Gumtree. deal or scam

scott dougall
scott dougall Posts: 12
edited September 2012 in Road general
As title really, looking at getting my first bike and have decided il get more for my money if i buy second hand, any way i stumbled across this on gumtree but as i am not local would need it posting. therefore would be sending the money (bank transfer, pay pall). to get to the point it looks to good to be true?? what are you thoughts?
to add more he said it is as new only 8 months old and probably done 250miles which i find hard to believe from some one claiming to be doing half and full iron mans!!

Comments

  • scott dougall
    scott dougall Posts: 12
    this would defiantly help
    http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/look- ... /109974444
  • Beatmaker
    Beatmaker Posts: 1,092
    In my opinion, that's as hot as a very hot thing. I'd stay well away. In fact, avoid Gumtree completely, no cycling enthusiast would sell through it.
  • p9uma
    p9uma Posts: 565
    If it sounds to good to be true then it probably is.

    I'm curious to know why that particular bike would be your first bike? What are trying to acheive with your first bike?
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  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    Worth at least £1k used imo. Plenty of bikes on the for sale section of bike radar forum. Some sellers are asking fair prices.
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  • gezebo
    gezebo Posts: 364
    I'm not sure, its a pretty specialist bike and depending on how the mast has been cut could limit the market even more... Remember some people just want rid or just don't know any better!

    Would avoid as a first bike though, looks good but too specialised for most people.
  • ethanhayes
    ethanhayes Posts: 112
    Probably a scam.
    Wouldn't buy from gumtree without seeing it in person, personally.
    Even then I'd check to see if the bike is stolen!

    Mind you, it's usually pretty easy to tell if its stolen, as the seller hasn't got a clue about them.
    I contacted someone selling a bike worth close to £1k second hand. He was asking for £450, he said he needed to sell asap as he was packing up and leaving for Germany. Thought fair enough at first
    He said on the advert his name was David, phoned him up and he had a strong Asian (not the chinese type, the Indian subcontinent type.) accent and called me 'blood'. - which doesn't in its self make me suspicious, but I've not come across many Asians named David.
    Asked him for an address to come and see it and he said 'London.', I replied 'It's a big place, most specific if possible' and he wasn't to happy! He eventually gave me his address and he didn't live in a great part of town - Again, fair enough. I live in a council estate (council estate with a view of Snowdonia, mind you.), so that doesn't mean he's a thief.
    I phone back, asked him more detailed questions about the bike. Things like 'what pedals does it have' - I could see from the photo it had 105 pedals but he replied 'black ones'.
    I asked him what groupset specifically, he replied 'shimano' - It was actually sram.
    I then phoned him from my mobile phone so he didn't recognise the number and asked who I was speaking too.
    Apparently his name was Yusuf. What a joker!

    Very long story short, it's probably stolen or a scam.
  • kentphil
    kentphil Posts: 479
    read this thread :
    viewtopic.php?f=30005&t=12782492
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  • scott dougall
    scott dougall Posts: 12
    thanks all. general conclusion from yourselves and other posts around the web is when using sites such as gum tress face to face deals are the way to go. however if any one is over that way and it turns out to be genuine I think they could pick up a good deal. However for me its too far combined with the fact that a few of you raise about not being an ideal first bike.I would like to point out I am not a total new comer and am looking for something alittle higher specked then the entry stuff although this will be my first proper bike.
    Many thanks
    scott
  • Churchill123
    Churchill123 Posts: 341
    ethanhayes wrote:
    Probably a scam.
    Wouldn't buy from gumtree without seeing it in person, personally.
    Even then I'd check to see if the bike is stolen!

    Mind you, it's usually pretty easy to tell if its stolen, as the seller hasn't got a clue about them.
    I contacted someone selling a bike worth close to £1k second hand. He was asking for £450, he said he needed to sell asap as he was packing up and leaving for Germany. Thought fair enough at first
    He said on the advert his name was David, phoned him up and he had a strong Asian (not the chinese type, the Indian subcontinent type.) accent and called me 'blood'. - which doesn't in its self make me suspicious, but I've not come across many Asians named David.
    Asked him for an address to come and see it and he said 'London.', I replied 'It's a big place, most specific if possible' and he wasn't to happy! He eventually gave me his address and he didn't live in a great part of town - Again, fair enough. I live in a council estate (council estate with a view of Snowdonia, mind you.), so that doesn't mean he's a thief.
    I phone back, asked him more detailed questions about the bike. Things like 'what pedals does it have' - I could see from the photo it had 105 pedals but he replied 'black ones'.
    I asked him what groupset specifically, he replied 'shimano' - It was actually sram.
    I then phoned him from my mobile phone so he didn't recognise the number and asked who I was speaking too.
    Apparently his name was Yusuf. What a joker!

    Very long story short, it's probably stolen or a scam.


    The way you told that story did make me laugh!
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    scott dougall wrote:
    .I would like to point out I am not a total new comer and am looking for something alittle higher specked then the entry stuff although this will be my first proper bike.
    Many thanks
    scott

    People are saying its not an ideal first bike, not because its high end, but because its a specialised cycle, designed for one purpose. Nothing wrong with spending out on a quality bit of kit (particularly if its a deal 2nd hand), but you'd be better off with a race bike.

    When I got in to road cycling I was convinced I wanted a TT bike, because I mainly do short sprints and do the big stuff on the mtb (road cycling is just fitness/training for me). I road a couple of TT/tri bikes and quickly realised that they are too focused. So glad I went with a road race bike. The boardman carbon, may be a crap brand from halfords, but its a top bike spec wise and I only paid £650 for it when it was a couple of months old.
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  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    Beatmaker wrote:
    no cycling enthusiast would sell through it.

    Jibberish ... Recently sold 2 Cannondales on Gumtree, both seller and buyer(s) happy as sandboys ... Depends on who you deal with ...
  • Beatmaker
    Beatmaker Posts: 1,092
    Crankbrother wrote:
    Beatmaker wrote:
    no cycling enthusiast would sell through it.

    Jibberish ... Recently sold 2 Cannondales on Gumtree, both seller and buyer(s) happy as sandboys ... Depends on who you deal with ...

    Congratulations.

    Ok, I'll amend the statement to " very few".

    And I wouldn't recommend a buyer who has limited knowledge of the second hand market using Gumtree, it's frauds terms. But what do I know.
  • saintly_jim
    saintly_jim Posts: 16
    Well, the seller does seem to know the hardware that's present on the bike so that's a good sign. Not sure how much TT bikes go for but do be a bit careful as if you buy it and it's stolen it can be taken away from you, and it's £650 down the drain.
  • Pigtail
    Pigtail Posts: 424
    Gumtree offers an opportunity to sell anything locally and free. No different for bikes than anything else. Take precautions, for a buyer check address, see it in person, accept that you need a good deal to cover the risks involved, and it can be good. I've more experience of selling cars than bikes, and it has worked out well for me - quick and hassle free.
  • thefd
    thefd Posts: 1,021
    After my bike was stolen, i was checking gumtree and ebay to see if mine would turn up. Whilst looking I came across the bike I now own, which I bought from gumtree. I was a little apprehensive before I met the guy selling. But met at his house, everything was totally genuine. He new all about the bike, turned out we even had a mutual friend. I bought it from him (good deal) and have been delighted with it ever since.

    So there are good deals to be had on gumtree.
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  • CarlosDSanchez
    CarlosDSanchez Posts: 455
    That bike must of cost in the region of £2.5 - £3k new so a second hand selling price of £650 means the theiving little toe rag doesn't even know how to use google to find these things out.....
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  • oldwelshman
    oldwelshman Posts: 4,733
    I would like to knoiw what he is upgrading to and why? he would make trebble what he is asking for if he split the parts and sold on ebay.
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  • Crankbrother
    Crankbrother Posts: 1,695
    CarlosDSanchez wrote:
    That bike must have cost in the region of £2.5 - £3k new so a second hand selling price of £650 means the theiving little toe rag doesn't even know how to use google to find these things out.....

    I sold my £2.5k 'dale for £550 ... 6 years down the line it was what the market would give me for it ... Times (and economies) change ...
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Stay away from gum tree, you'll either lose your money, or be robbed when you turn up to inspect the bike.

    If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is !
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  • olza23
    olza23 Posts: 20
    If is too good to be true then it probably is - If there is no direct contact on an advert on Gumtree it's a scam :)

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