Suspicious deals on FB Marketplace?
11-09-21, 12:01 PM
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Suspicious deals on FB Marketplace?
I've been shopping for decent deals on a bike lately, and something suspicious popped up on my Facebook Marketplace feed. Brand name (Merida and Giant, so far) 2020 and 2021 model carbon bikes with 105 components selling for just under $1,000. Brand new, local (Los Angeles), and they claim to have every size in stock... one seller sent me a pic of what looked like a warehouse with boxes and boxes of unassembled bikes. My spidey senses are telling me it's too good to be true. Anybody thoughts?
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11-09-21, 12:05 PM
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If it turns out to be legit, pick up a couple for me, will ya?
I would look at the manufacturers web site and compare the prices. You know what they say about if it sounds too good to be true....
I would look at the manufacturers web site and compare the prices. You know what they say about if it sounds too good to be true....
11-09-21, 03:16 PM
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If you do your due diligence and check the serial numbers against any stolen bike database you can find, I'd not fault you one bit for buying from them. These people on eBay and craigslist that think an old bike should sell for new MSRP or even the old MSRP of that model year need some competition.
With bike shops going bust or the aging bike shop owner dying, someone must be getting their remaining inventory for a song.
With bike shops going bust or the aging bike shop owner dying, someone must be getting their remaining inventory for a song.
11-09-21, 05:40 PM
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There were a couple listed locally (AL/TN) on Marketplace recently that I was interested in. When I did a Google search to try and narrow down the year models (not listed in the ads), I saw the exact same pics...only they were from ads posted on other sites three and four years earlier. Needless to say, I passed.
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11-09-21, 06:15 PM
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I bought my last bike off Facebook Marketplace. But it was 25 years old and came with a Thule 4-bike carrier.
11-09-21, 09:34 PM
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Really tempting to arrange to see one of these bikes in person. If I do, I'll be sure to pick up 3 or 4 for big john ... size 48cm, right?
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11-09-21, 09:42 PM
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Really tempting to arrange to see one of these bikes in person. If I do, I'll be sure to pick up 3 or 4 for big john ... size 48cm, right?
11-09-21, 09:50 PM
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11-10-21, 06:17 AM
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Any news reports lately of a shipping container going "missing" at the port? Sounds fishy to me. If you go to check it out, and have cash, don't go alone! 
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11-10-21, 08:11 AM
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Dig into the person's FB a bit.
I always pause if the seller has never posted anything like that before and does not seem to have any history in the industry on their page.
I always pause if the seller has never posted anything like that before and does not seem to have any history in the industry on their page.
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11-10-21, 10:44 AM
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It will be a scam for sure. Why would anyone sell a 2021 Carbon Giant with 105 for under $1000 when they could sell them for multiple times that? My guess is that when you ask to see them in person, they will fob you off with some bs story and try to get you to put down some cash - which you would never see again, or a bike.
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11-11-21, 01:44 PM
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Anyway, I'm just not that desperate for a good deal to risk it. My wife wouldn't accompany to some shady warehouse to buy a bike anyway... might even request more life insurance if I insist on going!
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11-19-21, 11:49 AM
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Funny because that was my first thought when the seller sent me a pic of a warehouse with a bunch of bike boxes marked "Merida" on them. I didn't even know that brand was sold in the US.
Anyway, I'm just not that desperate for a good deal to risk it. My wife wouldn't accompany to some shady warehouse to buy a bike anyway... might even request more life insurance if I insist on going!
Anyway, I'm just not that desperate for a good deal to risk it. My wife wouldn't accompany to some shady warehouse to buy a bike anyway... might even request more life insurance if I insist on going!
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