Help #stopbiketheft - Make Serial Numbers Mandatory On eBay Listings
#1
aka plattyjo
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Help #stopbiketheft - Make Serial Numbers Mandatory On eBay Listings
I've started a petition asks eBay to require serial numbers in its listing for bike frames / bicycles (inspired by a similar one directed at eBay UK).
Could you help spread the word and sign it?
Note: This is a work-in-progress, and I've been getting lots of helpful feedback already. For frames without serial numbers (custom, illegible, Nashbar, etc.), ideally there'll be an option to denote this with an explanation.
Could you help spread the word and sign it?
Note: This is a work-in-progress, and I've been getting lots of helpful feedback already. For frames without serial numbers (custom, illegible, Nashbar, etc.), ideally there'll be an option to denote this with an explanation.
#2
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I dont think listing serial numbers on ebay will stop bike theft; only bike sales (some of which may have been stolen).
And only if the seller bothers to Cross Check(a great bike btw, Surly) the serial number of a purchase against theft reports.
Ebay profits from transactions regardless, so why should they bother adding complexity?
Perhaps a more effective way to prevent bike theft is to do it directly? Start a petition to make bike theft a punishable crime; or if it is considered one already, petition law enforcement to, well, enforce.
-on second thought; the last thing I need is cops harrassing me for proof of ownership when I ride.
Maybe just start a petition for owners to not leave nice bikes out where they can get stolen.
And only if the seller bothers to Cross Check(a great bike btw, Surly) the serial number of a purchase against theft reports.
Ebay profits from transactions regardless, so why should they bother adding complexity?
Perhaps a more effective way to prevent bike theft is to do it directly? Start a petition to make bike theft a punishable crime; or if it is considered one already, petition law enforcement to, well, enforce.
-on second thought; the last thing I need is cops harrassing me for proof of ownership when I ride.
Maybe just start a petition for owners to not leave nice bikes out where they can get stolen.
Last edited by xenologer; 02-13-13 at 09:26 PM.
#3
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How do you confirm that the serial number listed on ebay is accurate? It's not like ebay is going to send someone out to flip your bike over to make sure you didn't lie. Transpose a couple numbers, change a letter "oops, must have been a typo" and the feature is worthless. Even less useful on something like Craig's List.
Nice idea but not practical and won't put a dent in bike theft or the sale of questionable bikes.
Nice idea but not practical and won't put a dent in bike theft or the sale of questionable bikes.
#4
The Recumbent Quant
How do you confirm that the serial number listed on ebay is accurate? It's not like ebay is going to send someone out to flip your bike over to make sure you didn't lie. Transpose a couple numbers, change a letter "oops, must have been a typo" and the feature is worthless. Even less useful on something like Craig's List.
Nice idea but not practical and won't put a dent in bike theft or the sale of questionable bikes.
Nice idea but not practical and won't put a dent in bike theft or the sale of questionable bikes.
Not all bikes have serial numbers, but that could probably be worked around as well.
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That's actually a pretty easy problem to solve. If the seller lists the wrong number and the correct number shows up on some list, EBAY can fix the problem (i.e., return the bike to the original owner and refund the buyer).
Not all bikes have serial numbers, but that could probably be worked around as well.
Not all bikes have serial numbers, but that could probably be worked around as well.
I'm just not seeing any benefit ebay would gain from this; so I doubt they'd be interested.
#6
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That's actually a pretty easy problem to solve. If the seller lists the wrong number and the correct number shows up on some list, EBAY can fix the problem (i.e., return the bike to the original owner and refund the buyer).
Not all bikes have serial numbers, but that could probably be worked around as well.
Not all bikes have serial numbers, but that could probably be worked around as well.
My daughter's bike went missing in the fall a couple of years ago and I immediately reported it with make, model, description, accessories list and serial number. I called back every few weeks to see if her bike had shown up. Nope . . . Nope . . . Nope. . . I gave up when the snow flew. The next spring I contacted law enforcement to see if they had any unclaimed bikes they wanted to donate to a regional bike co-op for an earn a bike program. They had a couple so I went back to the impound rack and what did I find? My daughter's bike, now rusty from sitting outside all winter. I found out that it had been recovered within a week after it went missing, found abandoned just a few days after I reported it. I had them pull the report and confirm the serial number. They let me take it but days later I was talking to an officer and asked why they hadn't checked a nice bike like that against missing bike reports, he changed the subject and told me something along the line of You know we didn't have to let you have it back. After 90 days unclaimed it becomes the property of the city.
Now realize that this isn't a big city where there are 100s of abandoned bikes, it is a rural community where they deal with maybe a couple dozen bikes a summer. The rack was between two city buildings not 50 feet from the front door of the police station and apparently the report and follow up phone calls I made never went past the front office.
I've also heard that in a neighboring larger city, in addition to watching eBay and Craig's List, many owners seeking to recover a stolen bike watch the local police auction as even if bikes are recovered they are not always reunited with the proper owner and end up on the auction block.
Last edited by Myosmith; 02-14-13 at 10:26 AM.
#7
The Recumbent Quant
Pretty sure USPS wont refund shipping, so will ebay cover the cost? what about the cost of repacking the bike and sending it to the original owner? Does he end up having to pay a fee?(would that even be legal?) suppose he can't afford it?
I'm just not seeing any benefit ebay would gain from this; so I doubt they'd be interested.
I'm just not seeing any benefit ebay would gain from this; so I doubt they'd be interested.
As far as if it's in Ebay's interest, no, it probably isn't. If enough people made a fuss over it, it could be. But I don't see that happening.
I support the original idea, but I don't see it going anywhere.
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