Shipping Vintage Bikes

[woodbutcher]

I apologise in advance if this is not appropriate to this section but the bike in question is vintage !
I have been asked if l would ship a bicycle from my place (in France) to Russia

I have no idea which shipper would be prepared to take the job or even if it is possible.....does anyone have any ideas or experience of this kind of thing ?

 

[Rusty Nails]

I sold a vintage bike on eBay a few years back and got a query from someone who claimed to be in Russia about buying it from the UK.

I looked into it and there seemed to be potentially a lot of paperwork involved in it so didn't agree to sell it. Unless you know the person and are happy with the extra fuss and potential risks then, personally, I wouldn't bother.

 

[biggs682]

@woodbutcher why not ride it to them ?

 

[Kempstonian]

Yeah, its only a few steppes away!

 

[carpenter]

Be cautious - apparently no chance of sorting anything out if deal goes wrong (seen reports on hifi forums about bad deals to Russia).

 

[Cycleops]

Yes, Russia should set a few alarm bells going.
I'd steer well clear.

 

[Kempstonian]

Its terrible when you can't trust a buyer from Russia - who may well be a solid law abiding citizen - but there ARE many scammers living there also and they spoil it for everybody else. I think that its not worth the risk unless you know the person you are selling to or they can be vouched for by a reputable third party. Especially if the bike is a valuable one.

 

[woodbutcher]

Yeah, its only a few steppes away!

l like it !

 

[woodbutcher]

Its terrible when you can't trust a buyer from Russia - who may well be a solid law abiding citizen - but there ARE many scammers living there also and they spoil it for everybody else. I think that its not worth the risk unless you know the person you are selling to or they can be vouched for by a reputable third party. Especially if the bike is a valuable one.

I am sure you are right and in any case non of the shippers l contacted so far will touch the job !

 

[woodbutcher]

@woodbutcher why not ride it to them ?

Now that is an interesting suggestion ! I suppose l would have to buy a bike in Russia to ride back since a flight would wipe out the Roubles made on any deal.

 

[biggs682]

Now that is an interesting suggestion ! I suppose l would have to buy a bike in Russia to ride back since a flight would wipe out the Roubles made on any deal.

Hey i never thought of that but good point

 

[woodbutcher]

Hey i never thought of that but good point

it does raise the question as to whether interesting bikes are or were made in Russia

 

[biggs682]

it does raise the question as to whether interesting bikes are or were made in Russia

Made some interesting track bikes for the Olympics for sure but how good is another question

 

[woodbutcher]

Made some interesting track bikes for the Olympics for sure but how good is another question

I don't know if they win much so l guess thats clue as to how good the bikes are !

 

[Illaveago]

Made some interesting track bikes for the Olympics for sure but how good is another question

A cycle version of a Moskvich ?