Is it just me or is this seriously weird?

[iaing]

"Mystery surprise ebike - electric bike cycle - used but working." on eBay

Mystery surprise ebike - electric bike cycle - used but working. | eBay

From The Electric Transport Shop in Cambridge

Why on Earth are they selling, or trying to sell, their bikes like this? Why bid on a bike with absolutely no details given? Would you?

Iain

 

[spiritburner]

some serious pedaling going on there me thinks

 

[rog_london]

some serious pedaling going on there me thinks

I think, just for a change, you really do mean 'peddling'!

Rog.

 

[eddieo]

OK, I win, arrive at shop, and they say here you are! and I say "Nooooo I want that one" (Just like Andy in little Britain)

Surprised they can get away with a blind auction....very odd idea

 

[spiritburner]

I think, just for a change, you really do mean 'peddling'!

Rog.

I did but didn't want to throw any mud!!!!

 

[flecc]

Why bid on a bike with absolutely no details given? Would you?

Iain

I suppose there may be two possibilities they are considering:

The first is the old adage, "There's one born every day".

The second is the fact that many millions buy lottery tickets every week without any idea of what they might get, or even whether they will get anything. A moment's thought will show that is very similar to this sort of bidding.

 

[bode]

many millions buy lottery tickets every week without any idea of what they might get, or even whether they will get anything. A moment's thought will show that is very similar to this sort of bidding.

Except that in this case the "ticket" costs 200 times as much, and the prize, rather than being millions of pounds, is a rather suspect bike supposedly to the same value as the ticket!

 

[flecc]

Except that in this case the "ticket" costs 200 times as much, and the prize, rather than being millions of pounds, is a rather suspect bike supposedly to the same value as the ticket!

But balanced by the odds of "winning" being very much better than the lottery's 14 millions to one!

I'm betting the bike is worth well in excess of £200 since the ETS commercial reputation is involved.

 

[smudger1956]

Yes, is does sound seriously weird to me too....
JHMO..sounds like someone has brought a container of S/H Electric Bikes to be 'palmed off' on Ebay, hardly the sort of practice I would expect from a reputable E-Bike dealer....?

 

[rog_london]

Yes, is does sound seriously weird to me too....
JHMO..sounds like someone has brought a container of S/H Electric Bikes to be 'palmed off' on Ebay, hardly the sort of practice I would expect from a reputable E-Bike dealer....?

I wouldn't say anyone was being palmed off with anything - they're not selling you anything against a false claim. In fact, they're not selling you anything at all unless you manage to put in a winning bid!

There will be many who just can't resist a pig in a poke. Bear in mind that ETS are a reputable dealer and I doubt you'd get rubbish. If it were some unknown supplier on the other side of the world it might be a different story - but ETS wouldn't chance their reputation by ripping someone off.

If I were giving it a try I wouldn't go too far above the reserve price though. Assume that what you end up with will definitely be connected realistically with the size of your bid - up to a point! They may well have a range of bikes and will give you value for money. Who knows? It's a gamble - but probably the odds are better than what you'd get in a betting shop, or any lottery.

Rog.

 

[flecc]

Yes, is does sound seriously weird to me too....
JHMO..sounds like someone has brought a container of S/H Electric Bikes to be 'palmed off' on Ebay, hardly the sort of practice I would expect from a reputable E-Bike dealer....?

ETS very recently had a sale to get rid of a stock of surplus e-bikes. No doubt this is one that failed to sell during that sale, so they are trying to clear it this way.

 

[smudger1956]

ETS very recently had a sale to get rid of a stock of surplus e-bikes. No doubt this is one that failed to sell during that sale, so they are trying to clear it this way.

JMHO...
Fair enough,I don't think Ebay is the right sort of place for sales tactics like that from a reputable dealer..?

 

[vectra]

So......i bid some as yet undetermined amount...for a bike I can't see and which has no description other than it is used. No statement of age, condition, manufacturer, model, battery status, weight, colour, colour, stepthrough, non stepthrough, gearing etc etc etc. Can't take this business seriously. Although, we are fast approaching April Fools Day?

They are taking the mickey but then again this is the same company that wasted a week of my time when I tried to obtain a mudguard from them recently. Not impressed.
Regards
Vectra

 

[rog_london]

So......i bid some as yet undetermined amount...for a bike I can't see and which has no description other than it is used. No statement of age, condition, manufacturer, model, battery status, weight, colour, colour, stepthrough, non stepthrough, gearing etc etc etc. Can't take this business seriously. Although, we are fast approaching April Fools Day?

They are taking the mickey but then again this is the same company that wasted a week of my time when I tried to obtain a mudguard from them recently. Not impressed.
Regards
Vectra

Not unless you want to! And why are they taking the mickey? I'd say they were being completely up-front myself. If they're joking - who cares? If they don't make a sale, they have garnered a shed load of very cheap publicity.

The approach of 1st April may be relevant though!

Rog.

 

[flecc]

Exactly as Rog says, they are saying nothing dishonest or misleading, just very obviously inviting a gamble. Take it or leave it is everyone's option, and surprises are possible.

The only time I have ever bid on ebay was for something posted about in this forum which seemed suspicious. It was a claimed brand new £500 Panasonic unit with no starting price. Most bidders were obviously suspicious and I secured it with a last minute bid of £16.

It was a legitimate brand new £500 Panasonic e-bike unit, and the seller delivered it free personally!

 

[funkylyn]

Exactly as Rog says, they are saying nothing dishonest or misleading, just very obviously inviting a gamble. Take it or leave it is everyone's option, and surprises are possible.

The only time I have ever bid on ebay was for something posted about in this forum which seemed suspicious. It was a claimed brand new £500 Panasonic unit with no starting price. Most bidders were obviously suspicious and I secured it with a last minute bid of £16.

It was a legitimate brand new £500 Panasonic e-bike unit, and the seller delivered it free personally!

Wow.....now THAT is what I call a bargain.....you kept that quiet Flecc.......but well done !

If you ever see any "United Nude" funky multi coloured boots for under £50 anytime.....let me know

Lynda

 

[flecc]

Little chance Lynda, I never look on ebay unless someone draws my attention to something, as happened on that occasion.

That Panasonic unit first became the photographic model for my Panasonic support webpage, and then when stripped the parts were donated. Most went to repair owner's bikes with my help, and the motor sprocket and shaft became the engineering patterns for new replacement sprockets to be made for A to B magazine to resell to owners at cost, half the price of the originals.

 

[funkylyn]

Put to VERY good use then Flecc ........

Lynda

 

[iaing]

"This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."

Pulled very late in the day - after no bids.

Iain