Advice: Buying 2nd Hand and From a Distance

[Davey_Jones]

Hey Guys

 

So i'm in th market for a 2nd hand Tri Bike and all the best ones in my price range seem to be for sale out of town. Mostly in places i dont have friends to assist and varify the sale.  To make it worse the bike sellers all have zero track record and minimal post count on here, they basically just registered to sell their bikes.

 

What kind of advice do you guys have for buying a bike from out of town from a stranger? 

[T-Bob]

I've never had a bad issue buying from a distance but you have to do your research and only spend what you're prepared to lose if it doesn't work out.

Ask Q's, get photos and put a post up to see if a local hubber will help out to go check it. People are always there to help. If it doesn't feel right then leave it. 

[Iwan Kemp]

I'd say

• Check the seller's tarder feedback on his profile
• Ask a friend or fellow hubber to go have a look
• I've been asked to drop a bike off at a bike shop for them to give it a once over. If it is in the condition stated it's for the buyer's account, if not for the seller's account. Keep in mind that the shop will basically want to do a full service in order to have a GOOD look at ALL the bits and peices
• Use Shepherd for secure, risk-free payment
• Use a reputable courier company
• When you receive the bike IMMEDIATELY look it over for any dings, marks or issues not stated

I've bought and sold from all over and have never had a bad experience

[Davey_Jones]

Yeah I was thinking of putting a post out for hubbers in the area of the bikes to see if someone can go check it out.  Will try that when I've got cash in hand and ready to buy.

 

i like the idea of them taking it to a local bike shop will have to investigate that.

[Davey_Jones]

I'd say

• Check the seller's tarder feedback on his profile
• Ask a friend or fellow hubber to go have a look
• I've been asked to drop a bike off at a bike shop for them to give it a once over. If it is in the condition stated it's for the buyer's account, if not for the seller's account. Keep in mind that the shop will basically want to do a full service in order to have a GOOD look at ALL the bits and peices
• Use Trader's Vault for secure, risk-free payment
• Use a reputable courier company
• When you receive the bike IMMEDIATELY look it over for any dings, marks or issues not stated

I've bought and sold from all over and have never had a bad experience

 

Ah thank you for that.  I thought I had seen something like that here but couldn't remember the name.  That looks like a good option and not too costly.

i guess if the seller doesn't agree to use tradersvault they should not be trusted.

[Iwan Kemp]

Ah thank you for that.  I thought I had seen something like that here but couldn't remember the name.  That looks like a good option and not too costly.

i guess if the seller doesn't agree to use tradersvault they should not be trusted.

 

Trader's Vault not operating anymore. Have a look at https://www.paywithshepherd.com/

[Butterbean]

I've bought a couple of bikes from far and you need to be really meticulous with the detail of photos that are sent.

 

Be prepared for, and add to your buying budget, cash to replace consumables like chain, cassettes, jockey wheels, and BB, possibly headset bearings too. Have had to replace the entire drive train on a MTB that was "just serviced".

 

Other than that, expect the usual stuff and make sure you protect yourself as best as possible. Hubbers are normally excellent help in far out areas, tradersvault is no longer around but EFT or get Hubber to assist.

[eddy]

Google image search the photos posted to see if they were lifted from the web.

 

If they were, it is definitely a scam even though the opposite is not necessarily a safeguard.

[Shebeen]

my best advice is to get friends from the area! ask a hubber!

 

 

otherwise this thread title was just begging for this

 

[Schnavel]

Make sure that the hubber you are buying from has a good rating - there is a reason that people accumulate good ratings.