Ebay

[Davemac1]

Is it really worth buying a bike off of Ebay?
Just seen a Triban 3 sell for £285!Specialized Allez's regulararly go for around the £500 mark.

It might just be me, but what is the point of buying a bike second hand, off of somebody that you don't know, for nearly new prices?

Bemused from Essex.

 

[ianrauk]

That's Ebay for you.
People get caught up in bidding process and think they are getting a bargain.

 

[Cubist]

I notice that the "every day" bikes that everybody has heard of go for very high prices. Best sellers are Carreras and Boardman, Trek, Spesh, Giant and Cube.

 

[boybiker]

Try looking on Gumtree there can be some good stuff on there. Just make sure you carry out the appropriate checks to make sure its not stolen!

 

[SWSteve]

+1 for gumtree, just had a look and there are loads of bike on there and don't forget to look at areas close to you as there could be one a little further away that might be better for you

 

[Davemac1]

Looked on gumtree but i'm not so sure
Take this one I saw in Hackney for instance
" SPESHALISD ALLEY
Gears and boss weels blood"

The thought of walking through Hackney with £300 in my pocket to meet the 'owner' fills me with a bit of trepidation if I'm honest.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I have had many bargains off eBay. You just have to know what you're doing. Advanced search settings may find a bargain that has been poorly advertised. Find what you want and then do an advanced search for similar items and also look at completed listings so you know what similar items have sold for. Set the maximum you are willing to pay and put that bid in in the last seconds of the auction ( or use a sniping tool like myibidder).

 

[inkd]

Also the police auctions, sorry I cant remember the name but my local police station shut down just before xmas and they had 5 ex police bikes up cheap and fully serviced, also stolen and not recovered bikes.

 

[Deleted member 23692]

I got my road bike 2nd hand off ebay - it came in original box/packaging with all paperwork including receipt and Winstanley's PDI sheet. Going by the dates on the paperwork and the [lack of] wear on the tyres and handlebar tape etc I doubt it had even done 200 miles.... and I saved £300.

Ebay can be hit and miss but it quite simple to get a bargain