Advice on buying a cheap, battered bike

[NormanD]

Just on this question - how can you find out if a bike listed on ebay is stolen?

You can't really unless you know for sure the bike is stolen I.E the bike being yours or someone you know who's had it stolen, but there are giveaway signs to watch for.


Seller = has no information on it what so ever, claiming they owned it from new

Seller = I bought it from Halfords, you knowing Halfords don't sell that range of cycle

Seller = selling the cycle way below the true secondhand value I.E a £2000 valued bike going for a Buy it now price of £200

Just some of the things to watch out for that will arise suspicion

 

[Hip Priest]

You can't really unless you know for sure the bike is stolen I.E the bike being yours or someone you know who's had it stolen, but there are giveaway signs to watch for.


Seller = has no information on it what so ever, claiming they owned it from new

Seller = I bought it from Halfords, you knowing Halfords don't sell that range of cycle

Seller = selling the cycle way below the true secondhand value I.E a £2000 valued bike going for a Buy it now price of £200

Just some of the things to watch out for that will arise suspicion

As an aside, I once saw a Musicman Stingray bass for sale in the paper, described as 'Four Stringed Guitar'.

 

[Hip Priest]

Wahey. I won an old Raleigh on Ebay for £50 and picked it up tonight. It's hardly been used and has been in a warehouse for years apparently. There is rust on the screws and whatnot, but I rode it home and the gears / brakes / BB are perfect. The downside is it weighs the same as the QE2 and has tractor tyres. Still, it beats the bus and no one in their right mind would nick it.

 

[biggs682]

well done , be proud and enjoy the steel

 

[stevetailor125]

I've recently started a bike recycling business in Coalville covering Leicestershire, a few of the mountain bikes have sold to people for similar reason, the only problem is the often say the bike they get off me are better than the stolen one lol

 

[Hip Priest]

well done , be proud and enjoy the steel

Cheers. I intend to embrace the steel!

 

[Hip Priest]

I've recently started a bike recycling business in Coalville covering Leicestershire, a few of the mountain bikes have sold to people for similar reason, the only problem is the often say the bike they get off me are better than the stolen one lol

Ha! Yeah, I prefer the gears on the new bike. My Apollo, which got nicked, had grip shifters, which I never really liked.

 

[apollo179]

Wahey. I won an old Raleigh on Ebay for £50 and picked it up tonight. It's hardly been used and has been in a warehouse for years apparently. There is rust on the screws and whatnot, but I rode it home and the gears / brakes / BB are perfect. The downside is it weighs the same as the QE2 and has tractor tyres. Still, it beats the bus and no one in their right mind would nick it.

Why would no-one in there right ming nick it - sounds an ok bike.
Someone stole your apollo.
People will steal anything if its easy.
Enjoy it and guard it with your life.

 

[Hip Priest]

I guess so. I have to leave it parked in the street day-in-day-out so maybe it will be stolen eventually, but at least it'll be a £50 loss rather than a £200 loss like last time. The way I see it, if it lasts four weeks without being nicked, it's paid for itself in bus passes.

 

[stevetailor125]

The problem is with shops like Cash Converters etc they will pinch any make and get instant money

 

[Cyclopathic]

The problem is with shops like Cash Converters etc they will pinch any make and get instant money

I recovered a bike that was stolen from me. The person I found it with had bought it in good faith from cash con-verters. Brand new it was £210 this guy bought it for £60 so I can't imagine cash con's paid very much for it at all and it was in virtualy perfect condition with a working rear light and a nice rack. Fortunately the guy got his money back, I got my bike back and the police were able to arrest someone because they were stupid enough to give their real i.d. when selling to cash-cons. Although they do get i.d. off people who sell to them for this very reason I doubt that they check the validity of it very thoroughly. They and the police must be aware that a lot of what goes through them is nicked.