Buycycle.com - any experiences?

[jester77]

Stumbled across a website called Buycycle selling used bikes across Europe: https://buycycle.com/en-gb
Quite a slick interface and a good range of bikes available - some of the prices look keen too (not sure if used bikes in the rest of Europe tend to be cheaper than in the UK?).
Anyone any experience of this site or have purchased from it?

 

[vickster]

Never heard of them but if coming from the EU to U.K. it suggests it’ll be subject to customs so add 30%+

 

[Sharky]

Top marks for whoever thought of the name. Reminds me of "bicycle"

 

[Cycleops]

If you're not near them I think their delivery charge might be the killer, plus any ongoing charges.
Sounds like you trade in your existing bike , pxing it for the one you want. The amount you've agreed goes into your 'buycycle account '.

 

[chris667]

If you buy a bike which turns out to be broken/misdescribed, where is your comeback?

What happens if you sell a bike and it turns out the buyer used a dodgy card to pay?

What would happen to your "buycycle account" if they went bust? Is there any sort of ringfence around the money?

Sounds like a dreadful idea, and the price I'd pay is the least of my concerns.

I'd be much happier visiting in person and paying cash, even if it meant there was less choice. Here would be second preference, but you know where you are with cash.

 

[vickster]

If in the SW London area and wanting to look at a range of used but warranted bikes, could try Cycle Exchange in Kingston (premium price though over eBay or Gumtree obviously)
https://www.cycleexchange.co.uk/

 

[chris667]

There's a similar company near me in Derby. I've never actually visited.

It feels odd to spend such a lot on secondhand bikes. In my experience, secondhand bikes are never quite what you want.

 

[oldmanwarrior]

Stumbled across a website called Buycycle selling used bikes across Europe: https://buycycle.com/en-gb
Quite a slick interface and a good range of bikes available - some of the prices look keen too (not sure if used bikes in the rest of Europe tend to be cheaper than in the UK?).
Anyone any experience of this site or have purchased from it?

I have used buycycle as a seller and it has been a terrible experience. There have been issues with every step in this process! I will begin with the packaging materials. I ordered the buycycle packing material and I received an incomplete box. The box DID NOT include any material to wrap the tubes of the bike, did not include a box for the accessories, and one of the cardboard sent for the wheels did not have the required hole for the rear cog of the wheel. So, I had to go out and buy a small box for the accessories, buy bubble wrap, and I had to literally cut a hole myself so the rear cog would fit in the wheel cover. Then the next issue was with the shipping label. They sent me a shipping label. Then, 2 days later I got an email stating that the system duplicated the label and I had to print and attach a new label. Now we come to the pickup day. I took the day off work and waited all day. No UPS driver was showing up. I then spent over an hour on the phone with UPS and had to finally demand to speak with a supervisor. They finally sent a message to the driver and he showed up very late in the afternoon (5pm). So, I confirm the pickup, and the message on the app states “now you can relax…” Well, that is not the case because I clicked on track package on the app and it took me to the site where the tracking number shown did not match the tracking number on the shipping label. Then this morning I went to the app to check the status and it now states that the pickup was unsuccessful when in fact it was successful. This has been the worst experience I have had with any company. To compound these issues there is no customer service phone number to call. I have to send separate messages every time there’s an issue and wait 2 days to get a response. This has truly been one of the worst and most stressful experiences I have ever had dealing with a company. It is disheartening!

 

[wheresthetorch]

Be aware that buying a bike from Europe you may need to swap the brakes over.