Can You Trust Second-Hand Bike Sellers

[SoloCyclist]

9 minutes ago, dave303e said:

my 2c (and we know opinions are like rectums. we all have one, you may not want to hear mine)

We each have a risk tolerance.

If it were a dealer or broker you will have more trust but likely pay more. You also have more recourse to call out a company than an individual.
If it is a 2k Giant Liv on FB marketplace listed by a random as an unwanted prize, probably a lot less trust and nearly 0 recourse.

But end of the day the decision is up to you based on your historical experience and risk aversion.
Bikehub has done a lot to try drop the risk with bikehub pay. It is there in the details:
https://help.bikehub.co.za/en/articles/4611636-how-does-bike-hub-pay-protect-me-as-a-buyer

If bike arrives with a hole in the frame when listed as 'barely used' send it back with bikehub pay. Reason: Item not received as described.

If you are ordering without seeing it, not using bikehub pay and blindly trusting anyone then maybe time to reconsider a few things.

The other thing to consider is an actual accident with 0 Malice. That hole is behind a chain ring, seller might be trading bikes left right and center and not had time to inspect every element and have missed a key issue. It happens we are humans.

While I agree with you.........dont get me wrong, but

1. Why are you lying about the item ? (community forum we will always call you out) hardly used.......lolz bike was WELL used over a course of 6 years

2. If you buying items from a salvage company you owe it to yourself to inspect the items as your reputation is now on the line before advertising

3. Bike was cleaned up for the photos, how did the seller miss the hole ?

Edited April 23 by SoloCyclist

[Luqies]

A thought based on all the trust concerns around buying used bikes:

Maybe local bike shops could be part of the solution. Deals could happen at a shop where the bike can be inspected on the spot, with a inspection fee per bike.

Alternatively, the LBS could offer a basic condition report—something they could even include after a service. That report could then be shared with potential buyers to build trust and justify pricing.

It helps reduce risk for buyers and could potentially increase the resale value for sellers.

I know there’s a question of whether shops would support this if it competes with their own sales—but if there’s a fee involved, it could actually create an additional revenue stream for them while bringing more people into their stores.

[SoloCyclist]

2 minutes ago, Luqies said:

A thought based on all the trust concerns around buying used bikes:

Maybe local bike shops could be part of the solution. Deals could happen at a shop where the bike can be inspected on the spot, with a inspection fee per bike.

Alternatively, the LBS could offer a basic condition report—something they could even include after a service. That report could then be shared with potential buyers to build trust and justify pricing.

It helps reduce risk for buyers and could potentially increase the resale value for sellers.

I know there’s a question of whether shops would support this if it competes with their own sales—but if there’s a fee involved, it could actually create an additional revenue stream for them while bringing more people into their stores.

Shops would not risk their "name" for a mere inspection fee

Lets say the shop charges R2500 and says the bike is good to go, one month down the line theres a problem what will the buyer do........post bad reviews about the shop not the seller

So nope I doubt a shop would entertain this idea

[Luqies]

I get your point

But I don’t think it has to work like that. It wouldn’t be a guarantee, more like a written inspection report with clear limits. It reduces risk, not eliminates it.

The shop isn’t backing the sale, they’re just providing a professional assessment at a point in time. That actually protects them too if it’s documented properly.

And there’s still upside for them, inspection fees, potential service work, and getting new customers through the door.

So yeah, they probably wouldn’t “endorse” bikes, but offering inspections or reports could still make sense without putting their name on the line...

then again its their business.

[dave303e]

Dekra for bicycles

[babse]

I've had a buyer willing pay extra to do this exact suggestion, have my LBS inspect and give him and independent review of the bike. Obviously, they gave inspection based on visuals and put in disclaimer for potential issues beyond what they can see. 

All was good and they incl boxing in their fee.

 

[ChrisF]

6 hours ago, dave303e said:

Question is do you trust anyone selling something second hand?
If you do the joke is one you...

Question, check, research and inspect.

 

OR .... BikeBubPay ....

 

Just one more reason to use this safety net !!

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, dave303e said:

Dekra for bicycles

 

Jeepers .... are there any worse ..... even that car buying company turned their back on those rubber stamped useless inspection reports.

[babse]

2 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Jeepers .... are there any worse ..... even that car buying company turned their back on those rubber stamped useless inspection reports.

concur...

 

even a bike with hole will def get a certified approval from Dekra

[ChrisF]

Just now, babse said:

concur...

 

even a bike with hole will def get a certified approval from Dekra

 

Its not a hole ... it is easy access for internal cable routing .... it is a positive on the report .....

[Mook]

Is it Friday yet 🤣

[betaboy]

Dekra sell by date expired years ago. What a waste of money. Engine inspection my ass! 😂 Im better off watching Inspection Gadget. (GenX, don’t ask) 🫡

[Gerlach]

16 hours ago, dave303e said:

Dekra for bicycles

By we "steal" cars 😛  sorry, I call them that  that sells doggy stuff to. 

[Gerlach]

14 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Its not a hole ... it is easy access for internal cable routing .... it is a positive on the report .....

No man guys, you got it wrong, it's weight reduction and in the process it helps with cooling the rear part of the bike and cooling for the disc brake or derailer 😜 

[dave303e]

1 hour ago, Gerlach said:

By we "steal" cars 😛  sorry, I call them that  that sells doggy stuff to. 

honestly I was always skeptical but ya that lot sent me into super distrust central...

First time I didn't take a car to my mechanic before buying it, it had a clean report. Anyway a week later gearbox went and they paid over 100k to redo the gearbox and other issues on that car. 70k km later the gearbox threw the same error. I turned car off, turned it on again, error was not there, drove it straight back to where it came and sold it to them. I do feel bad but someone else bought that car with a new clean report and I know that gearbox was again a ticking time bomb.

[Gerlach]

2 minutes ago, dave303e said:

honestly I was always skeptical but ya that lot sent me into super distrust central...

First time I didn't take a car to my mechanic before buying it, it had a clean report. Anyway a week later gearbox went and they paid over 100k to redo the gearbox and other issues on that car. 70k km later the gearbox threw the same error. I turned car off, turned it on again, error was not there, drove it straight back to where it came and sold it to them. I do feel bad but someone else bought that car with a new clean report and I know that gearbox was again a ticking time bomb.

About 2 years ago I was looking for a X1 of Q3 but between 2015 and 2020 models, decide to check what they got but I know they got dodgy stuff and just to see what pops up. Check a Q3, book shows it was service at the x amount km's at this place, but the computer shows 50k km less then what the book shows. I informed there sales person, he did nothing.

Went to a different one to go check a super clean X1 2017 but it was behind on two services that the computer is showing. Took the vin number to BMW to have it run on the system and it actually still had 2 year oil service with them, but it was like 30k km behind on service. BMW told me to walk a way because it can be a Pandora box.

Best part, I went back to ........cars to see what they will do, I told them this is a cash deal that I'm doing, will they send the car to BMW. This way and that way they came back and say they will send it, but I need to pay for the stuff, and my reaction was, and if there is bigger problems , what then? sales manager went in to buffer mode and offline after that question. 

My line manager bought a lemon from them, what saved him was because the car was finance and the bank force them to take the car back.