Trading in my hybrid.

[MarkF]

I bought a 2011 "as new" Sirrus last year, so a year old. I paid £200 for it, bought it off Ebay from a local seller. I like what you have done very much.

 

[Upstream]

I bought a 2011 "as new" Sirrus last year, so a year old. I paid £200 for it, bought it off Ebay from a local seller. I like what you have done very much.

That sounds like a really good deal. The one I bought was a 2009 but it looked as if it had never ever been ridden. It too was "as new" and I paid £250 for it but as it wasn't from a local seller I also paid £18.99 to have it couriered to me.

 

[Pale Rider]

Well tidy job, Upstream.

 

[Linford]

Hmmmm, I rode over to Striking Bikes in Gloucester this morning, got into a conversation with the owner, and a bird told him that 65% of the used bikes for sale on Ebay were nicked. He reckoned that one bike was going from outside Boots in Eastgate every 20 minutes (average)
Having had a moped nicked from the campus behind it many years ago, I'm not at all surprised

 

[Upstream]

I'd be very surprised if anywhere near the figure of 65% of used bikes on ebay were stolen. In the past ebay was far from perfect but nowadays with both buyers and sellers having to verify their identity, verify their address and other details as well as link a paypal account to their own bank account (and agree to the terms which state that Paypal can instantly reverse any payment that has been made to you as a seller) - it's much better.

Over the years I have bought all manner of things and very rarely had an issue with a seller and on the rare occasions where I have had cause to contact ebay, they've resolved the issue quickly and to my satisfaction.

 

[Linford]

I'd be very surprised if anywhere near the figure of 65% of used bikes on ebay were stolen. In the past ebay was far from perfect but nowadays with both buyers and sellers having to verify their identity, verify their address and other details as well as link a paypal account to their own bank account (and agree to the terms which state that Paypal can instantly reverse any payment that has been made to you as a seller) - it's much better.

Over the years I have bought all manner of things and very rarely had an issue with a seller and on the rare occasions where I have had cause to contact ebay, they've resolved the issue quickly and to my satisfaction.

I'm sorry, but my own experience tells me that he may have a point. THIS bike was stolen from me 2 1/2 years ago, listed on Ebay and sold as a kosher item for a kosher price 4 weeks ago.
The vendor gave a convincing account that the police believed and didn't go after him for handling stolen goods.
If I'd have not done previous searches on Ebay, I'd have had no idea that my bike was being listed and the buyer would be none the wiser. I have it back now and all good, but you have no idea what you are buying when second hand unless the vendor can provide either receipts or other documentary evidence that the bikes have changes hands and that they have the right to sell the bike.

 

[Upstream]

I'm sorry, but my own experience tells me that he may have a point. THIS bike was stolen from me 2 1/2 years ago, listed on Ebay and sold as a kosher item for a kosher price 4 weeks ago.
The vendor gave a convincing account that the police believed and didn't go after him for handling stolen goods.
If I'd have not done previous searches on Ebay, I'd have had no idea that my bike was being listed and the buyer would be none the wiser. I have it back now and all good, but you have no idea what you are buying when second hand unless the vendor can provide either receipts or other documentary evidence that the bikes have changes hands and that they have the right to sell the bike.

What happened to you was terrible and I'm really glad that you were able to get it back after all that time. I'm certainly not suggesting that ebay is perfect. What I am suggesting though is that the figure of 65% quoted is likely to be way off and if it were correct, then I'm sure that other methods of selling used bikes (such as local newspapers and online forums where there are limited (if any) identity checks and payment safeguards) are unlikely to be any better and probably far worse.

 

[Upstream]

Well tidy job, Upstream.

Thanks for that!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Finished it!
Rides nicely too ;-)

Before and after images...
View attachment 28556
View attachment 28557

I know what I'm going to do with my Sirrus when I am bored of it!

 

[Linford]

What happened to you was terrible and I'm really glad that you were able to get it back after all that time. I'm certainly not suggesting that ebay is perfect. What I am suggesting though is that the figure of 65% quoted is likely to be way off and if it were correct, then I'm sure that other methods of selling used bikes (such as local newspapers and online forums where there are limited (if any) identity checks and payment safeguards) are unlikely to be any better and probably far worse.

I thought it was high, but I'm not in the game so take his word as being the voice of authority. He quoted a source who is a DC mate working in a neighbouring countys police force who reckons it is all part of a wide range of organised crime....cycle theft being one of them.

Cycles are much easier to move on than cars or motorcycles. He said a local scrote offered him a bike last year, gave a plausable story, then went and stole it to order, police turn up the following day after the owner reported it, and then rang asking if one had been brought in. He was out of pocket, and the scrote agreed to pay back £15 per month by the court....which he then defaulted on.
20 years ago, bike theft wasn't the problem it is now because they didn't have the means of shifting the goods on in the way which ebay provides now. It was down the pub or through the local papers classified adds.