Found a good deal on some polygon bikes, not sure about the website.
Can pay with bank transfer, is that safe?
http://bikesworld.com.au/
Does anyone have more information about this group?
Thanks
Purchasing a Bicycle Possible SCAM?
Lbbbargain on 28/12/2017 - 15:48
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Looks very sus. I would prob pass, unless you can pay with a safe method (Credit Card or Paypal). The fact there is no street address and very little information on google search, concerns me
Where there is doubt, there is no doubt.
Their mission statement is ripped off from Appliances Direct. PASS!
Nice pickup
That's the first thing they teach you.
Pass. Sounds very scammy.
They do offer "Best Customer Service".
you mean: "Best Scam Service" ????
I am just trying to be more positive for the New Year.
I didn't want to throw them under a bus, coz bikes and buses..
When you run:
http://www.ip-tracker.org/lookup/whois-lookup.php?query=Bike…
you get an ABN for The Trustee for Anna Meares TrustMaybe contact http://www.annameares.com.au/#contact and see if they know…
well…
if you check the details on the website, the registrant is the trustee for ana meare’s trust
https://dig.whois.com.au/whois/bikesworld.com.authat has been registered with the ABN since 2007
https://abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=6745…anna meares is a national cyclist…
so it’s either an elaborate scam, or might actually be legit.
Still, i’d be hesitant to pay anything online via direct transfer.
edit: beaten by 13 seconds :D
Thanks guys, really appreciate the investigative work and will be in contact with the trust, but am very hesitant.
Is this the same place https://www.truelocal.com.au/business/colins-bike-world/bowr… ? says its online only and accepts Paypal. There is a contact number 0420 295 656 maybe call and ask.
I would also like to know bike i like is listed for 40% off.
Website looks very dodgy. I'd pass.
bank transfer = scam
who do business with just bank transfer these days? even local adult toy shop can accept credit card.
gee.. just move on.. nothing excited here.
How is no name selling cheaper Polygons than Bicycles Online.
Lol, this reminds me of the whole BBQ scam…
You'd be better off buying a bike with round wheels anyway. Why would you buy a polygon?
Pass. I’m not positive, but I don’t think Giant bikes are meant to be sold online and it would be unusual to be selling Giant and Merida as they are competing brands. Also not enough info in their contact page and they do t appear to be selling anything ini the way of accessories like a small local bike shop would.
I Unfortunately did make a purchase before Xmas from them, never received bike, they never replied to my emails, and they tried to debit my card $100 twice after i emailed them asking for delivery details….scammed.
I'm glad I found this so I can save you from getting scammed also….might be worth looking into reporting the site to someone.
the contact details from the ABN / domain registration might lead somewhere.Will do, thanks
would love to hear the outcome
i don't recall it being that easy to fudge ABN stuff@mkerr:
Not that hard to enter any rubbish into a domain registration and get it registered.
The ABN is registerd to something in South Australia and the bike shop seems to be in bowral…https://abr.business.gov.au/SearchByAbn.aspx?SearchText=6745…
https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landi…https://www.whois.com/whois/bikesworld.com.au
You can complain to your bank and say it's likely fraud. Make enough noise and maybe the fraud department of the bank will put a stop on the bank account. If it's another bank, maybe say that it seems to be a scam and money muling, etc. They should KYC their customers and accounts. They may end up suspending or terminating the account.
I've now banned the website on Ozbargain system, just in case we have people posting "bargains" for it.
Shit, I think I've been had. I did a bank transfer. And it's been a week with no reply.
Any tips on where to go from here?
Talk to your bank. They can reverse transfers under certain conditions but will take a little while as they do their own investigations.
I've been had as well, I have contacted them multiple times and said I would refer them to the ACCC (not sure this will make a difference!). If it looks too good to be true it probably is…. Advice on next steps would be much appreciated. Luckily I smelt a rat on Christmas eve and bought another bike to go under the tree.
Thanks :)Thanks Kickling. I talked to the Bank, they said to give them the full 5-10 business day grace, as stated on their website for a normal delivery. Once that expires, they will start protesting the transaction.
It's extremely annoying as I now have to search for another bike..it was supposed to be a Christmas gift
It was my first ever bank transfer and it failed miserably :(
Yup. In future, remember paypal is your friend for all online shopping. Nowadays almost all online shopping will take PayPal or at least Credit card to give you some protection.
What bike type are you after and price?
Polygon Relic 24 Evo - Kids Mountain Bike 24 inch Wheels
https://www.bicyclesonline.com.au/polygon-relic-24-evo-kids-…
It is a good bike that should be able to withstand some punishment, priced at $399 with free delivery.
hey I bought the non evo 24" relic for my daughter, they are great bikes. Fork is the only let down but the one on the evo is a step up from the crap on the non-evo! but still the best 24" bike available for the $$$. Oh there was a slow leak from the valve on the front wheel, but bicyclesonline are sending a replacement out.
@minidriver: Thanks for that. I've been doing some research, I think I'll be getting the evo 24. I will pull the trigger sometime today.
I almost sent my hard earned to these people - the cheaper than bicyclesonline polygons set alarm bells off for me, but maybe he's getting them from indo direct somehow? Anyway, the only other bike shop I could find in bowral was The Fixed Wheel. contacted them to see if they were one and the same, and no. different shop altogether, plus they have had 4 calls asking the same with some horror stories of money lost. so steer clear of bikesworld.
I left my final message to them yesterday; it's been over a week now. No reply, no phone calls etc.
I'm informing my Bank today and will let them know what's happened. I will also be telling the ACCC about the store.
bicyclesonline are aware of the site also - they told me it is 100% a scam, and they are trying to have the website removed from the interwebs. best of luck with getting your money back!
ACCC and Consumer Affairs VIC said that they can't do anything about it. The reasons given were quite strange, they are powerless to shut it down due to the fact that it is a scam, ACCC & Consumer Affairs can only help if this issue involves a real business, so they are powerless.
ACCC confirmed that scammers can use legitimate ABNs as a front for this type of scam as well.
I also spoke with the police, they won't do anything, they asked me to report to www.acorn.gov.au
ACORN has zero recovering power.
I think I should set up a scam business like bikesworld.com.au, thoughts?
One of the cardinal sins of shopping online is paying by direct bank transfer.
There's no ABN listed on the site or on abr.business.gov.au for Bikes World, however I did dig up "AM Cycling" from the ABN from Whois info
The address says Bowral NSW, (no street address or block number) but there also is no bike shop with the specific name 'bikes world' in that area