Ebay Bike Scams?

shirker · Derestricted Danger Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

Put my bike on Ebay and it was won by someone in Poland, the guy has phoned me and said he'll come over and pick it up.
Has anyone heard of scams involving Poles and bikes? as I'm highly suspicious!

Cheers for any advice

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Not yet...... Maybe he's over here doing some building work.

See how it goes. Maybe he just REALLY wants your bike.
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Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

Deal in cash only and take a mugshot of him on your phone if you are that bothered.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Shay HTFC · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Karma :

Possibly someone who is over here and hasn't changed his address details? Sounds like it if he says he will just pop round to collect it.

Just don't accept any cheques or bank transfers or any of that crap
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tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Karma :

shirker · Derestricted Danger Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

The bloke is in Poland, he's rung me saying he's coming over to pick it up, just heard there were scams originating from Poland and Nigeria.
Just seems a lot of trouble to buy a £1700 bike, which he hasn't asked one question about, either through ebay or on the phone.

andrew · Mister Road Rage Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

He might be genuine but i wouldn't risk it. Sell it to somebody else who lives here and can at least be traced if something goes tits up.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

I used to do a lot of trade with poland, setting up deals for them to buy a container of broken down bikes or second hand spares.

It's probably kosher.

andrew · Mister Road Rage Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

It's easy to say go for it when it isn't your money at risk.

If the bloke hasn't even asked about the bike and is still willing to pay £1700 then i'd be a bit concerned.

Ask yourself if you can afford to lose the bike and or the money? If not then walk away.

shirker · Derestricted Danger Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

I'm just trying to think how the bloke could scam me, I've asked him to pay into paypal, if the money goes in there am I safe? I guess cash in hand would be a good guarantee.
I've no objection to selling to him, just strikes me as odd, its a long way for a bike of that value

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Only ever accept cash.

Shay HTFC · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Karma :

Paypal is no way safe in my opinion. the only options you want are either cash if you can assure its not counterfeit or him paying it into your bank and the bank confirming that its 100% transferred and can't be reversed.

With paypal, it's just a number in a database that can be reversed without much industry control. They can do what they want in effect pretty much without any authorised bodies overseeing the process like banks are subjected to. So if he starts a complaint/dispute or whatever, they may side with him and refund him out of your account.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I know people who have sold lots of things to poles. Including a knackered old suzuki 4x4, a JCB digger and a pre-fab agricultural building.

They turned up, payed cash, left with the item.

There is a huge amount of traffic going back and forth to Poland these days.
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

xvwannabe · Derestricted Danger Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Karma :

I sold an item on ebay,the buyer paid with paypal then told them it had'nt arrived even though he collected it,then paypal took the money back from my account,apparently it's a scam that happens a fair bit,as others have said i would accept cash only mate,£1700 is a lot to lose.

19van71 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Karma :

Accept cash only, and get a couple of big 'Bruisers' to be present during the deal. Very Happy

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dabigginger · Crazy Courier Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Karma :

I totally agree. Does sound kind of suspicious just "popping over" from Poland to pick up a £1700 bike without asking anything.

When I was looking to buy my work hack, I must have spent a good 10 minutes on the phone to each seller going over everything as I'm not going to drive/ride for 2 hours each way to look at a skip on wheels.

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

I deal with a hell of a lot of Poles at work (B+Q), although it isn't the same thing, they on the whole seem like fairly reasonable people, most of them pay cash, big notes all legit. I know one of my friends at work sold a car to a Polish customer. He said he would be back in in 3 days with £1350 cash. 3 days later he appears as promised with a bundle of crisp used notes.

I wouldn't worry too much, although I would however be wary of a cockup. Make sure you have 3 big friends around, and make sure you are pleasant and polite if it does happen. I know of one Polish builder that has a habit of smashing people's car's up after he finishes a job if they try to weasel out of paying very slightly, or if it is not as stated in the first place.

On the whole from my experience they are a decent enough people, polite enough, and just eager to get on with whatever they are doing Thumbs Up

Pyro

EDIT: When my friend Rolling Eyes

was doing something less than kosher on paypal, he set up another one and got funds transferred to that, then transferred it to his personal one. It only put the middle man account in debt.
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hmmmnz · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

as quoted by my polish work mate (good guy) "i like uk, but too many polish.... can't ever trust them.. bastards!!" lol, pritty harsh words about your fellow country men. saying that, i trust him and would probably trust other polish people,... because of his nature..
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iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

shirker · Derestricted Danger Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Karma :

Well, to end this post....

2 guys turned up at 7.30 am !!!! this morning, handed over good cash, and I helped them load bike onto their trailer in the pissing rain! They were then on route to South Wales to pick up an R6, then back to Poland.

This is a regular thing, so don't be put off by Poles bidding on bikes, they're willing to pay more than you'll get in UK.

Good luck to them!

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Shay HTFC · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Karma :

Wonder what the reason is?
Must be a growing market in Poland for these bikes. Some people getting rich as the economy improves, but there's so few sports bikes over there, so some little entrepreneurs come round rounding up all the bikes to sell on to the rich new factory owners Smile

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