desperate for help! (Spokane, WA area)

[celerystalksme]

i need help!

i'm trying to acquire a bike located in spokane, wa...but the seller will not use escrow, or ebay, or anything. wants direct bank transfer...or local pickup. i'm in michigan! and i'm too scared to just wire the money to him with no insurance policy at all.

would someone be willing to pickup the bike for me and have it shipped to michigan? of course, i would compensate you.

let me know!!!! thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snapdragen]

This would make me nervous, are you sure it's not a scam?

[SadieKate]

Snap read my totally dense mind.

[colby]

This sounds a little scary, I agree. Any transaction with a wire transfer is a big red flag.

I do live in the Spokane area, though, and would be willing to do a little digging. I know BikerHen lives here, too (not to volunteer her, but we're the only two I know of that close to Spokane ).

How did you find the bike? Was it a craigslist or ebay listing or something? (Looking for any other red flags...)

[Grog]

I also see lots of red flags there. I wouldn't do it.

[celerystalksme]

i found the bike via craigslist. started emailing the guy. and when it got to the point of payment, i brought up escrow.com for my safety. he said he was unwilling to go through a third party service and preferred direct bank transfer. (red flags go up in my head IMMEDIATELY!!!!!)

so i said to him i just don't feel safe about that. i asked if it'd be ok if i could arrange local pickup via another party. and then have that third party pay on my behalf (of course i'd give that person the money up front)...and take delivery of the bike...and i'd arrange shipping with the local third party.

he was open to that. which makes me think he might not be a scam. the problem is...the whole third party local pickup thing was me bluffing to out him on his scam (i thought he wouldn't go for it). i don't know anyone in washington like i told him! he basically called my bluff, whether he knew it or not!

so yeah...i'm looking for a trustworthy third party...i'd send that person the money in any form they wish. and i'd have that person correspond with the seller. after this third party takes delivery of the bike, i'd arrange shipping to michigan with this person. and i'd pay a little extra for the trouble (not sure how much that should be).

ANY funny business the seller tries to engage in, and the deal is off. like he asks for a different price...or whatever. then the third party would return my money to me...and i'd probably still throw in some money for the trouble.

any brave souls willing to take this mission? lol

[elk]

what about paypal?
they my have a kind of insurance in place...

[celerystalksme]

what about paypal?
they my have a kind of insurance in place...

i tried offering paypal at the suggestions of a guy on another forum. the seller refuses. seller says local pickup or direct money transfer only. at present, i found a couple guys that might be willing to help me out. so we'll see what happens!

[Becky]

Geez, he refuses escrow, Ebay, and Paypal, and will accept nothing less than a wire? Something's not right about this guy.....

[SadieKate]

What is so special about this bike?

[mimitabby]

i'd flag his ad.
find another bike!!

ding ding ding! it has all the classic signs of being a ripoff. don't fall for it

[celerystalksme]

Geez, he refuses escrow, Ebay, and Paypal, and will accept nothing less than a wire? Something's not right about this guy.....

well...he also is ok with local in person payment with local pickup. i found a couple guys willing to help me out...and they might go and have a look at the bike and take care of the transaction for me.

so we shall see if his local pickup thing is a bluff...cuz i told him i'd be ok with that i had a couple guys that could go to his place. no reply yet...we shall see...

[celerystalksme]

What is so special about this bike?

it's an awesome bike...awesome price. i know what you're thinking..."there's tons of awesome bikes at awesome prices!"

but here's the real big deal for me...it's an awesome bike at an awesome price...IN MY SIZE!!!!! *gasp*

itty bitty bike shopping is hard sometimes!

[SadieKate]

I can imagine, but is it worth the risk? Wow.

And what if one of the guys on bikeforums doesn't evaluate the bike right, it gets packaged incorrectly, and you receive a damaged bike? What are your recourses? Just thinking . . . .

[celerystalksme]

I can imagine, but is it worth the risk? Wow.

And what if one of the guys on bikeforums doesn't evaluate the bike right, it gets packaged incorrectly, and you receive a damaged bike? What are your recourses? Just thinking . . . .

well...the guys willing to help are bike guys! i'm sure they'll be able to evaluate the bike properly...possibly better than me! as for packing...i would want a LBS to do it and of course i'll pay. and that's about as safe as i can get without being located in washington.

overall, as long as someone will help me out, i think it's worth the gamble.