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Thanks KingTJ I'm glad that some of you guys got the whole point of this topic and really tired about some members trying to do whatever is possible to bring the issue away Let's wait to hear from epic about the VAT number on the invoice Also seeing that some of you are doubting the emails and Invoice I could forward the emails with the conversation I had with epic and invoice to an administrator of this forum.

Just writing this to put few facts straight seeing that some people here are doing whatever is possible to turn this topic into someone else. - Epicshopbike assured me I'd get back the VAT at the airpot - Epicshopbike provided an invoice with a VAT number not recognized from the system so I wasn't able to claim the VAT - 6 months later they didn't provide a new invoice with a real VAT number on it - When I started this topic after 30 minutes I got an email from them telling me that it wasn't good for US to be on the forum and threatened me saying that if I won't delete he won't pay back the VAT - A certain @therock starts commenting bringing the topic somewhere else - a certain @zilla using @therock comment makes a point trying again to bing the topic into something else and talking as he is not involved in this matter - a user recognizes that @zilla is epicshopbike - again @zilla now talking as thebikeshop comments talking about things that have nothing to do with the topic,lying in many points and trying to look good and clean - the invoice he provided and emails we exchanged that I posted here tells it all I don't know what else to say,it should be clear to all of you by now.involved with epicbikeshop or not; He should't have done what he did and instead he had to be clear about the VAT and apologize for the "mistake" he has done Will contact SARS and will see how things move forward Thank you everyone

Just noticed this so I had to post it! He says : We spoke about a VAT return at the airport, I said I would provide as much as I could on paper but was not aware of the complete list of requirements. My Invoice does not state Tax Invoice or show a VAT number. http://i61.tinypic.com/fcuwk1.png This is part of the invoice,I deleted the parts with confidential information as you can all see VAT and Tax Invoice are on it. Double lie again Zilla?

Zilla you're very good at turning things around and for sure a good seller and a great writer. When I bought my bike you were making it look that claiming the VAT I would get a great deal and now you are saying that it's actually not worth it to get it back because of the difference in the country taxation. Do you tell this to the foreigners who buy things at your shop? and again how come you wrote me on the emails that you were sure I would get it back when you knew it wouldn't happen? Also what about the email of a few days ago threatening me to delete the topic otherwise you won't give me back the VAT?that's how you do business? You're finally admitting that your business doesn't have a VAT,so the last invoice I requested for the TAX refund office is actually an invoice with a fake VAT on it?With a VAT on it that does't belong to epicbikeshop. How I'm the one here trying to make a profit and breaking the law? why din't you just tell me that I wasn't going to get the VAT when I asked you in the beginning? Also stop to assume things and instead of trying to make yourself look good,apologize for your mistake (you still didn't do it) and run your business in a honest way making the customers aware that you don't have a VAT. Maybe you didn't realize it yet but if we're here it's just because you weren't clear and honest. I'm NOT complaining about the price of the bike,I never did and I was well aware I would pay way less in Italy but still decided to buy it in Cape Town. The point of this topic is that you're using an invalid VAT and not making your customers aware of it. Here are some of the emails we exchanged so it's clear for all of you how it went - His answer on one of the first emails regarding the VAT where he says I can claim the VAT http://i58.tinypic.com/apbri8.png Few days before leaving I wanted to make sure everything was in order so I sent him another email and this is what he replied http://i62.tinypic.com/jfwzeh.png http://i57.tinypic.com/2zemfc4.png The email once I got the notification from the tax refund about the Fake VAT,as you can all see he says that he is waiting for a new VAT http://i61.tinypic.com/j7volw.png Right now he is saying that he will apply when it's time. "Epic Bike Shop as it stands is now under new management, the 10 year old cc has not been dissolved and I could not take that over and so I started up as a Sole Proprietor. My accountant will advise when its required to register this for VAT or change the entity type " the email of few days ago when he first saw the topic,trying to change the topic and not focusing on the real matter. http://i58.tinypic.com/2ldw1t0.png Let's move forward with this and inform the local authorities with what happened to see who's breaking the law. As you can all see this guy it's for sure a good seller but he also lies a lot! I know he has a lot of friends on this forum trying to defend and support him but open your eyes,he deliberately lied on the VAT to make a sale.

That's exactly what the lady at the VAT refund in the airport told them,if their VAT is not valid they have to give me back the 14% from their pocket! but that didn't happen

I understand but what would you think if a shop tells you that you'll get the VAT back and then they give you an invoice without VAT? On the top of all once the tax refund office asked them for a proper invoice with a VAT and they sent a new invoice with a VAT number that it s actually not valid? The bike seller is on this forum and already wrote once on this topic so he is following the conversation and can clarify everything

The way I see it is that the seller had to be clear about it,knowing that I wasn't going to claim it he had to tell me so I was aware and could make my own decision. But telling me that i wouldn't have any troubles claiming the VAT back when he knew very well he was lying and it wasn't going to happen then I feel scammed. Also it's funny to me that he is focusing so much on the fact that I would actually pay more when I would get back on my Country because of the different VAT taxation when instead if you go to buy something you'll never hear about it and they actually make it seen that with the VAT refund you're getting a good bargain!

Hi Marc Sorry but that was not my case,I could have both the same bike at my country with at lest 30 % less. At the time I was going to be in Cape Town for few more months so didn't want to wait and bought it knowing it was actually more expensive. But what I was't expecting at all seeing that they assured me I'd get the VAT was that I had to go through this mess and 5 months later since I left still didn't get it. @rock how come you care this much if I paid local VAT in my home country?!? making a point for @zilla and don't care about why the seller it's actually lying knowing that the VAT wasn't going to be refunded?

Sorry Zilla but how come I don't recall knowing you but you know me that well that you even know that the VAT on my country is 22%? Wild guess?

But then why did they assure me that I would be able to get the VAT refund when they knew it wasn't going to happen? If I knew all this there is no way I would have both the Bicycle from them and overall in Cape Town seeing that it's way overpriced ( I knew that)

On February 2015 I bought a very nice bicycle from Epicbikeshop, before purchasing it I had a long conversation with them through emails about what I was going to buy and they assured me many times (got written emails) that once I would leave South Africa i was going to get the VAT back. In April I left Cape Town and one week before leaving I again asked them if the invoice was fine and if I needed anything else in order to get the money back. They told me i just had to bring the Invoice with the bicycle and they would give me the money back. The day I left I went earlier to the airport just in case something would go wrong. When I went to the VAT Refund office the person working there checked the bicycle and when she took a look at the invoice she told me that the VAT number of the store was missing from the letter. If I wanted to get the VAT back I had to provide them with a proper invoice. Then she actually called them and asked them to send a proper invoice with the VAT number on it, she also told them that if they charged me the VAT without having it registered they had to refund me the money. They assured her that they were going to send a proper invoice right away since we were waiting at the airport for this but after 30-40 minutes it still didn't happen. I called them again because I was in rush and they finally sent it on my email. I went to print it and when the worker at the airport checked the invoice with the VAT on it, it showed on the system that the VAT was not registered! So she told me to leave her all my information and in case the VAT was good they would inspect it and send me a debit card on my home address. I had to leave to catch my flight. In July 2015 I finally get a mail from the South African Tax department saying that the VAT of the vendor has been excluded from Export Incentive Scheme therefore unable to process my claim! I called the Epic Bike Shop and they told me that they are going to find a solution with the VAT and that they will give me back the money. Spoke with them a few weeks ago and they told me that the new VAT is still in process. Is this something that often happens in South Africa? I really don't want to lose the money, they have to give me back my money for the VAT that I paid. What can I do about it? I would really appreciate any suggestions,

Was thinking the same. The fast forward Celeste are just a bit more and look great with my Bianchi at this point would have been worth to get those instead of the Chinese one. Will get the wheels soon guys and let you know how it goes

What you said makes sense at this point should I go cheap at get the older model at $575 and see how it goes or the newer with normal but at $760? Also the newer wheels are a bit lighter

Yes it's is expensive,not cheap to be chinese wheels I have to say,but the seller is telling me that the components used are the best one so I don't know,I'm not really an expert

Guys I decided to try the Yoeleo The options are the older model http://www.yoeleobike.com/carbon-wheels-700c-clincher-50mm.html With Hub Novatec A291SB / F482SB Aero Bladed Spokes 494 Width 23mm Price $575 and the newer one,seems like to be the best one they made so far with top components as spokes/hubs http://www.yoeleobike.com/yoeleo-c50-red-clincher-road-racing-wheelset.html With Hub DT SWISS 240S (only the hub is $230) Sapim CX-Ray Spokes Width 23mm Price : $990 With normal hub $ 760 Should I go with the older model and save some money to just get the best they got?another options would be get the newer model with the hub they provide so save $230. What would you suggest?

Wow nice so many feedbacks,thanks guys! Going to get the Chinese wheels and if not happy will get the bora! I'm chatting with yoeleo pretty often and they seem very helpful.

I would love to get the bora and actually in italy I can find it second hand for a good price but they are all tubular

Black Spade?

That was one of my options but then seeing that I'm leaving soon makes more sense for me to get the Chinese one. But if the quality of dark horse is better that I don't know

Ok I believe I'll get them. Would you go with the new one or the older model with a lot of reviews? Really want the bora but they are too expensive and the only second hand I can find are tubbies

Yes Clinchers. They also have this wheelset available,cheaper and with a lot of good reviews. http://www.yoeleobike.com/carbon-wheels-700c-clincher-50mm.html $500 with the best components they sell it with I also heard from them that they are going to have a reseller in South Africa soon,

I'm looking to but a 50mm wheelset for my new bike and doing a research on the Chinese sellers I ended up talking to Yoeleo. They seem very professional and ready to help,asked them what are their best wheels and they suggested me to get this one http://www.yoeleobike.com/sat-c50-ghost-clincher-road-racing-wheelset.html It's a new product and they don't have many reviews. What do you think about it?should I got with the normal hub they provide or the DT Swiss 240s ($230) ? is it worth to spend $1000 for it?

Amazing ride this morning Clifton - Cape Point - Clifton 100 km of pure beauty,great weather,no wind and not so many cars! What else? Thanks Cape Town

Thanks a lot

I did a research online and found good reviews on this one : Scicon Aerotech Evolution Bike Case Where could I get one in Cape Town?or maybe can I order it online outside SA?