Definitely Too good to be true - Advice taken

Short version of the story

I've been saving up for a new steed. Namely an FSR Spesh. Don't know exactly what flavour or year yet. Been keeping a close eye on the usual suspects for decent 2nd handers.

So as I was browsing Gumtree I saw an ad for new Specialized bikes shipped over from Malaysia.

Price for an S-Works Stumpie Carbon 2011 = $2,200 USD delivered (approx £1,300). Which is a very good price. Indeed

So I emailed the contact and have been talking to him for a week or so.

What I've ascertained:

- they aren't recognised specialized dealers
- they ship bikes over from Malaysia
- they're a registered company here in the uk
- they have a website:

Company Name:TREK11 SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Registered No: 05404841
Registered Office :
80 SIDNEY STREET, FOLKESTONE, KENT, CT19 6HQ, UNITED KINGDOM
Phone Number:+447024087514
Website: www.trekbicyclecompany.cc.cc

What they want

- 50% of the cash upfront to secure the bike and deliver it.
- 50% upon receipt
- cash by Western Union transfer. They won't take cash on delivery, nor paypal or credit card.

I can hear the watchdog music in my ears. Anyone got an opinion or offer some clever advice as to how I might protect myself?

I'll end with an excerpt from their last email (now from my contact's 'boss' about how they think I can protect myself via Western Union....

""You will surely get your bike because you are not or first costumer
buying bike from us we have sell bikes all over the world and we have
ship to all over the world..

But what i can say again is that if you make the payment via western
union you will tell us and when we give you the tracking number you
can release the MTCN to us or you can make the payment and use your
mothers name and when you get your bike you can go back and change the
name to our name...""


:roll: :?:

Re: Too good to be true - Advice needed

trickylad":11d99dor said:

Anyone got an opinion or offer some clever advice as to how I might protect myself?

Click to expand...

Don't do it, sounds like a scam to me.

As soon as you send the money via western union its gone forever.

There is no protection with western union, its as good as handing cash to a stranger in another country.

My Dad recently got done on a similar sounding scam for a £600 camera.

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

But hey, its up to you at the end of the day.

Ooo err!

I would (like you by the sounds of it) have massive reservations about this.

If it was me I think I would resist temptation and keep looking for good 2nd hand or keep saving for the one you wanted in the 1st place.

Good luck whichever you choose. . . . it could be completely genuine of course.

Luke

western union.


walk away.....

merckx":3iyabvub said:

western union.


walk away.....

Click to expand...

Ditto that. . . . .

They've just this second mailed me and suggested I can pay via paypal. That's protected isn't it?

Echo all of the feelings and opinions above.

I think I just needed someone to say it.

Re: Too good to be true - Advice needed

trickylad":2b155tam said:

Short version of the story
I've been saving up for a new steed. Namely an FSR Spesh. Don't know exactly what flavour or year yet. Been keeping a close eye on the usual suspects for decent 2nd handers.
So as I was browsing Gumtree I saw an ad for new Specialized bikes shipped over from Malaysia.
Price for an S-Works Stumpie Carbon 2011 = $2,200 USD delivered (approx £1,300). Which is a very good price. Indeed
So I emailed the contact and have been talking to him for a week or so.
What I've ascertained:
- they aren't recognised specialized dealers
- they ship bikes over from Malaysia
- they're a registered company here in the uk
- they have a website:
Company Name:TREK11 SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Registered No: 05404841
Registered Office :
80 SIDNEY STREET, FOLKESTONE, KENT, CT19 6HQ, UNITED KINGDOM
Phone Number:+447024087514
Website: www.trekbicyclecompany.cc.cc
What they want
- 50% of the cash upfront to secure the bike and deliver it.
- 50% upon receipt
- cash by Western Union transfer. They won't take cash on delivery, nor paypal or credit card.
I can hear the watchdog music in my ears. Anyone got an opinion or offer some clever advice as to how I might protect myself?
I'll end with an excerpt from their last email (now from my contact's 'boss' about how they think I can protect myself via Western Union....
""You will surely get your bike because you are not or first costumer
buying bike from us we have sell bikes all over the world and we have
ship to all over the world..
But what i can say again is that if you make the payment via western
union you will tell us and when we give you the tracking number you
can release the MTCN to us or you can make the payment and use your
mothers name and when you get your bike you can go back and change the
name to our name...""
:roll: :?:

Click to expand...

If they're really a UK based company you shold be able to do a search on one of the company registration websites.
Ask for some recently satisfied customer recommendations.
What protection if any do they offer

Good luck.

Well.. the company is registered at companies house

http://www.companycheck.co.uk/company/05404841

But the address isn't their office or shop or owt, it's just a holding company address

http://www.192.com/atoz/business/ct19/h ... ctivities/

But paypal does come with some security..

To me it still smells a little but.. .. ..

And (sorry). . .

The bloke running the show is a Dutch chap Mr W.T. Schuurmans , appointed 6 years ago..
http://www.companycheck.co.uk/company/05404841

Western Union - definitely a no. Still doesn't "feel" right to me. Simply being a Reg'd Co costs little and proves less - do you have a reg'n DATE? have they filed any Returns?

PS 80 Sidney Street (Google Streetview!) does not fill me with confidence as a registered office!

But then in a different time I was a DTI Criminal Proceedings Officer! So I am by nature suspicious.