Search found 931 matches

by leftpoole
13 Jul 2022, 10:05am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: ethanol, meths or bioethanol, where to buy while touring uk?
Replies: 56
Views: 14915

Re: ethanol, meths or bioethanol, where to buy while touring uk?

Methylated Spirits is available virtually anywhere. To use Gas in a Trangia is bordering on sacrilege! (in my opinion of course)
by leftpoole
13 Jul 2022, 10:01am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wahoo
Replies: 10
Views: 719

Re: Wahoo

My personal opinion is as follows.
If you wish to use a Mobile in France or indeed any other Country I feel that if you can afford the travel (unlike many) then the mobile costs should be well within your means.
The alternative (prefered) is to take a Mobile but only use for an Emergency.
Scrimping means scrimping. Going overseas is certainly not scrimping- is it?
by leftpoole
11 Jul 2022, 7:49am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Hilleberg Rogen review
Replies: 16
Views: 2240

Re: Hilleberg Rogen review

You have no need to worry about the Hilleberg fabric. The fabric has been tried, tested, used and no doubt abused Worldwide!
by leftpoole
11 Jul 2022, 7:47am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ebay fees / charges BEWARE
Replies: 73
Views: 19147

Re: Ebay fees / charges BEWARE

The reason Ebay charge VAT on postal costs is simply because people were listing items at .99p or at least very cheaply. In an effort to make more, the sellers were overcharging postal costs, sometimes by ridiculous amounts!
Ebay intervened to stop complaints. Ebay will always be a great marketplace to sell, but sometimes it can take a very long time to get a decent price for a cycle. I know I am trying to sell one of my final two Audax cycles......
by leftpoole
8 Jul 2022, 3:35pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ebay fees / charges BEWARE
Replies: 73
Views: 19147

Re: Ebay fees / charges BEWARE

I have been reprimanded for complaining about ‘home’!
Vorpal the moderator took out my comments. It’s greatly appreciated that others are complaining or indeed being sucked in by ‘home’ and his comments!
by leftpoole
8 Jul 2022, 10:30am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Rough Value
Replies: 5
Views: 789

Re: Rough Value

It is not 'worth' anything. It is an old steel repainted sit up and beg bicycle!
by leftpoole
5 Jul 2022, 5:26pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Knee Replacement
Replies: 50
Views: 10852

Re: Knee Replacement

I am against replacement. Personal reason based on feedback from various sources including locals who have had mixed results.
Last week I went ahead and had a 'scrape and polish'! Basically my knee was cleaned out, fragments of cartilage etc.
A week later I am free (almost) of pain! I am so far very happy with the result.
Another few months and winter... may change things.
by leftpoole
4 Jul 2022, 5:57pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Ebay fees / charges BEWARE
Replies: 73
Views: 19147

Re: Ebay fees / charges BEWARE

You need to update your Account. Set payment for either same day or next day. Not so many people use Paypal and actually pay by Debit or Credit card.
The fees for selling are proportionate to sale price.
Massive audience. I wish my bikes would sell!
by leftpoole
29 Jun 2022, 8:46am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: eBay bike for sale pulled - Thoughts on this please
Replies: 82
Views: 5068

Re: Thoughts on this please

home wrote: 29 Jun 2022, 1:43am
gxaustin wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 2:13pmEbay charges are extortionate so I can understand his wanting to avoid them. On the other hand I bet stolen goods are sold via Ebay.
I have to agree that eBay charges are extortionate especially given, that unlike actually sellers, they don't have to hold any stock. When you compare the margins they make, versus the margins actual e-commerce retailers make (i.e. holding stock & paying for property, wages & insurance etc), it's obscene. What is it now since they brought in the new managed payment system, over 13%?

What makes it worse is that they then treat sellers as if they were employees with all sorts of targets & compliancy (e.g. despatch/delivery times), nagging & punishments like you worked for them. And then, as LancsGirl points out, 99.99999% they will automatically back the buyer in any dispute even when, or ESPECIALLY WHEN, the buyer is entirely in the fault. They're the boss even when you're not even an employee. There is a certain eBay Kung Fu to play the system when it goes wrong but I would never trust them, & a growing proportion of their buyers, with more valuable items.

For much of the time, especially on small items, you're not actually making money selling stuff. You're just converting the time it takes to sell the stuff into money, and the profit you make is just getting rid of your junk. Fine if you're no longer working, but they've even screwed that as now any sales goes through your bank account ... taking upto 5 working days to clear via their "management payment system". Last year they took all transaction payments in house to screw more money out of users, raised the percentage, delayed the payments, & obscured the invoicing system at the same time to make it more difficult for buyers and sellers to know who each other were.

Basically, they don't just want a commission of whatever you sell. They want to own your relationship with your buyer/seller in perpetuity.

Perhaps the poster above is right, it sucks now in comparison to what it was because too many chancers like this guy took advantage of it, screwing it for everyone else.

EBay does monitor messages for people trying to swop contact details & I know a guy who was blocked for trying to (even, typically, although he was entirely innocent). There's also at least one gang of fraudsters selling bogus items they don't have using precisely that MO, i.e. putting a mobile number in picture or ad.

To answer another question asked, if you actually hit the Buy It Now and then pay in cash in person/on collection, you're still covered by the eBay sales protection which is worth having. But buying through the site, means that the moment you do put in a "not as advertised" returns claims, the money you paid is frozen, so the seller is incentivised to deal with the matter. It's like an escrow.

But, if you go along with the buyer cheating the system, then you have no come back.

Auctions always used to be free for me (I think they give you 100 a month or something).

Also NEVER use their postage system, it's just another way to screw more money out of the transaction, is too inaccurate, and charges too much. It's designed, perhaps, for bulk sellers of identical objects. It you're selling interesting collectable kind of stuff, e.g. cycle exotica, you need to use your own carriers.

After 20 years I got sick of being increasingly screwed over by them, and every new revision making it worse. Add in the time and energy a few rogue buyers cost you, & having to deal with the ammoral troop of monkeys in their 'customer disservice department', & it's just not worth it as a small time seller.


The reason I say what I have written above, is because I have been buying and frequently selling for various reasons and not all cycling related for around 25 years.
The last time I sold was earlier this year. The buyer paid and the monet was in my Bank account same day. The account can be set by seller to either pay immediately, daily, weekly or monthly. Aimed at long time sellers obviously.
Commision is based on price sold. If one were to advertise in every paid for magazine in the country and worldwide, the item that you wish to sell, you would soon be out of pocket if not your mind!
Ebay has a WORLDWIDE captive audience. Pay the fees and sell.
by leftpoole
29 Jun 2022, 8:34am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: eBay bike for sale pulled - Thoughts on this please
Replies: 82
Views: 5068

Re: eBay bike for sale pulled - Thoughts on this please

oldmanpop wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 1:48pm Hi I've seen a bike I want on ebay. I contacted the seller for some info and all seems well. An hour after the initial contact I'm told he's pulling it off ebay because of silly offers. However he is still selling the bike and am l interested? I had another look on ebay before the ad was removed and one of the pics had his phone number on. As if saying contact me off ebay. How can I be sure it's not a rip off and a genuine sale? £1200 is a lot of money. I'm thinking walk away. Thanks
There are some sellers using Ebay who use Ebay to advertise and then, pull the listing to deprive Ebay of income and themselves from paying said income.
In my opinion I think it stinks! Everyone including Ebay needs to earn and using and abusing in the long term affects Ebay commision which will increase due to lack of income.
There is one seller who I know does this regularly. He buys stuff to show that he is a genuine member of Ebay but when selling bicycles (regularly) pulls and shows his Mobile phone number just as mentioned. He then proceeds to wait for calls and then sells at a supposedly lower price.
As I mentioned, it is my opinion that this is not only cheating, it could be called theft.
Ask a legal expert-not me!
by leftpoole
27 Jun 2022, 4:48pm
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Paying for "free camping"
Replies: 21
Views: 1886

Re: Paying for "free camping"

pete75 wrote: 27 Jun 2022, 1:51pm
leftpoole wrote: 27 Jun 2022, 11:51am

In response to the attached.
I have not complained. The person writing the comment has no clue about why I only have State Pension. In response, I can tell him/her that my Pension was stolen.
I will elaborate no more. I was merely trying to say that people complain about tiny costs. Those to whom the cost go are trying to live. The people complaining about costs for ;Free: camping are mean minded in my opinion. Even though I have very limited income I would never complain about the costs. Pay or go without!
Fraud Compensation Fund
The Fraud Compensation Fund pays compensation to occupational pension schemes which have lost out financially due to dishonesty.

https://www.ppf.co.uk/about-us/what-we- ... ation-fund
Thank you for your input. I have spent nearly seven years on this. With marriage breakup after 29 years and with ill health it is still a struggle.
The money has disappeared. Very long tale but I am partially to blame due to my trusting a third party. A relation.
Thank you again. I have no wish to carry on the conversation further.
Thank you.
John
by leftpoole
27 Jun 2022, 12:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Pannier inserts
Replies: 28
Views: 1681

Re: Pannier inserts

Psamathe wrote: 27 Jun 2022, 12:38pm You don't need to own the specific product to make meaninful comment about the practice of compartmentalising luggage space. People might not have the Ortlieb but they do have experience of loaded campig cycle touring and a wide variety of different types of container within container.

Ian
I have had many years (approx 45) camping and cycling with luggage. Compartmentalising using poly bags etc.
by leftpoole
27 Jun 2022, 12:30pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: the best way to fix my Ortlieb panniers?
Replies: 28
Views: 2735

Re: the best way to fix my Ortlieb panniers?

foxyrider wrote: 24 Jun 2022, 3:48pm
leftpoole wrote: 15 Jun 2022, 10:42am Don't be a mean cyclist! Buy new ones. Help keep cycling businesses stay open.
..
I'm not mean, i just don't have nigh on £100 for replacements and i'm sure the bags have a lot of life left in them - if i can get some sort of repair sorted.
I always wish that I could show my smile when making comments! :D
However my experience shows, that on this forum there are a vast number of mean minded, individuals who make money from buying and selling parts purchased from people here. I hate it. It gives the whole forum a bad taste. I have actually met members who having bought something from me very cheaply have behind my back, taken other items (theft). Some forum sales have resulted in the sale that I made of a cycle for a pretty decent low price because the purchaser pleaded poverty, being discussed by said purchaser on another forum. The purchaser bragging about how he purchased for virtually nothing! Telling all that the seller (me) didn't have a clue as to value. Not trusting anyone on here anymore...
It gives me the feeling that there are many mean minded cyclists. Sorry -- you are not one of them.
by leftpoole
27 Jun 2022, 11:54am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: ethanol, meths or bioethanol, where to buy while touring uk?
Replies: 56
Views: 14915

Re: ethanol, meths or bioethanol, where to buy while touring uk?

If anyone is passing my way Touring I can supply methylated Spirits in quantity. I have 6 (5 litre ) bottles of real pre modification Methylated Spirits.
by leftpoole
27 Jun 2022, 11:51am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Paying for "free camping"
Replies: 21
Views: 1886

Re: Paying for "free camping"

pete75 wrote: 27 Jun 2022, 10:47am
leftpoole wrote: 24 Jun 2022, 10:39am If your area of living is to be assumed correct, then indeed you should be well able to pay...! I believe those who live and pretty likely work in London or area have pretty decent wages. I am retired. I live on State Pension to which I paid every week contributions. If someone complains about free camping-then try living on my salary! I would never complain about making payment for goods, chattels or any service. If I objected to the costs, I would go elsewhere.
Countryside is free to use. If you want someone's water or toilet pay!
If you want free join the Labour Party, I believe they are having a recruitment drive. If you wish to complain, see the Union Rep.... lol
It really gets 'up my nose' how people on this CTC Forum moan and groan about costs! Riding what are very probably expensive cycles and penny pinching to camp somewhere or buy from a fellow cycling enthusiast. I have virtually sold a lifetime's worth of cycling to mainly CTC Forum members and most have moaned and groaned about how poor they are and then quite often sold on to someone else. Greed.
Free? Free train travel, Free meals, Free holidays. Grrrrrrr
My own personal opinions are still mine, and actually do come free!
It's not the fault of anyone here that you failed to make your own provision for a better retirement income than the state pension provides.
In response to the attached.
I have not complained. The person writing the comment has no clue about why I only have State Pension. In response, I can tell him/her that my Pension was stolen.
I will elaborate no more. I was merely trying to say that people complain about tiny costs. Those to whom the cost go are trying to live. The people complaining about costs for ;Free: camping are mean minded in my opinion. Even though I have very limited income I would never complain about the costs. Pay or go without!