Buying a bike from Gumtree

[Waitforme]

As per title, I’ve seen a bike 350 miles away that looks perfect.

It’s approximately £4k, if I was to get it “ posted “ , what are my options for giving the seller peace of mind and also myself ?

Is there an option to lodge money pending successful delivery and bike as described ?

The alternative is 5hrs each way on the train or a PITA drive I suppose.

[fat80b]

I can’t see any decent way to do it remotely apart from “on trust”. (Unless an innovative local bike shop offers some kind of broker service for 10% perhaps)

ie even with some kind of escrow service, one party has to trust the other not to get stiffed.

At 4K, I think the only sensible option is to collect F2F and effectively hand over cash when you’ve got physical possession of the bike.

(At that price I’d perhaps also want the original sales receipt / something that confirms it’s not already been nicked).

[McMoose]

I would not feel comfortable paying that much for a bike using the Gumtree and courier combination. Is there nothing similar closer to home?

[numtumfutunch]

Just dont

With other online sale/auction platforms you get (some) protection but I honestly wouldnt.......

[ssray]

Air BnB , drive up one day and back the next or the same but on the train

[esuuv]

Where are you? the bike? Does someone you trust live close enough to go and have a look?

[Giantt]

Just NO...don't waste your time or energy,it looks ideal... because that's how it's meant to look to draw people in, spending four grand on a second hand bikes crazy,off Gumtree,crazy X10

[bristolbaron]

You’d be nuts. Whilst there’s a chance it’ll end well there’s so many things that could go wrong. Where’s the bike? Pretty good UK coverage on here, I’m sure someone could hold it until you could get down?

[paulrockliffe]

I bought a bike for £2k off Gumtree, it was 200 miles away. That was back when bike prices were sensible, the same thing now would be more than £4k. I finished work early, drove for 5 hours, spend 15 minutes buying the bike and drove 5 hours home again.

Anything else is not financially prudent to say the least, but I would happily by an expensive bike on Gumtree if the one you want is on there at a good price and advertised in a way that doesn't scream 'stolen'.

[Waitforme]

Thanks to all who contributed.

I’m now definitely not buying it unless I can convince myself it’s worth the journey to go in person.

There’s no one close that could have a look at it for me, I’m near Aberdeen and the bike is in Doncaster.

[leyorkie]

Post in the Yorkshire forum, unfortunately I’m 50 miles away.

[Tall_martin]

I've done 200 mile round trips to buy bikes.

Last one I was late and picked it up from the blokes wife. When I said how far I'd come she said "for a bike?"


Train up, air b and b, ride it home

[Waitforme]

Booked the train , 5 1/2 hrs each way on Friday.
Hope it’s worth it !!

[numtumfutunch]

Waitforme said:

Booked the train , 5 1/2 hrs each way on Friday.
Hope it’s worth it !!

In that case good news

What is it that's so special?

[Your Dad]

numtumfutunch said:

In that case good news

What is it that's so special?

I’m guessing it’s the Spesh.

[WelshRich]

Random anecdote but I sold my wife’s old bike a few years ago - Bloke and his girlfriend both came up from London on the train after work (I’m in the Midlands) and then got a taxi from the station to my house. They were a nice couple, but only after they had bought the bike did it occur to them that they had no way of getting back to the station so I gave them a lift with the bike on the back of my car.

The bike was only £200 so they probably spent more on train tickets than they did on the bike…

[Scoobyshue]

WelshRich said:

The bike was only £200 so they probably spent more on train tickets than they did on the bike…

Small price to pay for a trip to the Midlands.

[CorradoTDI]

If you do buy it, make sure you see a proof of purchase as so much stolen stuff gets shiften on Gumtree these days!

[Waitforme]

It was indeed the Spesh !
Bike is as good as new having covered less than 1k miles, I honestly can’t see a blemish or scratch on it, or the wheels.
I got a copy of the original purchase receipt, seller was a very nice chap.