Treefox

As chatter about this place was going around in our club today, I thought it might be worthwhile to raise it as a scam alert (it fooled quite a few seasoned cyclists 'round these parts). And BikeForums threads do often end up ranking very high in Google searches.

So:

Cinder Cycling Store
https://www.cinderbicycles.com/
https://www.clnderblkes.com/

Not for real.

Note payment policy (they want you to 'pay via ebay' - but incorrectly describe how eBay works).
Have a go with the address at your favourite online aerial photography site.
Note server for most pages is actually 'freehostia.com' - though this doesn't show in the address bar, it does with a mouse-over in Safari at the bottom of the screen - probably other browsers too.
Note carnage of cancelled URLs.

A friend of mine (who actually pointed it out to me originally) decided to mess with them via e-mail and they didn't know the difference between Dura Ace and Ultegra.

Though we've been beaten to it by the chaps at Bent Rider too - guess the bents were too fast.

JayC

Those exact pictures were used to advertise another bike shop in Charleston, SC here a couple of years ago which was also a fraud.

Dynamic

thats gross

clichty

I would love some Cervelos for under $1500, its a wonder that anyone would actually buy from that site with bikes for so cheap!

Chopper1

I emailed them the other day to ask for their phone number and they said to email all questions. I also asked for a street address and was told to refer to the website. I then asked how come they do not have an ebay rating - no answer.

roshea

This store has been mentioned a few times recently, but a SCAM thread on it is a good idea.

The same web site (including the staff photos) has been around a few times now under different names, though the payment method has now changed from Western Union to fake escrow. Some more info here:

https://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=354776

ultraman6970

https://users2.nofeehost.com/jeromesbikes/

well at least the guy figure it out nicely. The question is to find somebody who bought stuff from them... anybody?

deadly downtube

by giving them your email addy, they are probably adding you to like a million spam lists btw...

Sirrobinofcoxly

Here's some more specific info regarding the website.

Treefox

Yet it says nothing of use - all hidden behind privacy schemes.

Treefox

Ok, this is a friend's e-mail conversation with them - start from the bottom.

Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 09:15:07 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

The shipping address must be the same as the one from your credit card.

[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:

can i get mr Mbuto to send you the money directly from nigera?

Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 08:32:12 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

You can pay with your credit card.



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
it's okay i have got some money now, unbelievably the president of nigeria's nephew has asked ME to give him my bank details
so he can get money out of the country, i gave them to him in an email this morning and i should have the money by tomorrow
witht his in mind i would like to buy the carbon soloist with dura ace and zipp wheels, how would i send you the money?
JS



Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 02:30:05 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

The price is the same. The components are listed on our website.



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
just to clarify what is the difference between dura ace and ultegra?


Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 22:56:28 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

No we don't. It comes with Easton wheels.


[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
do you offer interest free credit? what wheels would you put on it?


Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 14:08:58 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

This is a stock limit offer and we will be out of stock soon.



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
my loan won't be through by then, will you extend the offer if i committ to buying one?


Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 13:57:04 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

Yes we can make that change.
This offer will end in few days.



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
could you swap in some deep section wheels? and how long are these offers on for, i need to wait 'till i get my scholarship funding


Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 13:51:17 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

The total cost will be $2300.
You can order it on www.cinderbicycles.com



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
sweeet! how much would i be looking at for a dura ace carbon soloist in GBP all shipped and complete?


Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 08:20:09 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: RE: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

We can ship it with the option AS A GIFT so you will not pay taxes.



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
do you know the VAT situation?


Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 13:22:31 -0800
From: cinderbikes@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: 2007 Cervelo Soloist Team
To: [Friend's e-mail address]

Shipping is free if you buy now.



[Friend's e-mail address] wrote:
how much would shipping etc tot he UK cost?

DougG

My radar always goes up when I see poor spelling and grammar on a shop's web site:

calhoun1

ooh, look, I can get a 2007 Cannondale Six13 Team 1 SRM
For $3300. Maybe I should jump on this great deal...

Treefox

The kinda scary thing is, when I look back at GVH Bikes' website, and the prices they've got for wheels, I sort of wonder why I trusted them.

Then again, I did call them up and order over the phone and talk to the owner about how he was selling them so cheap. But still. I 'fell' for that one - it totally could've been a scam. Glad I actually got the wheels!

uspspro

GVH is a great vendor.

chzman

GVH has proven itself. They are a great frame and component dealer.

StephenH

I've not dealt with GVH. But if you pull up their home page, first thing you see is a street address and a phone number. That may seem minor, but lack of that information is a big warning sign.

I used to visit a photography website, and they would have similar posts about the scam camera places. There was actually a website that had photos of all the "dealers" in Brooklyn. Some were actual businesses, some were unmarked buildings/ garage doors, some were mail-drop places, etc.

StephenH

So can anyone run by the address and see what's there?

I note also the use of a Yahoo email.

Cinder Cycling Store
11874 Heron Bay Blvd
Coral Springs, FL
33076

Also, look at that lower right photo. Appears to have been taken through a door or window, with some sort of notice taped on the glass. What is that notice?
Or on that top photo. Notice the people have company shirts with a logo. Anyone recognize that logo?

calhoun1

Apparently they are in the middle of a neighborhood.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=11874+...i=map&ct=image

cat4ever

That's on the bike, as you can see the same thing a few bikes back.

JasonJones

I just googled some of the testimonials and they are taken word for word off IBEXbikes.com. Truly is amazing what people try to pull off these days!

StephenH

You're right, that notice must be on the bike- looked like it was floating out in front of it at first.

I pulled up the aerial photo on Yahoo and couldn't tell a lot about it. The exact location appears to have a driveway, but doesn't look like a house, either- I can't tell for sure if there is any building there, actually. There are some lawyer addresses pulling up not too far from there as well. Anyway, it sure isn't the store seen in that top photo on the website.