Need help.I bought a really nice bike today and it shows as Stolen
12-18-22, 11:05 PM
#76
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Thanks for all feedback.
I am a second generation immigrant so I thought it was important to do the right thing. There were different ideas here and I respect them all. The important thing to remember is we're lucky to live in a land where we can talk about this freely. I hope the next time we all talk it's about something less toxic like how to wax your bike or dog owners with those tiny leashes you can't se until th last second.
I am a second generation immigrant so I thought it was important to do the right thing. There were different ideas here and I respect them all. The important thing to remember is we're lucky to live in a land where we can talk about this freely. I hope the next time we all talk it's about something less toxic like how to wax your bike or dog owners with those tiny leashes you can't se until th last second.
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12-18-22, 11:40 PM
#77
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The moral to the story…. When going to purchase a used bike, first run the serial numbers and if they get really huffy….just run.
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12-18-22, 11:59 PM
#78
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A whole bunch of people seem incapable of thinking outside of the cliché.
12-19-22, 12:00 AM
#79
Newbie
Good for returning the bike.
Really bad and dangerous move trying to contact the thief. This could have ended badly....
Bad move not involving the Police. Now that thief is available for the next "gig". Since this theft was without consequences for the thief, there will be another victim....
Really bad and dangerous move trying to contact the thief. This could have ended badly....
Bad move not involving the Police. Now that thief is available for the next "gig". Since this theft was without consequences for the thief, there will be another victim....
12-19-22, 12:27 AM
#80
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After my bike was stolen years ago in Tucson, a good Samaritan recognized it as stolen because he happened to be in one of the bike shops that I was distributing flyers to when I was there, and remembered me describing it. He tracked me down living in Seattle after I had moved, going well beyond the call of duty, and I got my bike back. I paid him $100 to reimburse the guy who brought it to him to check out, and $60 to ship it to me. I considered it almost a miracle, and was very grateful.
(Hey, if you were that guy by any chance, message me!)
(Hey, if you were that guy by any chance, message me!)
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12-19-22, 05:12 AM
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4 pages in and we still don't know the circumstances in which the OP actually bought the stolen bike or how much it cost. It would be interesrting to know out of curiosity.
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12-19-22, 05:26 AM
#82
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Congratulations on the own goal.
You popped into the thread with an insult of a bunch of people on the thread, and then proceeded to post a quote which literally says the opposite of what you were asserting. But you do you.
Last edited by livedarklions; 12-19-22 at 05:31 AM.
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12-19-22, 09:09 AM
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12-19-22, 11:15 AM
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OP bought the bike from a "non-menacing older man," but later he's a "culprit" who lives in a "spooky place."
The website that was previously locked is suddenly unlocked, and it miraculously lists the owner's phone number.
OP tracks down the owner and drives the bike to her, but offers no details about the owner's reaction, gratitude, or questions.
The "culprit," his home address known, never gets reported to the authorities.
The OP now has neither the bike nor the money, but "the important thing to remember is we're lucky to live in a land where we can talk about this freely."
If this sounds legit, I've got a Rolex to sell you.
Last edited by Rolla; 12-19-22 at 11:57 AM. Reason: Omitted extraneous detail
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12-19-22, 11:17 AM
#86
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In this case, I don't really care if the OP is telling the truth or not. The situation is one we could find ourselves in if we don't take precautions before we buy used bikes. If the thread makes people more aware of the registry, then it's already done some good.
BTW, to the people who keep asking "why did you check?", you're buying a valuable good of a type that is often stolen from a complete stranger you may or may not ever be able to find again. But yeah, check before you buy.
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12-19-22, 11:20 AM
#87
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Very little of this seems plausible.
OP bought the bike from a "non-menacing older man," but later he's a "culprit" who lives in a "spooky place."
The website that was previously locked is suddenly unlocked, and it miraculously lists the owner's phone number, even though the owner isn't the seller.
OP tracks down the owner and drives the bike to her, but offers no details about the owner's reaction, gratitude, or questions.
The "culprit," his home address known, never gets reported to the authorities.
The OP now has neither the bike nor the money, but "the important thing to remember is we're lucky to live in a land where we can talk about this freely."
If this sounds legit, I've got a Rolex to sell you.
OP bought the bike from a "non-menacing older man," but later he's a "culprit" who lives in a "spooky place."
The website that was previously locked is suddenly unlocked, and it miraculously lists the owner's phone number, even though the owner isn't the seller.
OP tracks down the owner and drives the bike to her, but offers no details about the owner's reaction, gratitude, or questions.
The "culprit," his home address known, never gets reported to the authorities.
The OP now has neither the bike nor the money, but "the important thing to remember is we're lucky to live in a land where we can talk about this freely."
If this sounds legit, I've got a Rolex to sell you.
Who cares? I'm not voting for OP for president or anything. Even if it's just a hypothetical situation, it's an interesting "what would you do" subject.
I just think your attack on people for playing "detective" was completely hypocritical.
12-19-22, 11:53 AM
#88
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Only if you consider using basic reasoning to be "detective" work, counselor. Sorry I touched a nerve.
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12-19-22, 12:28 PM
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12-19-22, 01:00 PM
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12-19-22, 01:13 PM
#92
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Your "reasoning" is just pointless speculation and argument from incredulity. None of it's convincing, it's just too trivial to bother arguing about.
And BTW, one of you "reasons" makes absolutely no sense--why would you expect that the OP would get the seller's phone number and not the actual owner's from the registry website? Seriously, your reading comprehension is really, really terrible. Just noticed you figured that out and edited it after the fact, but didn't notice that left you with a total non-argument.
Last edited by livedarklions; 12-19-22 at 01:41 PM.
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12-19-22, 01:15 PM
#93
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What exactly do you think we're being conned out of here?
I notice neither of you guys are offering any reason why we should care if the story is true or not, just dishing out insults.
12-19-22, 01:22 PM
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I do not see the posts as insults, but to establish a standard that if you follow the OP's path, no good will be derived. I yield my remaining time to the chair. ....LOL!!
12-19-22, 01:39 PM
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That's not fair or accurate. If I wanted a bicycle and could not afford a new one, there are several options. My suspicion is that the OP found a bike at a price too good to be true. Otherwise, why take a chance and why upon purchasing the decide to investigate the serial number?
I do not see the posts as insults, but to establish a standard that if you follow the OP's path, no good will be derived. I yield my remaining time to the chair. ....LOL!!
I do not see the posts as insults, but to establish a standard that if you follow the OP's path, no good will be derived. I yield my remaining time to the chair. ....LOL!!
That's a really different point than those other guys, who are calling people "gullible" which is definitely an insult, are making.
They're basically calling us suckers for even discussing this because this might be completely made up .
I think your point that "if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is" is a valid point, and OP's timing here in checking the serial number AFTER buying it is off.
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12-19-22, 01:47 PM
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I don't recall insulting him. What I do recall is saying that I believe his story is fabricated, like underpinnings of other threads the OP has started. IMO< that sort of thing does not belong here. If someone wants to start a thread posing a "What would you do if?" scenario, I'd be good with that, but making up stories and trying to sell them as truths is dishonest. I don't believe this is the place for that sort of thing. That's why I care that the story is not true.
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12-19-22, 01:53 PM
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12-19-22, 02:06 PM
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I don't recall insulting him. What I do recall is saying that I believe his story is fabricated, like underpinnings of other threads the OP has started. IMO< that sort of thing does not belong here. If someone wants to start a thread posing a "What would you do if?" scenario, I'd be good with that, but making up stories and trying to sell them as truths is dishonest. I don't believe this is the place for that sort of thing. That's why I care that the story is not true.