If I bought a bike new then I'd keep the receipt, but my current bike I built out of loads of different mostly secondhand parts, and for example the frame didn't come with a receipt 'cos it was bought from a friend with cash.
My last bike I didn't get a receipt for 'cos I bought it on Ebay and paid cash on collection. Might be a good idea to ask the seller for a receipt if you do that, it did occur to me at some point that I had no way of proving that the bike was mine if I ever needed to e.g. if it got stolen.
What to ask Ebay sellers?
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vjosullivan
- Posts: 417
- Joined: 31 Oct 2010, 12:06am
Re: What to ask Ebay sellers?
alicej wrote:it did occur to me at some point that I had no way of proving that the bike was mine if I ever needed to e.g. if it got stolen.
A couple of photos of you with the bike at your place, an assortment of touring photos with the bike, any unique markings or scratches and another of the frame number should be more than enough to prove ownership.
E25
Re: What to ask Ebay sellers?
I guess the sort of advise that I have read about buying cars can also apply in part to buying a bike.
Don't meet the seller in a carpark, go to their home.
Ask to see the receipt or have a good reason why they don't have one. I too keep receipts for anything valuable. For reasons ranging from warranty, proving that I own it, or just curious about how old it is years later.
If the person is the owner, they should not be offended if you ask searching questions about it's history, e.g. full spec, repairs, replacements, upgrades; they will also know what they are talking about. If it's been nicked, a dead give-away would be that the person cannot describe exactly what the bike is fitted with or is being vague/evasive.
Also if the seller is the original owner, they may just have the manufacturers rider handbook.
All the best. Alan
Don't meet the seller in a carpark, go to their home.
Ask to see the receipt or have a good reason why they don't have one. I too keep receipts for anything valuable. For reasons ranging from warranty, proving that I own it, or just curious about how old it is years later.
If the person is the owner, they should not be offended if you ask searching questions about it's history, e.g. full spec, repairs, replacements, upgrades; they will also know what they are talking about. If it's been nicked, a dead give-away would be that the person cannot describe exactly what the bike is fitted with or is being vague/evasive.
Also if the seller is the original owner, they may just have the manufacturers rider handbook.
All the best. Alan
Re: What to ask Ebay sellers?
vjosullivan wrote:alicej wrote:it did occur to me at some point that I had no way of proving that the bike was mine if I ever needed to e.g. if it got stolen.
A couple of photos of you with the bike at your place, an assortment of touring photos with the bike, any unique markings or scratches and another of the frame number should be more than enough to prove ownership.
IIRC, what I was trying to do was register my Kryptonite lock, which I think you need a receipt for. Just was a simple thing I could have asked for at the time, that I couldn't really get later as I didn't stay in touch with the seller.
Also I was worried about the police stealing my bike, which maybe other people don't really have to worry about! http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009 ... imate-camp
Thanks you have just reminded me to take photos of my current bike and serial number (now I've finished building it)
