Buying a bike over the phone. Some advice please

[Jesse Erasmus]

Hi guys, as some of you might know the service called Shepherd from Gumtree has closed down. I'm buying a bicycle from CT and delivered to Jeffreys Bay. Any suggestions of how to make a safe purchase?? The Bikelane in CT will package the bike. Anyone know if I can trust them? Help will be much appreciated. Regards,

[fabs]

Its always best to have "eyes on the ground"

Find a friend in CPT who will go past and have a look at the bike before making the payment.

Friend can also help you arrange the transport.

Good luck.

[Cippo]

Hi guys, as some of you might know the service called Shepherd from Gumtree has closed down. I'm buying a bicycle from CT and delivered to Jeffreys Bay. Any suggestions of how to make a safe purchase?? The Bikelane in CT will package the bike. Anyone know if I can trust them? Help will be much appreciated. Regards,

Are you buying from Bikelane? 

[HeyYou]

I'm sure there must be at least one hubber in Cape Town, near the seller tht will be willing to help .... get eyes on the ground .... as fabs says.

 

I'v done it for guys in my area, please ask and don't buy blind, it's a recipe for disaster.

[Cippo]

If you are buying from Bikelane I can vouch they are my brick 'n mortar LBS up the road from me.

[m-squared]

Hi guys, as some of you might know the service called Shepherd from Gumtree has closed down. I'm buying a bicycle from CT and delivered to Jeffreys Bay. Any suggestions of how to make a safe purchase?? The Bikelane in CT will package the bike. Anyone know if I can trust them? Help will be much appreciated. Regards,

 

What I did when I purchased a bike out of town was ask the seller to deliver the bike to their LBS.  I called the LBS and asked them questions about it.  Obviously, make sure it's a reputable LBS.

[Jesse Erasmus]

Are you buying from Bikelane?

Not from Bike Lane but he will package and prepare the bike for me and then courier company will pick it up from Bikelane

[m-squared]

Not from Bike Lane but he will package and prepare the bike for me and then courier company will pick it up from Bikelane

 

I would get him to take the bike to BikeLane and then have them look it over.  Call them and ask them questions - overall condition, wear and tear on all parts, anything falling apart, etc.  The LBS can then package and send for you if you're happy to continue the deal.

[CASSIE1975]

I would get him to take the bike to BikeLane and then have them look it over.  Call them and ask them questions - overall condition, wear and tear on all parts, anything falling apart, etc.  The LBS can then package and send for you if you're happy to continue the deal.

 

+1 

[Thomo]

Maybe ask Cippo nicely to go and have a look and share a 3rd opinion.?

[Me rida my bicycle]

Yes let him take the bike to a trusted place choosen by you not him. I have used cwc in the past to courier a bike was cheap compared to other couriers and they boxed it the works.

[Boerklong]

Yes let him take the bike to a trusted place choosen by you not him. I have used cwc in the past to courier a bike was cheap compared to other couriers and they boxed it the works.

This.

 

Not too long ago there was a thread about the seller choosing who should look at the bike and which lbs should box it before shipping. Needless to say, it became a sh1tstorm when the buyer opened the box.

[Boerklong]

Ps. I will rather lose R150-R200 paying a shop to check it out than fork out R1500-R2000 for replacement parts that the owner forgot to mention.