Tandem Cycling - Seems fishy, so what's the catch?

New 2005 Cannondale Tandem for $1200 and that's supposedly a complete bicycle. So if it's too good to be true, it probably is, but what's the catch? I noticed the seller has no feedback, so is this a common scam or what?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2005-CANNONDALE-ROAD-TANDEM-BIKE_W0QQitemZ6457776836QQcategoryZ309QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Scam... The perp runs these ads for '05 Cannondale MT1000, Cannondale RT1000, and more recently Trek T2000 tandems. They show up as 2 or 3 day auctions with ridiculously low prices and entice interested bidders to Email for more information. I've seen as many as 6 of these going at a time.

Bottom Line: If it looks to be good to be true, it usually is.

TG is correct it is a sham - they also steal other ebay identies to appear more legit. Also they do alot of re-listing of tandems already sold and second chance offers. If they ask you for a Western Union Money Gram you know they are not legit. They also work out of Britian or France or run alot Private Auctions. I turn them in regularly to the Ebay police, but they come right back. It seems like everytime I bid on a Tandem one of these guys sends me a offer I can't refuse.

The scam is it's eBay- lots of scammers on eBay. I've bought some good stuff there, and been bilked as well. Good News: got bilked on a $30 part. RoadBike Review.com's classifieds are better (the folks seem to be cyclists, not profiteers), but they'll seldom have tandem stuff. This isn't a big market.

They also set up scam escrow sites.I really wish ebay would stop allowing "private" auctions,one of the scammers favorite tools.

dan

I think one of the big keys is going with PayPal, which is 1. legitimate, 2. doesn't share personal info, and 3. has built-in safeguards to get your $$ back if you get screwed.

In fact, I just ordered a bluetooth headset for my cell phone, and the seller went "out of business" and never sent the product. PayPal got me a full refund for the purchase price plus shipping.

In 99% of cases, if a seller isn't willing to use paypal, you should worry.

DrPete

eBay has pulled the listing for the tandem that started this thread. I guess I'm fortunate to be a sceptic. I was raised by a cop and I do believe that any deal to good to be true is to good to be true.

Doc

eBay has pulled the listing for the tandem that started this thread.

There will be another pair within a few days... been seeing that scam with those bikes since before September.