desperate for help! (Spokane, WA area)
 

need help!

i'm trying to acquire a bike located in spokane, wa...but the seller will not use escrow, or ebay, or anything. wants direct bank transfer...or local pickup. i'm in michigan! and i'm too scared to just wire the money to him with no insurance policy at all.

would someone be willing to pickup the bike for me and have it shipped to michigan? of course, i would compensate you.

let me know!!!! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps you could PM dminor?

East Hill

Be careful. That could be a scam. Direct deposit into someone else's bank account is very risky business---you could lose your money.

Craigslist gives a warning of other forms that are very risky. I'd read it carefully and do some research before doing this. A bike isn't worth the headache/heartache this could cause.

You could send a PM to Davet. If he can't do it, maybe he know someone that can.

Your other alternative would be PayPal. They guarantee the transaction, but will charge the seller a fee.

i found the bike via craigslist. started emailing the guy. and when it got to the point of payment, i brought up escrow.com for my safety. he said he was unwilling to go through a third party service and preferred direct bank transfer. (red flags go up in my head IMMEDIATELY!!!!!)

so i said to him i just don't feel safe about that. i asked if it'd be ok if i could arrange local pickup via another party. and then have that third party pay on my behalf (of course i'd give that person the money up front)...and take delivery of the bike...and i'd arrange shipping with the local third party.

he was open to that. which makes me think he might not be a scam. the problem is...the whole third party local pickup thing was me bluffing to out him on his scam (i thought he wouldn't go for it). i don't know anyone in washington like i told him! he basically called my bluff, whether he knew it or not!

so yeah...i'm looking for a trustworthy third party...i'd send that person the money in any form they wish. and i'd have that person correspond with the seller. after this third party takes delivery of the bike, i'd arrange shipping to michigan with this person. and i'd pay a little extra for the trouble (not sure how much that should be).

ANY funny business the seller tries to engage in, and the deal is off. like he asks for a different price...or whatever. then the third party would return my money to me...and i'd probably still throw in some money for the trouble.

any brave souls willing to take this mission? lol

i bring up paypal to him...he seemed so opposed to escrow.com, i thought i'd be wasting my breath. paypal guarantees transcaction? so if i don't get my bike, i get my money back? that would a real nice insurance policy...i'd totally do that...

you might also consider doing this through a bike shop. you find the shop - settle on a price for them to pack and ship the bike. you send the seller a check, the bike shop holds the bike until the check clears. then you pay the bike shop via credit card for packing and shipping.

Do bring up paypal - - yes, it is 100% safe for both of you; and you can point that out to him.

Some people are skittish of escrow.com even though it is the reputable one, because of all of the cautions (even on craigslist) to NOT use escrow services. But PayPal should be a no-brainer for him. I insist on it any more because it's the only means that has the safety nets.

Oh, and I PM'd you back (twice even - - because I don't read carefully :o)

alright....well, i brought up paypal and using a local bike shop...

i'll exhaust other options before i take advantage of a BF member! lol thanks for the PM's, dminor! i'll definitely be in touch if i run out of options. and you can figure out for me if this guy is a scam! :)

Don't forget to have some sort of contract written up and signed. Include the seriel# of the bike.

Good advice JC. I'll have to remember that one myself.

now that i've never heard of. i wouldn't even know how to draw up a contract!

Something very simple will do:

- Name of seller and their address
- That they they own the bike and have the lawful right to sell it
- serial#
- make, model, year
- pictures if you can get any
- price
- warranties (if any)
- Your name and address
- date


That pretty much covers everything you need for a simple contract.

I do that with any purchase I make of decent monetary amount from a private seller.

Well...the guy just shot down paypal and local bike shop. And reiterated he'll do local pickup or direct bank transfer. So I said fine...I might be abel to arrange someone local to him to check out the bike and pick it up for me. Asked for a time and day that works for him...as well as phone and address...

We'll see if he continues down the local pickup road...

I may be begging for the help of dminor and Davet shortly!!!!!!!

Out of curiosity, what kind of bike are you trying to buy?

i think i called the sellers bluff. he's very super prompt in getting back to me. in my last email, i said i could probably arrange local inspection and local pick up...and asked for his phone number, address, and a good time/day. haven't heard back from him.

so it might be dead in the water. i may have called a scammers bluff.

the bike was a Cervelo R3-SL...

Yeah, reading what you've described so far, I'd pretty much forget about the whole deal. The amount of risk that you're taking by not using a secure transaction outweighs any deal you're getting on that bike.

What kind of reasonable person is capable of using a computer, Craigslist, and email but can't take a PayPal payment or work with an LBS? He's probably not even from Spokane. If a seller is legit, he'll work with you. He's probably some guy in the old eastern block with a computer and posting on Craigslist.

Maybe some one can offer some advice before I invest in a road bike. I have done MTB for the past 5 years but now I would like to train for the STP, so does any one have some advice on what a good plan might be to start. I know that I need to get a road bike to start so are there any recommendations?

Ahm, interestin choice of threads to post in, but I'd start browsing at your local bike shop and maybe take some test rides.

yeah...it's dead in the water...

i'm looking a other stuff on ebay, craigslist, and upcoming LBS closeout sales...

Don't bother. you'd have to go to court in WA to enforce a broken contract with him anyway.