see before you buy

[flecc]

I think the possibility of someone forging a passport simply to pinch an electric bike is a little far fetched, together with a forged credit card?

Point missed, crooks are crooks and will use false documents for many means. Being involved in fraud prevention, I'm sure you know a stolen credit card is initially used for cash and purchases until blocked, but is not then useless, since it remains a means of identification.

The same applies to a forged passport which can be used endlessly as identification for the gullible to accept, making it's production profitable. It's a mistake to think of crooks using it to steal an e-bike, they steal cash in all it's forms, and an e-bike is just another one of those forms of cash.
.

 

[Beej]

It looks like a list of demonstrators is a non-starter.
In my case, anyone coming for a demo would have to arrive by car, which is probably worth more than the bike, so I could keep hold of their car keys. Though you are now going to tell me that they will steal a car first so that they can come and steal my bike.
Beej

 

[flecc]

I don't think they'd go that far Beej.

However the last person to buy an e-bike from me turned up by public transport with a view to riding it away if bought.
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[Beeping-Sleauty]

No passports please....

Easy really and doesn't take rocket science
Just ask them that in order to take the bike for a test ride that they need to provide a valid passport and keep hold of this whilst they are on their ride.
......./

Hi Mandy,

please allow me to advise to the contrary, NEVER accept a valid passport as security.... some years ago we took a valid UK passport, as security for a laptop, 'client' skipped adresses, applied for new passport claiming his 'had been misplaced', took me 18 months and no small sum to find him, the FO demanded the passport back, the Police were not interested - until it emerged our 'client' was the son of a Senior Police Officer, then all hell broke loose, i was lucky not to be arrested myself.

only the kind intervention of a ex-CID chap saved beeps hairy little back-side from getting a toasting.

...and paying dearly for the pleasure, never saw the laptop again, rec'd diddly-squat, wasted about 100 hours, 'client' went bankrupt to escape debts.

please, Never accept a passport as security....

 

[Bigbee]

If things are as bad as this makes out,which I doubt from Tims post(s).The dealers have to provide a secure area to try the bikes,make customers hand over the keys to their cars( which may not be theirs anyway ),or stop giving demos to 16 year olds wearing hoodies If some one wants a demo,pre do it with adequate security.IMHO this industry is changing,and with the launch of "normal " looking ebikes and pedelecs stealing will rise

 

[flecc]

I don't think it's bad at all BigBee as shown by Tim's experience, but the trouble is that it will at some time happen and someone has to be first.

Two things have happened in the last year or so to make it more likely, an expansion in the sales of e-bikes and a marked increase in the prices, well over £1000 now being commonplace. These developments will not stay unnoticed by the light fingered who are always on the lookout for relatively risk free opportunities.
.

 

[Mandy]

Easy really and doesn't take rocket science
Just ask them that in order to take the bike for a test ride that they need to provide a valid passport and keep hold of this whilst they are on their ride.
......./

Hi Mandy,

please allow me to advise to the contrary, NEVER accept a valid passport as security.... some years ago we took a valid UK passport, as security for a laptop, 'client' skipped adresses, applied for new passport claiming his 'had been misplaced', took me 18 months and no small sum to find him, the FO demanded the passport back, the Police were not interested - until it emerged our 'client' was the son of a Senior Police Officer, then all hell broke loose, i was lucky not to be arrested myself.

only the kind intervention of a ex-CID chap saved beeps hairy little back-side from getting a toasting.

...and paying dearly for the pleasure, never saw the laptop again, rec'd diddly-squat, wasted about 100 hours, 'client' went bankrupt to escape debts.

please, Never accept a passport as security....

Blimey, that was a bit of an episode and you are right there are some fraudsters/chancers out there but requesting some form of ID is better than none at all

You may have had an unfortunate incident but it doesn't mean that everyone out there will do as that person did
I think letting a bike out of your possesion without requesting some form of ID/security would be asking for trouble really.

It is sad really that whilst there are such people out there all people aren't out to steal and whilst I have become less trusting over the years you have to trust some people or you wouldn't have any faith in anyone and that would be a shame and a very sad place to be.

Tim has stated that he has had no such episodes and that is refreshing to know so I still have faith

Regards

 

[Mandy]

It looks like a list of demonstrators is a non-starter.
In my case, anyone coming for a demo would have to arrive by car, which is probably worth more than the bike, so I could keep hold of their car keys. Though you are now going to tell me that they will steal a car first so that they can come and steal my bike.
Beej

Yep, they are gonna steal the car, then steal ya bike, then don a stocking on their head and ram raid a post office on said bike then leave the trashed bike to be traced back to you and then come back when you are in the nick and nick your wife! Ok, you may not have one but made it up anyways

Seriously though, yes car keys would be good if they arrive in one?

 

[Mandy]

If things are as bad as this makes out,which I doubt from Tims post(s).The dealers have to provide a secure area to try the bikes,make customers hand over the keys to their cars( which may not be theirs anyway,or stop giving demos to 16 year olds wearing hoodies If some one wants a demo,pre do it with adequate security.IMHO this industry is changing,and with the launch of "normal " looking ebikes and pedelecs stealing will rise

Hi Bigbee

Good points made and as outlined by Tim this hasn't been an issue with 50 Cycles.
Well stealing electric bikes may come to something at some point but as Tim also pointed out they would need to purchase a charger so it isn't quite as simple as stealing a non electric bike.

I had my scooter stolen some years ago which was locked up outside of my house. Joy riders! Who broke the lock then went on to burn it to the ground in local woods to destroy evidence so the police said? I had to identify it in the woods by it's frame number and even got a mention in the local rag.
Had one month of my 3 year instalment left and the insurance had ran out just one week before as had been in the garage having a new exhaust fitted!!
So I wouldn't let my leccy bike out of my sight without some form of security

It's up to the retailers/suppliers what they do I guess?

Happy Biking

 

[fishingpaul]

Hi Bigbee

Good points made and as outlined by Tim this hasn't been an issue with 50 Cycles.
Well stealing electric bikes may come to something at some point but as Tim also pointed out they would need to purchase a charger so it isn't quite as simple as stealing a non electric bike.

I had my scooter stolen some years ago which was locked up outside of my house. Joy riders! Who broke the lock then went on to burn it to the ground in local woods to destroy evidence so the police said? I had to identify it in the woods by it's frame number and even got a mention in the local rag.
Had one month of my 3 year instalment left and the insurance had ran out just one week before as had been in the garage having a new exhaust fitted!!
So I wouldn't let my leccy bike out of my sight without some form of security

It's up to the retailers/suppliers what they do I guess?

Happy Biking

A retailer would be insured for theft,customers expect to try out their bikes,however imagine if you or i had a bike insured,and allowed a complete stranger to try out your bike because they wanted one,who then disapeared with the bike,this could make a claim very hard to get.

 

[Mandy]

A retailer would be insured for theft,customers expect to try out their bikes,however imagine if you or i had a bike insured,and allowed a complete stranger to try out your bike because they wanted one,who then disapeared with the bike,this could make a claim very hard to get.

Absolutely! I totally agree and I wouldn't let any Tom, Dick, Harry or Fishingpaul on my bike unless I was absolutely certain that they would come back
If I didn't have some form of assurance I wouldn't let them ride it.

Does anyone know of any good electric bike alarms? These look pretty good but not sure?

SG Locks - No.1 in Alarmed Lock Security

Nite Nite

 

[prState]

This makes me think about possible ways to inhibit theft.

Take a picture of the rider. Get a work phone, and confirm that it is in indeed a real business, and that they work there by calling it a day before they come out. Holding their id, and ask what year they were born (maybe if it was a false ID they wouldn’t have memorized the exact date).

I don't know about there, but detection of counterfeit money is not that difficult here if you know what to look for. So, holding a deposit might discourage a would-be thief (or at least cut down on his profit). There are very few counterfeits that are so good only a expert could detect them. And even if I wasn't absolutely sure the money was counterfeit, I'm not accepting any bills I have serious doubts about anyway. I don’t know enough about passports or other ID, but generally money has several safeguards.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Spokes

I am having wheel problems with my 905SE.I suggest you keep a close eye on, and check the spoke nipples regularity as mine have started to fail.

Hi Eddieo

Sorry I didn't see your posting earlier, of course we will happily look at the bike for you, the spoke nipples certainly should not be failing, if they are they are covered by warranty.

We did had some issues with the rear wheel spokes in the early days, but as long as they are tightened occasionally for the first few hundred miles, there will not be a problem.

We recommend that they are checked and tightened after 150 miles or so, we will do that for you as will your Wisper retailer, free of charge.

My mobile number is 07733226906, give me a call and we will sort you out.

All the best David

 

[Mussels]

This makes me think about possible ways to inhibit theft.

Take a picture of the rider. Get a work phone, and confirm that it is in indeed a real business, and that they work there by calling it a day before they come out. Holding their id, and ask what year they were born (maybe if it was a false ID they wouldn’t have memorized the exact date).

I don't know about there, but detection of counterfeit money is not that difficult here if you know what to look for. So, holding a deposit might discourage a would-be thief (or at least cut down on his profit). There are very few counterfeits that are so good only a expert could detect them. And even if I wasn't absolutely sure the money was counterfeit, I'm not accepting any bills I have serious doubts about anyway. I don’t know enough about passports or other ID, but generally money has several safeguards.

That's a lot of effort to go to for a favour for someone you don't know.