and I've never had a bad experience. I'm sensible and either know them or check them out carefully. I recently bought a pair of U20's (expensive little toys) and they had a part missing. I contacted the gentleman concerned and he looked for the part.....worked out it was his error but realised he couldn't fix it. He fully refunded my money and told me to keep the (part) U20's [the axle had been shortened and the compression caps lost].
I'm not sure what I'll do with them but the seller was an absolute gent......and did his best to make things right. This is my typical experience.....either great parts from people who know what "perfect condition " actually means and at a great price...or in the very rare instance of a foul-up, a truly awesome effort to "make good".
Updated: Racing again! Thought this was unlikely! Eventually, I may even have a decent race!
Edit: 2015: darn near won the best South Island series (got second in age
-group)..woo hoo Racy Theremery is back!!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
shoemakerpom2010
Posts: 296
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:28 pm
Location: Palm Coast, Fl.

by shoemakerpom2010

I could go broke very easy buying from here its that good :thumbup:

User avatar
devinci
Posts: 2904
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 9:43 pm
Location: Canada

by devinci

I agree, I buy and sell on here, just make sure the seller is a reputable poster, no issue.

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

I've bought and sold (bought more than sold) quite a few items from fellow WW and never had an issue. Since buying poses a greater risk than selling (you don't ship until you receive payment), I just do some due diligence on the seller and use Paypal.

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

devinci wrote:I agree, I buy and sell on here, just make sure the seller is a reputable poster, no issue.



+1

Would be great to have a member reputation scoring system just like ebay, audiogon, etc. though.

thisisatest
Shop Owner
Posts: 1980
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:02 am
Location: NoVA/DC

by thisisatest

I frequent f1technical.com and they have a member reputation rating system. Other members basically vote you one up at one down. You know a -3 guy might not be worth listening to. or is argumentative, etc. Others are +75.

KWalker
Posts: 5722
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:30 pm
Location: Bay Area

by KWalker

They had that on weightlifting forums too, but it ends up just being a battle of who likes who.
Don't take me too seriously. The only person that doesn't hate Froome.
Gramz
Failed Custom Bike

User avatar
mec287
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:18 am
Location: West Midlands, UK

by mec287

Hi Guys,

I'm a relative newbie here but for what its worth, what's attracted me is the quality of some of the stuff for sale in the forum, and that fact that the people on here are genuine and interested in better quality / higher end parts.

One note of caution on the scenario where you place an ad (anywhere) and someone (who's often very keen on the sale) offers to wire you money over and above the sale value and asks you to send the balance by money transfer with the item being picked up by their 'courier'. This is a well known scam involving counterfeit foreign bank transfers; it takes weeks or months for the money in your account to be identified as fraudulent at which point you lose it (because the bank refuses to honour it); if you shipped the item in good faith you lose out doubly.

I listed an as new 2012 S-Works SL4 on another site's forum for £4,950 and was offered £11,000 for it in this way!! It was tempting but I did some searching around and the scam is well documented, and when I challenged the prospective purchaser for thier address and details they stopped responding!!

If it looks too good to be true - it is!!
S-works 2012 in Red viewtopic.php?f=10&t=111951" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UpFromOne
Posts: 1181
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:23 am
Location: Olympic Nat'l Park, WA

by UpFromOne

Just found this thread, I have a story to tell, you can make up your own minds.

On December 30 "benras30" posted an ad for "FS:LIGHTWEIGHT VENTOUX GEN 3 WHEELSET TUBULARS". He asked GBP 1100.
Sounded like a deal to me, so I immediately replied to his email as he requested (did not want PMs). He had no paypal, and would not give a bank account for wire (for which the banks do background checks), nor any personal info. Wanted Western Union. Since he seemed to know about the wheels, I went for it.

After having been used by many a crook, Western Union now investigates each recipient. My WU wire to him in London was voided by Western Union for security issues. In other words, they rejected him internally, for reasons undisclosed to me other than "security risk". So my bank was instructed, by them, to return my money, which it did. At least I have my funds.

When I immediately emailed him with this news, I never heard from him again.
The ad shows that it was his first post. So I Pm'd the moderator (Florian) several times without reply.
That's all I know.The ad is still up, even today.

You can make your own decision - I am merely telling my story because I am sure other members must have inquired about this GREAT deal.
I've been on here for a couple years and had many a great trading experience. This was my first problem ever.

User avatar
HammerTime2
Posts: 5813
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 4:43 pm
Location: Wherever there's a mountain beckoning to be climbed

by HammerTime2

benras30 memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=56072 , met neither the minimum time since registration nor post count when the ad was posted. As of now, benras30 most recently visited the board at Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:26 am EST.

User avatar
maverick_1
Posts: 742
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:20 pm
Location: Tokyo

by maverick_1

@UpFromOne,

That was obviously a scam.
As mentioned by HammerTime2, seller has insufficient post count.
If the price is too good to be true, with insufficient post count, avoid at all cost.
Also do a background check on forum members with post count of 150 or less. Never send money thru Western Union, Moneygram etc.

It's either Paypal or nothing.

Cheers!

UpFromOne
Posts: 1181
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:23 am
Location: Olympic Nat'l Park, WA

by UpFromOne

I don't disagree. But what gets me is reporting the ad, along with several PMs to 2 different moderators, with no reply or action. Especially when it's his first post! I fully understand mods are busy and may not reply for a few days, but what gives?

User avatar
maverick_1
Posts: 742
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:20 pm
Location: Tokyo

by maverick_1

I guess that happens occasionally.

Solution is to have an automatic system which prevent members from posting in the Sale forum if he/she doesn't meet a certain post count.

UpFromOne
Posts: 1181
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:23 am
Location: Olympic Nat'l Park, WA

by UpFromOne

Thanks & good riddance to that ad!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
Powerful Pete
Moderator
Posts: 4132
Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:22 am
Location: Lima, Peru and the Washington DC area - it's complicated.

by Powerful Pete

Sorry about that Upfromone. Also checked here, no PM.

We try to immediately delete the posters who don't meet rules. I urge you all to NOT purchase goods from those who have not been actively involved in the forum and who do not follow the rules.

Makes for a better community for all of us.

Best, PP
Road bike: Cervelo R3, Campagnolo Chorus/Record mix...
Supercommuter: Jamis Renegade...
Oldie but goodie: De Rosa Professional Slx, Campagnolo C-Record...
And you can call me Macktastik Honey Pete Kicks, thank you.

Post Reply