phughes

Okay, but their response regarding time was when they would contact you. That doesn't mean they won't be looking into the store to check it out. As for their response to you, what else could they say to you? You were not scammed, therefor they cannot help you, for you need no help. As for saying you could dispute your charge, that is the remedy you would have, if you were actually scammed. The platform unfortunately could not help in that case, they do not have power to refund your money, the store does. If it went further than that, they may be held to some liability, but the first step would be exactly what they said, contest the charge, and get it reversed.

jay4usc

Did the op disappear? lol

MattTheHat 

I’m not sure why you think I lack understanding of the situation. I never told them I was defrauded. I simply used their link to report a scam. What they do with the information and when, if ever they do it is up to them.

I suspect they won’t do much, but I could be wrong.

jay4usc

good find, how did you link the picture?

phughes

I just answered based on what you said. You answered back sounding like you still think they owed you something else, they don't, their response was regarding the time it would take to get back to you, they did. They are under no obligation to give you any more information than they did. In fact, they probably legally cannot. They have contracts with the, most likely, fraudulent company, and will have to deal with it through their own company policy and procedure. That doesn't include you.

If it is fraudulent, and it very likely is, they certainly don't have a location in Clear Lake at the address they show, I hope it is taken down quickly, or at least rendered inoperative. They actually may deliver goods for money they take in. At those prices though, the goods shipped would be counterfeit, at best. Perhaps more should report the site. Of course without actually being scammed, it is difficult to get a company to act.

And ugh... I just went to Shopify, and they really don't make it easy to contact them.

phughes

We shall see what kind of backlash I get. I just posted a picture of the Century 21 office and tagged green1stbike on instagram. They have amassed 3518 followers since their first post October 1.

Bill in VA

Well, one could call the business next door, Unique Boutique and ask who is next door to them. Or call the local Chamber of Commerce. However, even if they confirm a bike shop is there, I would give it a pass based upon the shop photo alone. Let someone else take the risk.

Note their shipping policy has this "Legal Disclaimer: In the unlikely instance of postage or customs delays, please allow an additional 2-3 days should this occur." Is that for outgoing or incoming?

KenCT

I cropped it from their web site and used Google image search. Google image search and https://tineye.com/ can do a decent job finding pictures already on the web.

livedarklions

I still can't get past the claim that OP "chatted with them". Looking over the site and its utter lack of real contact information, I don't see how that is possible.

If the attempt here is to promote the website, this is a really weird strategy, but I think at this point, that's the most likely explanation for the OP's one and done.

jay4usc

that’s good info. I actually emailed the company from Colorado and advised them someone is using their shop picture for their website.

livedarklions

Where they lifted the picture from is hilarious:

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...ver-bike-shops

indyfabz

Wonder how many fell victim to whatever their scam is.

MattTheHat 

I’d wondered the same. Then I noticed they have Jivochat embedded in the page source. I’m guessing that’s what the OP was referencing.

phughes

I commented on their most current Instagram post.

phughes

Well, the website is a functioning Shopify storefront, so they can take orders and money. It also seems as if they accept Amazon Pay. I just went to the site, put a bike in the cart, and went to checkout. I didn't complete the purchase though. It all seemed to function, and the option to use Amazon Pay was shown.

livedarklions

I emailed a link to the site to one of the realtors at that address.

phughes

I tagged Trek and Cannondale in my post about them on Instagram.

jay4usc

the company from Colorado who’s picture of their shop is on their website said they have turned them in to Treks legal department. Hope they put these guys away before someone gets scammed. They are taking advantage of the market demands.

Milton Keynes

If you want to know the truth the scammers are probably operating from somewhere outside the U.S., so the chances of them being "put away" are probably nil.

Melvang

While I am not that familiar with Clear Lake, about an hour and a half from me, I can tell you that the market there will not support a shop selling that many big name brands.

MattTheHat 

By way of update, it appears the site has now been taken down. I quit checking on it after about 10 days. Hopefully Shopify took it down before anyone got defrauded.

mstateglfr 

This was a really odd thread. The OP's initial comments were confusing and conflicting, never responded, and the 'store' was so clearly fake that this all couldnt have been an attempt to promote a scam.
I wonder what the point of all of it was, but it did create some interesting discussion and internet sleuthing.