Buying a bike off Ebay: The Good, Bad and Ugly

[Triskeliongirl]

Congrats on winning the auction! Such a pretty color too. I use esnipe too, and usually set it for 4 sec (once I was outbid at 6). I don't think its cheating, there are no rules against it, its a service like anything else you choose to pay for and use or not, everyone has the same opportunity.

Definitely purchase insurance and definitely go UPS over fedex ground (or fedex home delivery which is the same as fedex ground but for home deliveries). UPS allows you to really insure it for what it is worth, and then claim that as long as you set up the insurance correctly (but check w seller since it seems in auction he specified $100, tell him you want it insured for price you are paying him). Fedex ground (ground not express) lets you pay to insure it for whatever value you declare but then has a max allowed claim of $100 regardless of what you thought you were insuring it for. I know this cuz they 'lost' my husbands trek 5500 for a couple of weeks. Turned out an employee stole it and it was recovered, but only cuz we had a friend call a friend that works for them who researched it for us. UPS is safer cuz all workers are real full time employees w benefits, etc.. Fedex Ground (which is run differently from fedex express) uses contract drivers and other temporary workers so its harder to control theft. I will never use fedex ground again for anything worth >$100 or with sentimental value. They also ruined my husband's bike trip......... And then they had the nerve to charge us for the shipping (they removed the charge when we called, but that is the procedure, they charge you and you have to ask to have them credit your credit card).

Fedex Express is fine though, but very expensive for a large item like a bike. Never insure a bike for more than you will be able to document value though, that is just throwing money away.