Need Help Identifying unopened bicycle boxes
#26
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They're not from the '80s or '90s.
Bridgestone continued using the brand on bicycles after they abandoned the US market. Funnily enough, their high-end road/track offerings are branded "Anchor"
ETA: Hmm, seems they were using Bridgestone branding at a show in Tokyo in late 2019. Not sure exactly the structure of the company and its brands...
https://www.velobike.co.nz/blog/2019...yo-2020-review
Bridgestone continued using the brand on bicycles after they abandoned the US market. Funnily enough, their high-end road/track offerings are branded "Anchor"
ETA: Hmm, seems they were using Bridgestone branding at a show in Tokyo in late 2019. Not sure exactly the structure of the company and its brands...
https://www.velobike.co.nz/blog/2019...yo-2020-review
Although it is odd that the only guy in the world who seems to know about this deal asks about models to look for and nearly all the responses are 80’s/90’s models.
On a side note, one would think Bridgestone would have adopted the Abchor brand for their earlier steel bikes and not their current carbon offerings... settle down, I’m just kidding.
John
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I’m always leery of the first posts that typically are so far out there that one really has to step back and marvel at the creativity level. I think this one probably surpasses most of the others.
I don’t think really believe these NOS Bridgestones exist.
But to play along, why ask here? Contact Grant Petersen. If anyone knows about Bridgestone shipping bikes in “unmarked” boxes, he’s the one.
Grant Petersen built an entire company and image that evolved from what he did at Bridgestone. And you’re telling me a Bridgestone dealer stuck these into storage 25 years ago and was oblivious about Rivendell for all these years?
John
I don’t think really believe these NOS Bridgestones exist.
But to play along, why ask here? Contact Grant Petersen. If anyone knows about Bridgestone shipping bikes in “unmarked” boxes, he’s the one.
Grant Petersen built an entire company and image that evolved from what he did at Bridgestone. And you’re telling me a Bridgestone dealer stuck these into storage 25 years ago and was oblivious about Rivendell for all these years?
John
Bridgestone, in Japan, is a fairly middle of the road brand with a bunch of road bikes and MTBs. I'd say OP will end up with some 5-10 year old entry-mid level hardtail mountain bikes, rather than a stash of NOS XO-1s still in their original boxes.
#28
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Well thanks! I wasn’t aware of that.
Although it is odd that the only guy in the world who seems to know about this deal asks about models to look for and nearly all the responses are 80’s/90’s models.
On a side note, one would think Bridgestone would have adopted the Abchor brand for their earlier steel bikes and not their current carbon offerings... settle down, I’m just kidding.
John
Although it is odd that the only guy in the world who seems to know about this deal asks about models to look for and nearly all the responses are 80’s/90’s models.
On a side note, one would think Bridgestone would have adopted the Abchor brand for their earlier steel bikes and not their current carbon offerings... settle down, I’m just kidding.
John
#29
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OP said he's in Japan, the boxes look recent, rather than from the the US operation during the GP period, and instead of being entirely unmarked, "there is a sticker on the box with a lot no. and 2 codes like 1B43Kb and MHM370.P."
Bridgestone, in Japan, is a fairly middle of the road brand with a bunch of road bikes and MTBs. I'd say OP will end up with some 5-10 year old entry-mid level hardtail mountain bikes, rather than a stash of NOS XO-1s still in their original boxes.
Bridgestone, in Japan, is a fairly middle of the road brand with a bunch of road bikes and MTBs. I'd say OP will end up with some 5-10 year old entry-mid level hardtail mountain bikes, rather than a stash of NOS XO-1s still in their original boxes.
#30
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I was going off the global products (https://www.bscycle.co.jp/global/products/index.html). A few MTBs there, but I've never seen one in person in Korea, unlike (admittedly rare) Bridgestone branded mid-level road bikes.
Japan's really interesting with bikes, in that they often have products that don't make it into any other markets. Check out the Giant website to see what I mean; the offerings are fairly standard across the world until you get to Japan, where there are Giants available that you just don't see anywhere else.
Last edited by PDKL45; 12-01-20 at 07:46 PM.
#31
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I interviewed for a job selling white van speakers around 1989 in Charlotte, NC. Drive around, tell a bogus story like the ones above, and sell overpriced crappy speakers at a “discount.”
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Cant open before buying unfortunately, seller has a history of legit sales and its Japan (there is generally a lot of social pressure to be honest) so im not really worried about it being a scam. He also has his shop address listed. Seems like he purchased one of those Open up a storage locker kind of deals that an closing bike shop owned.
This makes no sense to me.
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Happened to me 2 or 3 times in South America in the '90s, but heard it happened to some others too.
#34
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Last edited by dedhed; 12-02-20 at 06:06 AM.
#35
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Seems like theres a 5 post limit per 24 hours for newbies lol.
They are going for 10-50 USD right now but they are up for auction so they can go for much higher. Given they have been for auction for a few days now and some have stayed at 10USD I thought it might be a good opportunity to get 1 or 2 of the 10USD ones since they would for sure sell for much higher than 10 bucks even if I listed them as used. He put them up for auction which to me goes in the direction of him having no expertise and letting the market determine a price for him instead of letting it eat up warehouse space.
They are a buy and sell shop. From their history I would say mostly auto parts. They seem to have the expertise for that even offering installs for some models parts for a separate fee. This is the first time I see them list a bicycle though which is what makes me think they dont have expertise.
I would open them if I were him. If I had to guess, maybe he opened 1 or two to identify the type and didn't bother with the rest since he doesn't know how to assemble or maintain them. 2nd hand market in Japan is picky about all original, could be he thinks amateurish assembly would lessen the value? Could be as simple as not expecting much profit from them given the age and likelihood they are entry level bikes that he feels its a hassle to assemble them all. He did mention there were like 30 odd boxes per bike type. Again though I have no idea. I tried to ask him if he could open a specific box for me to verify but he was adamant that he didn't have the expertise and that they were at the warehouse.
Lets give the seller a name...Gus.
Gus buys a bunch of inventory from a bicycle shop that is going out of business. Problem is Gus doesn't know anything about bicycles so instead of looking at the paperwork to see how much the bike shop paid for the inventory, he sells them without any idea of the true value for $10-$50 buyer is in the dark. Instead of joining Bike Forums and asking the question, Gus simply sells them for a few bux.
I personally think the OP should buy everything Gus has to sell, take out a loan if necessary. There is gold in them hills!
Gus buys a bunch of inventory from a bicycle shop that is going out of business. Problem is Gus doesn't know anything about bicycles so instead of looking at the paperwork to see how much the bike shop paid for the inventory, he sells them without any idea of the true value for $10-$50 buyer is in the dark. Instead of joining Bike Forums and asking the question, Gus simply sells them for a few bux.
I personally think the OP should buy everything Gus has to sell, take out a loan if necessary. There is gold in them hills!
#36
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So the seller seems to somehow know which boxes should sell for 5x more than other boxes? Are those boxes much smaller, like maybe with the children's bikes that have 16" wheels?
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#38
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#39
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This is exciting. I would go for it. At the current prices, and even substantially higher, you don't stand to lose much.
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I'm jumping in here a little late after the thread has gone off course and now returned.... I don't care what the guy is telling you they are, you're crazy for even entertaining the idea. You're basically telling us you might want to buy something that can't even be identified, that it's only a bike box?
#41
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I would at least want to look through the hand holes to see if there is a bike in there and not some bricks or something. Whole thing seems bogus to me, but I know there are different norms in Japan than in the U.S. Right now bike shops are bartering for parts in the U.S., the bidding on these things would be considerable if they could tell what was in the box.
#42
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I would at least want to look through the hand holes to see if there is a bike in there and not some bricks or something. Whole thing seems bogus to me, but I know there are different norms in Japan than in the U.S. Right now bike shops are bartering for parts in the U.S., the bidding on these things would be considerable if they could tell what was in the box.
Thing is the boxes are supposedly in Japan, and the auction copy is in Russian. I'm guessing the OP is in Japan? But doesn't know what the Japanese on the stickers says?
#43
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OP, do the seller guarantee there's a bike - any kind of bike - inside the box? Or they sell "as is", you must accept whatever is in the box?
#44
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I'm jumping in here a little late after the thread has gone off course and now returned.... I don't care what the guy is telling you they are, you're crazy for even entertaining the idea. You're basically telling us you might want to buy something that can't even be identified, that it's only a bike box?
If I could get mystery bikes shipped here for $10 a box, I would. I can build a boxed kids bike in 15 mins. Could probably sell it on CL for $50 fairly quickly.
Thing is the boxes are supposedly in Japan, and the auction copy is in Russian. I'm guessing the OP is in Japan? But doesn't know what the Japanese on the stickers says?
Thing is the boxes are supposedly in Japan, and the auction copy is in Russian. I'm guessing the OP is in Japan? But doesn't know what the Japanese on the stickers says?
Its a buy at your own risk thing. They verified a few boxes being bikes and didnt bother checking the rest of the stock since they came from the same place. Still speaking to the bridgestone guys about trying to identify it. They dont have the lot numbers in their database which the guy said is relatively new. This makes me think these bikes are maybe late 90s early 2k? I suppose 50 USD including domestic shipping would be my cap since you can get decently maintained complete bikes for that price on auction here. Lets see how this plays out.
#45
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Bid on the high wheeler bikes! Who doesnt love a good Penny Farthing for $50usd?
This thread is wild- made even more so since it appears legit.
I would 100% be willing to buy 2 boxes of something for $40usd. I have spent more on worse, and thats when I knew what I was buying!
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#46
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Sounds like it’s time to **** or get off the pot, as they say.
#47
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I'm always wary - wouldn't the seller be better off at least opening them to give a better idea of what's in the box? Even an unbuilt model X or Y bike will sell for a lot more than a mystery box.
Of course, if there are bikes (or parts) in there, you can't really lose money at $10 a box. I've no idea about Japan but the price of bikes is really high at the moment due to covid and the impact on supply/demand.
Of course, if there are bikes (or parts) in there, you can't really lose money at $10 a box. I've no idea about Japan but the price of bikes is really high at the moment due to covid and the impact on supply/demand.
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#48
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Everyone's freaking out on the unopened boxes. But, if the seller has them stored somewhere remote from his office, the hassle of driving there, opening individual boxes, photographing bikes within, resealing the boxes and uploading the images to an uncertain buyer is much more hassle than it's worth.
It looks to be a Russian site listing Japanese auctions. I would assume the Japanese site has fraud protections, as well as OP's credit card company. It's not like OP's buying a closed box from a little truck advertising "Mr. Hashimoto's Mobile Bicycles, wholesale cabbage and non-fake Chinese iPhone store."
I would go for it.
It looks to be a Russian site listing Japanese auctions. I would assume the Japanese site has fraud protections, as well as OP's credit card company. It's not like OP's buying a closed box from a little truck advertising "Mr. Hashimoto's Mobile Bicycles, wholesale cabbage and non-fake Chinese iPhone store."
I would go for it.
#49
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Everyone's freaking out on the unopened boxes. But, if the seller has them stored somewhere remote from his office, the hassle of driving there, opening individual boxes, photographing bikes within, resealing the boxes and uploading the images to an uncertain buyer is much more hassle than it's worth.
It looks to be a Russian site listing Japanese auctions. I would assume the Japanese site has fraud protections, as well as OP's credit card company. It's not like OP's buying a closed box from a little truck advertising "Mr. Hashimoto's Mobile Bicycles, wholesale cabbage and non-fake Chinese iPhone store."
I would go for it.
It looks to be a Russian site listing Japanese auctions. I would assume the Japanese site has fraud protections, as well as OP's credit card company. It's not like OP's buying a closed box from a little truck advertising "Mr. Hashimoto's Mobile Bicycles, wholesale cabbage and non-fake Chinese iPhone store."
I would go for it.
#50
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Cant open before buying unfortunately, seller has a history of legit sales and its Japan (there is generally a lot of social pressure to be honest) so im not really worried about it being a scam. He also has his shop address listed. Seems like he purchased one of those Open up a storage locker kind of deals that an closing bike shop owned.