Hi hubbers, I am the seller of the bike Freesoul bought. I am not here for conflict, just to state my side of the story as I got nothing to hide. I sold the bike for a friend of mine. OP started enquiring about the bike on the 8th of January 2021. I sent him all the photos that was provided, and I also stated that the frame was covered with decals in a different color as the original color just as personal preference as we all know if a frame gets resprayed red flags pops up. He also asked me about the crank length, and I said it is a 172.5mm (My mistake, and I apologized for the mistake as I know I am human, and we all make mistakes). He paid the money into my friends account the next day and send me a POP. Friend rode the bike before he brought it to me on Monday 11th Jan to get boxed. I went through the gears and saw everything shifts and then boxed the bike. I removed the handlebar and front wheel the fit the bike into the box. Friday 15th Jan I received a message from buyer:” Hi. Got the bike! All looks good. Are the original decals under the new ones?”, I replied “Hi, glad to hear. Yes, if you peel those off.”. Saturday morning 16th Jan, 06:32am I received a photo of the front derailleur showing the cracked housing, where the buyer says he was about to start riding and he noticed the crack. 10.23am I told him I was trying to get hold of my friend and will revert to him with a plan. 11.25am I phoned him later and told him I am sorry about it and did not notice the crack when I boxed the bike, but I will look for a replacement front derailleur and replace it. I then learned that his gears are not working at all now and he has tried to take it out of crash mode will diagnose it on E-Tube. Monday 18th Jan, I receive a message “FYI-I am taking the bike to my LBS this am to check out the full di2 system since I couldn’t get it to work with e-tube. I have used e-tube with my TT bike in the past and was able to configure most issues…” I tried to phone him, but he was in a meeting and then received photos of the rear derailleur later that morning showing damage to it. (Only found out later that the mechy opened the rear derailleur without notifying me) Buyer then suggested that he just sends the bike back and requested a refund. I then told him it is very strange as the bike was ridden before it got boxed and the gears were working perfect. He then said he is not sure what happened between then and when the bike arrived in his care and that he has lost faith in the bike and not sure what else has been “patched” up. I then told him I will phone the friend again to find out and that it is strange how it did work and not now. Buyer then asked for my return address and that he will provide banking details for refund. In the meantime, I did get hold of my friend and asked him to give the buyer a call as he knows the history of the bike better. Buyer then told me “Not sure why you gave ……. My number. Spoke to him, explained the problem. Again, my agreement is with you. Bike shop is busy boxing bike so please send return address. Bank details to follow shortly.” I then received a phone call from the buyer where he started becoming very rude and arrogant towards me and all I was trying to do was to find out the exact story of what happened and how I can help. I then sent him a message “Hi …… there’s nothing wrong with the bike and everything was working when I boxed the bike. We learned now that the front and rear derailleur is not working and are willing to replace that for you with like for like parts or we are willing to pay secondhand market value of what you claimed to be damaged and then send us back the damaged parts please.”. Buyer tried to phone me two times after I sent the message, but I did not answer as he was very rude over the phone previously. Buyer then asked me how long it will take to source parts and I told him there are a few factors, but I am trying then sent me a message explain how I must trade as a dealer for future reference (I am not a dealer and I told that to the buyer as well). He then sent me the photos I sent him before the sale happened, zoomed in on the front derailleur to show the crack on the housing. Tuesday 19th Jan, I get a message from buyer asking what is going on. I then replied saying I am trying to find replacement part Like I said the day before. He then asked how long this is going to take and did I see the above pictures. He then also said “I am not going to wait two weeks, so we have two options. 1. You give full refund so I can look for another bike. This also takes the pressure of you. 2. You purchase new replacement parts so I can get going imminently, as in this week. Please do let me know.” I replied, “Yes I did see the above pics and I didn’t see the crack. I gave you a second option. “I then told him again what the second option was I gave him the day before. He then said its not going to work for him I must supply him ASAP or a refund, he does not want this to get ugly, I must decide. I then said I will let you know as soon as I find parts. Thursday 21st Jan, buyer again asked me what the plan is, and I replied still the same plan and I will let him know once I have the parts. Buyer messaged me again saying he is not prepared to wait any longer and he has done some enquires and no one has stock, I must process a refund ASAP and he will send bike back. He then tried to phone me, and I did not answer. He then said, “It would be highly advisable to take my call.” (You guys saw the screenshot where I replied I am not going to answer as he does not treat me with respect.) Conversation then just went with why I do not just do a refund, and do I think this is the way to conduct business and do I think it is fair that he must wait weeks. I asked how he can expect brand new derailleurs. He then asked me again how long he must wait and why don’t I just refund him. I told him I cannot give a date but am trying my best. I asked him to send back the derailleurs as I think it is fair to see them for myself and then we can take it from there. As I sold him the bike with working components and now suddenly it is not working. He then asked me how much money I am willing to give him to source his own parts, I replied R4500 and referred to the second option I gave him. I did tell him I will pay as soon as I have a tracking number and the parts are on their way. I ended up arranging collection as I am covering the postage. Pick up was postponed till Monday 25th January by the buyer. Monday 25th January, buyer told me he found a brand-new rear derailleur and he will only be able to get to his LBS the next day or the day after and he will hang onto the FD for now as is working. I told him I am glad to hear and he can just let me know when he is ready for me to arrange collection. Thursday afternoon 28th January, he notifies me the RD has been swapped out and is ready for collection and he is keeping the FD for now. Friday 29th January, I told him I am arranging it for that day. Tuesday 02nd February, I received the rear derailleur. Later receive a message with a photo of the crank arm from the buyer that he just noticed the crank arm length is 175mm and not 172.5 like I said. “Dude just noticed the cranks are not 172.5 as I am busy getting a setup. This is now bull****. I am now super pissed as I explicitly asked this.” I did not respond immediately as I was busy at that stage. When I had time a bit later, I phoned him and I said I am really sorry it is my stuff up I will definitely sort it out. During this conversation again I am trying to help and sort this out as I know I slipped up by thinking and not checking the crank arm length. He then asked about the rear derailleur and I said to him I saw now that it has been opened and I how must I know if the mechy did not damage anything. He started getting very rude with me where I told him if he doesn’t treat me with respect, I am not going to talk to him further. He started threating me with legal action as he does have money and he is sure I do not have. He has taken someone to CPA before so he knows he can take me as well. He is going to make sure he gets thousands from me and he will pull my name into the ground and destroy me. He knows exactly who I am and where I worked. He will get his lawyer to send me a letter if I don’t pay him within two hours. He has got a lot more experience than what I’ve got I was still swinging in my dad’s balls. I ended up telling him if he mentions my name, I can sue him. And that he is wasting my time now, how must I look for a crank if he keeps on wanting to argue over the phone. Conversation eventually ended and I thought there are going to be lawyers involved now so I sent “If you have any issues. Please contact my lawyer, with her email addresses.” He then asked me again am I going to pay him monies back for the RD and Crank and notified me he sent a mail to the lawyer. Tuesday 3rd February, I get a message from buyer “Can you please answer my question? Are you going to provide some compensation for the RD (as previously agreed) and the cranks? I would like to find closure on this. I replied, “Morning Luke, I am not going to give you some compensation for the rear derailleur, because as you stated in the Forum. The rear derailleur was working. With the crank however I will give you R2500 and I want the on you bike back. As soon as I get a notification that it is collected, I will pay. If there are any issues with this, you do have my lawyers email address.” He replied, “I think that’s extremely unfair mate. The RD worked for 1km until it broke after shifting down to the lowest gear. Are you saying this is my fault? Why are you going back on your word? Also are you going to pay for the mechanic to swap it out? Also please send me your lawyers office number.” I said “I have gotten a few cranks on the hub before for between R2000 and R2250. There is money to take a crank off.” He replied, “My LBS charges R450 per service. I really can’t believe you are going down this route. What about the cracked FD? DO I get anything back for that? Please tell me why are you changing your mind with regards to the compensation for the RD?” I didn’t reply back to him. Thursday 4th February, “When are you going to pay me my money for the crank and the RD or FD. Also send me your lawyers contact number. He is not responding to my emails and I need to get hold of him. Also, I have named you on my post on the Bikehub as I am done with this crap. You wanted a war, lets go.” I replied, “I never wanted a war, you started with the threats. I wanted to handle it like adults, clearly its not something you are capable off.” Buyer, “You had the opportunity to do the right thing and replace the broken parts as we agreed in this chat. I was even willing to keep the cracked FD as there was no stock. You have since changed your tune many times thus we are at a stalemate. You have given me zero compensation for anything thus far including the lied about crank length. Bottom line, you sold me broken bike and lied about certain components to make the sale. Recourse is coming my friend. And please send me your lawyers’ number so I can send him a few things to get this ball rolling. How many times do I have to ask!” I replied, “My lawyers has received no email from you. Also its weird that you say you sent the mail to my lawyer but in the forum you mention you are seeking legal advice, this after telling me the letter was sent. It’s clear from the forum you are looking for support and acting like the victim, but you not. The bike was sold voetstoots. I’m trying to help you as I want to do the right thing, sorting out the FD I will action. Sorting out the RD that was tampered with, no way. I would’ve but found out on a forum you had opened it… Sorting out the crank length its my mistake. I will sort it out. As mentioned, I also noted from the forum you make it seem as if I “lawyered up” this is not the case. You advised me of how you will destroy me, as you have money and I’m poor. And you will ruin my life and you have lawyers etc. So I informed you I too have legal counsel.” He then replied, “There is no such thing as voetstoots mate. You are accountable for the goods you sell on even as a individual (as apposed to a dealer) as you claim you are. You have not once tried to help, but rather tried to bend the narrative to suit your story. Furthermore, I took the RD to my LBS in order for them to try fix the problem. He is qualified Di2 mechanic and was triaging the issue, that what they do! Also send me his telephone number or you will receive the letter. Up to you. And yes, I am the victim here bud. I have exported the full Whatsapp convo. I am going to post in onto the forum for them all to see. The truth is there mate. And the original add that you tried to delete where it was stated as “mint” condition. Also something you didn’t mention, you had a tire plug in the front wheel which was a botched job so I replaced it. Another Idea of mint condition.” He then sent me proof that he did send a mail, but she is currently on leave so I asked he must send it to het personal address that I also previously provided.
