dirtbikedude

Well, I'm sitting here with a knee full of fluid so I am gettin bored and decided to browse Ebay. Anyways, I found this auction and it seemed a bit awkward Roadie in the mtb section . Seems to me 100$ for an '04 carbon/ti w/DuraAce is a bit low and the fact that the seller has 1 feedback and the person that left the seller feedback also has one and both joined aroun the same time. Also, 50$ for 2nd day air? Oh yeah, acording to the description it has front suspension. Well, if it is stolen maybe some one here will recognize the bike.

On another note for you Orbea fans, if you were considering trying a mtb you may want to check this out, Orbea..if it fits. Nice looking little frame.

DBD

55/Rad

I thought I knew every carbon/ti combo frame on the market but this one doesn't look familiar.

Several things about this listing seem strange. Though not far enough to label it a fraud. Tough call. Nice looking bike though.

55/Rad

jimbud

I can remember some time this Summer coming acrossed a web site where a guy in the Northeast was building custom order Ti-carbon road frames. From the looks of his web site it seemed like his main interest was building track bikes.

Crank It Up

Clearly a scam listing!

Nachoman

Looks like a good deal, I think I'll buy it! (he said sarcastically)

55/Rad

I watch a lot of auctions and can usually smell these out. Other than the fact that it has a low opening and almost nothing about the make of the frame, how can you tell?

55/Rad

tlupfer

i wouldn't use the starting price as an indicator of a scam--i've started items at .99$ with no reserve because i knew enough people would be interested to drive the price up to a reasonable level. it saves on insertion fees and piques a bit more interest. email him and ask for very specific pics and see if he can provide them. there are certainly other indicators of a scam (private listing/feedback/et al) but on the off chance that it's not a scam it's going to go for much less than it would if it was properly and reputably listed.

KeithA

Or, you could email the seller, saying you live in the area, and ask if you could come over to check the bike out firsthand.

bhh

I sent the following email this afternoon as soon as you posted this and have heard no response as of yet.

"What is the brand of bike and/or what is the serial number? Also, where was it purchased and do you have the receipt in your possesion. Thanks."

55/Rad

I sent an email to the seller and will post what I learn.

I agree - if this is legit, it's likely to fall through the collective radar. Somebody might be getting a steal. Or not.

55/Rad

bhh

He/she is on long island. Hell, I'd rent a car or take the train out if I there is any kind of response.

dirtbikedude

I too sent an email and have no response yet. If it is legit, the seller will not get as many buyers looking since it is under mtb and not road bike. There is a chance it is legit and if I could get some proof it is then I would buy it. One can never have too many rides in the stable.

As for being on Long Island, I could just have my cousins pick it up and keep it out there for when I visit

gcasillo

I don't like listings where the seller does not know what he has. The lising says "Full Suspension" but it's clearly a road bike with (I think) a carbon fork. That's got klaxon's going off in my head. Ask the seller about that. If you aren't satisfied with the reply, run for cover. It's probably a scam.

gcasillo

And another thing...

The most common set up for scam listings I see are:

1) 0-feedback seller
2) Very often said to be located in London, UK
3) The listing text is a straight copy from the bike manufacturer's web site
4) Wrong size, incorrect listing (doesn't jive with the photo)
5) Photo is a copy from another listing (idiots)

Seller requires you to e-mail him outside of eBay's methods for contacting "him." If you see this, RUN. Better yet, report the listing to eBay as a fraud.

Also, never agree to pay with kooky escrow services. Stick to Paypal or credit card as you then have some means to recoup your $ if the seller's a fraud. I wouldn't do money order or personal check for anything more than a few dollars which rules out most bike goodies.

If you're unsure about the whole thing, don't bother. Unless you hate your money.

Univega

I live in Rocky Point, he is about 30 minutes south of here. I should ask if he will allow me to view the bike.

I sent him this email:

"I live in Rocky Point, about 30 minutes north of you. Can I view the bike?

Pick up possible to save shipping?"

If he has nothing to hide.........

Namenda

Anyone who selects the "Private Listing" option either is selling porn (and not bike porn), or they have something to hide. This bike is not porn, obviously, so that leaves only one other possibility. As a rule, I never buy from sellers who do this.

You would think that several folks, in addition to the ones here, have asked questions about the bike. Yet the seller has not posted any of these in the listing. Does the seller enjoy repetitive emails, responding to the same questions over and over? I, for one, would tire of that quickly.

Also, what's with the nondescript beige background behind the bike? Looks suspicious.

Univega

He did not reply to me. Did he reply to you?

bhh

I never heard anything

55/Rad

Me neither - I see one person has bid. Auction ends around 6:30 AM EST on Monday.

55/Rad

dragonflybikes

I may have agreed with what else you said but that is just nonsense. He put it up against a wall in his house that doesn't have any clutter and it is painted tan. I have many walls in my house that are painted one version of tan or another.

I do agree that it is a scam due to most all the other reasons, just not because of the "beige background"

bhh

I JUST GOT AN EMAIL!

"Hello! The bike is trek and it was purchased in 2005 and it was never used and yes i have a receipt.please write me in email so we can talk more hope to hear from you soon with good news"

Well I think this clears it up.

Ineedhelp

This guy's full of sh... If there is a bike, it's stolen. This is a good possibility--as it doesn't sound like he knows much about the bike other than what he may be reading off the labels on it that say Dura Ace and Ultegra...and are filling in the rest with with their vaste knowledge of road bikes (ie., the name Trek) and the rest from their K-mart mountain bikes their parent's bought them--in other words, it sounds to me like 2 teenagers who stole a bike and practicing their skills at setting up an e-bay account to get a few bucks from it--maybe even afraid to give the exact make and model out of paranoia that whoever they stole it from might check e-bay and recognize their bike...

That is, if there even is a bike.

But the ad says they accept Paypal, and might be worth $150 ($100 + $50 shipping) to check it out. If they don't deliver, supposedly, paypal will refund your money--or you should be able to dispute the charge on your credit card.

But I'm thinking that after winning, the seller might claim their paypal account is down, and ask for a money order--and if dumb enough to agree, kiss that money goodbye!

bhh

I don't think there IS a bike. AFAIK, Trek doesn't make a Ti lugged carbon bike.

Namenda

Sheesh!! It was a joke, for crying out loud. My apologies to any beige, tan, or off-white walls that may have taken offense. And a specific "I'm sorry, coochy-coo" to your "many walls".

Crank It Up

My buyer's intuition says, "anything that's too good to be true usually is a scam." Like the OP stated: road bike listed under MTB section, front suspension(?), 1 feedback with undisclosed (private) item (supposedly a bike), eBay member less than 30 days, etc..... Possible crashed/cracked cf frame? Stolen?

Looks like some daring person placed the first bid. Note to winning bidder: if you're a BF member, let us know the results of the transaction!