True story, this happen to me about six months ago. As my usual road bike finding routine is to hit the pawn shops and thrift stores after work, I stopped at a Value Pawn here in Orlando. As I'm driving into the parking lot, I spot a tall, brown road bike with a beautiful white saddle. Upon closer inspection, the bike resembled a Schwinn Super Sport (no decals), as it appeared to be fillet braze. I was really excited about it, I lifted it for a weight inspection, but the bike was heavier than a Sherman tank, so it was a definitely no on the bike! Taking a closer look at the components, also solidified a no go on the bike. Taking a further and closer look at the saddle, I discovered that it was a Cinelli Volare SLX. I inquired about buying the saddle only, but the pawn shop declined to sell it to me. I went into plan B, and I talked them down to $60 for the bike!

I took the bike home, removed the saddle, installed a diff saddle, and put it up on CL. The following morning I get a text from someone that was very interested in it. This person began to ask me very detailed questions of my method of acquisition and time frame since the bike had been in my posession! I quickly put dos y dos together, and knew what this was about. The feller began to accuse me of stealing his bike, and he cited that he had filed a police report, and was going to give them my personal contact details. I of course told him that I had acquired the bike from a pawn shop, and that I had my receipt to prove it. He accused me of falsifying the receipt and demanded his bike back (a total genius).

I told him sure, I'll give you your bike back, but you have to give me what I paid for it. He refused and finished the call with threats! A day later he texted me again with more accusations. By this time I was sick and tired of this guy, and wanted to get him out of my life. I mentioned to him that I would give him his bike back, but that he had to meet at my local police department. He refused as he lived across town, and didn't want to drive to me. He was very arrogant, and I became defensive as well. He stopped texting me for several days until he re-established communication!


This was the camel that broke the straws back, and I had had it with him. I told him that I would meet him half way, and that I would give him his gaspipe Continental! I asked him to meet me at a 7/11, which is off of I-4 for me to give him his bike back. I knew, and sense trouble, so I called the police and explained the situation. The police dispatcher told me that they would send someone right away. A few minutes after I hung up with the police, the owner arrived, but as expected, he brought a goon with him! Both got out of their SUV, and the passenger approahed me with this very serious threatening look on his face! Of course I was not going to back down, and gave him an equally mean threatening look! I knew I didn't stand a chance as these were two big guys, so I did the best next thing, and told them that I had called the police, and that they were on their way, and were about a minute away! This really calmed these two lovers down, and became less threatening!

When the police came I explained the situation in a very calm and professional manner, very eloquently and expertly! I showed them my receipt, and I also made the point that if they still had doubts that we could go to the pawn shop and have them pull the file, and more importantly the video of me making the purchase. The "owner" calmed down with the police there, and we were able to sort everything out. I gave him his gaspipe back, but he never gave me my money paid! By this time, all I wanted was out of this relationship with this strager and didn't care about the money!

With the police there everything was sorted out. The policeman did a search for the report bout found nothing about a stolen 10 speed. I never wanted the bike to begin with, so I gave him his bike back, and that was the end of that. I had previously called the pawn shop, and of course they felt that they had done no wrong, and explained to me that they hold things for 30 days pending owner or police inquiries, and by law they can then put them on the floor for sale after those 30 days. This was the situation with the bike, and I was protected by law. The bike was rightfully mine! I had no problem in giving the bike back, but I did had a problem with the guys attitude! This has been the only negative experience in all of my 8 years of doing this.

P.S. I gave the bike back, but kept the Cinelli saddle, I reasoned with the guy that the saddle that I was giving to him was newer, no tears, and more comfortable. In the end, we both got what we wanted! :-)

Flash