Pale Rider
Legendary Member
It had occurred to me making off on a bike during a test ride would be a good way of stealing a shiny new one.
Three retailers have recently been targeted by quite well thought out thefts in which the thief had a fraudulent bank card and other bent identity documents.
All the bikes stolen were expensive ebikes, but offering a test ride on any bike is just as much of a risk for the retailer.
In some respects, stealing an ebike is less of a good idea from the thief's point of view because he won't have the keys to the battery lock or the charger.
One of the thefts was when the thief was accompanied by a member of the shop's staff.
Hard to see what more the shop can do than take identity documents and send someone on the test ride.
I've been the subject of a wide range of checks on test rides, everything from almost too onerous to none at all.
Which is part of the problem for the shop, check too thoroughly and you risk the customer getting the hump because he feels it is being suggested he may be a dishonest.
That would be an unreasonable reaction from the customer, but the result is still the same - someone who might have bought a bike from your shop doesn't do so.
What's been your experience of security on test rides?
https://cyclingindustry.news/trio-of-electric-bike-retailers-hit-in-demo-scam/
Three retailers have recently been targeted by quite well thought out thefts in which the thief had a fraudulent bank card and other bent identity documents.
All the bikes stolen were expensive ebikes, but offering a test ride on any bike is just as much of a risk for the retailer.
In some respects, stealing an ebike is less of a good idea from the thief's point of view because he won't have the keys to the battery lock or the charger.
One of the thefts was when the thief was accompanied by a member of the shop's staff.
Hard to see what more the shop can do than take identity documents and send someone on the test ride.
I've been the subject of a wide range of checks on test rides, everything from almost too onerous to none at all.
Which is part of the problem for the shop, check too thoroughly and you risk the customer getting the hump because he feels it is being suggested he may be a dishonest.
That would be an unreasonable reaction from the customer, but the result is still the same - someone who might have bought a bike from your shop doesn't do so.
What's been your experience of security on test rides?
https://cyclingindustry.news/trio-of-electric-bike-retailers-hit-in-demo-scam/