I feel for those of you who have been scammed. Hopefully, karma plays out for them, and perhaps you'll have a 'win' in the near future that makes up for it.
I'm almost to the point of quoting any online used buy/sell activity. I've bought/sold bike stuff, and a few other categories of items, on kijiji for 10-15 years. Pre-covid, didn't do too bad. Most items would go in 1-2 weeks, a lot of views, responses were generally positive even if a sale didn't occur. Most who did respond, got back to you even if they decided to pass on the item. Likewise, I would message on things I was interested in, and most sellers were respectful and good to deal with. During covid, selling was a piece of cake. Now, sigh, about 90% of the interactions I've had are with pinheads. People who in one minute seem so interested "I can be there today between 3-4pm", and when you say you're working, how about after dinner, you never here another word from them (this has happened with 8 out of the last 10 interactions). I've had items listed for months with no activity. I may donate a bunch of things to a bike collective or not-for-profit and hopefully the old parts (mainly saddles and stems) will go to a good home. I'm a really positive person, but it's hard to be positive with a lot the online activity these days (and these are not scammers, just, pinheads!). Buy/Sell looks great on this site. I'm in Canada though so that's a bit of a challenge (though I do use cross border pick up site, and it works fine, both directions), plus I'm at my budget for spending on bike things, for now, and I have most of what I want. On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:07:48 AM UTC-4 krhe...@gmail.com wrote: > @Roberta and Eric - > Let me clarify how I was scammed. I posted here last July wanting to buy > Blue Lug's > *REW10 WORKS* hex brass valve caps here in the states to save myself some > monies in overseas shipping costs. > > Anita Batya saw my post and claimed that she had a pair. Anita told me > that she lived in Seattle, of which is relatively close to me (This was a > lie. She lived in Pennsylvania after doing some online homework after the > fact). If I wanted them, she requested me to make a payment through a third > party email address of which she claimed it was her bookkeeper. Anita told > me that she was waiting for an answer from Paypal for a refund. I sent > her money (I forgot what amount it was $50.00~?) several times. This kept > going in circles over and over again. By then, I felt that there was > something mighty strange and peculiar going on. I caught on that I was > being scammed. I did not respond back to her. This was my first time being > scammed over something that I really wanted. My apologies for there might > be some holes left out from my recollection of my interaction with Anita. > > Later down the road, there was other members herein and over on the IBOB > group being scammed by Anita. Skip Montanaro, the administrator accepted > Anita > Batya's membership. When I told Skip that she was/is a scammer, he quickly > took action and denied her membership. > > https://groups.google.com/g/internet-bob/c/5FXmDXVSG6c/m/yGCjPQ3KBAAJ > https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/WRzS3bBRKcc > > Kim Hetzel. > > On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 7:24:11 AM UTC-7 drewfi...@gmail.com wrote: > >> The "Jeff" in question reached out to me in response to a WTB post. I >> asked what his "Friend" was selling and he said a 60cm Homer, which I >> thought was strange considering my post specifically said 54/55/56cm. >> >> A quick check to see that he'd never posted in the forum and I assumed it >> was nefarious. >> >> On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 9:20:37 AM UTC-4 eric...@gmail.com wrote: >> >>> Kim: I don't see how the administrator of this forum has any bearing on >>> someone's Facebook post. The scam is potentially occurring via Facebook, >>> not our forum. You reposted the FB listing here with a link. >>> >>> Regarding the Blue Lug purchase, how on earth were you "scammed" by Blue >>> Lug? They are one of the best bike shops in the universe and I'm sure they >>> would correct any mistake or problem with your purchase. I dislike like the >>> implication that Blue Lug would scam anyone. >>> >>> Regarding scams and buying/selling: If anything about the listing or >>> your interactions with a seller makes you uncomfortable or sets off >>> *any* alarms just drop the exchange and walk away. It's easy! If it's >>> too good to be true, it probably is. Although sometimes you have to know >>> when to snag a deal like when someone posts a Nitto S83 seatpost for $30. >>> Sellers should be happy and eager to share photos or details about frames >>> or bikes for sale. >>> >>> Here on the forum it's easy to check someone's history simply by >>> searching their email address and reviewing their past posts to see if they >>> participate in discussions, buy and sell goods and you can get a sense of >>> how long they've been part of the community. All common sense stuff. >>> >>> Also — Don't end up handing $50,000 in cash to a stranger on the street! >>> https://www.thecut.com/article/amazon-scam-call-ftc-arrest-warrants.html >>> >>> On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 8:00:50 AM UTC-4 Doug H. wrote: >>> >>>> I concur. I sent this scammer Leah's way unknowingly. Stay away from >>>> this person. In this case his "cousin" just bought a Homer and so was >>>> selling his Roadini. He must troll this group for want to buy posts and >>>> pounces. Karma is a concept of action, work, or deed, and its effect >>>> or consequences. Here's hoping that a little karma is heading his way. >>>> Doug >>>> >>>> On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 7:55:23 AM UTC-4 Andrew Joseph wrote: >>>> >>>>> Bad experience with Jeff and the “seller,” he directed me to with a >>>>> Homer as well! >>>>> >>>>> I posted that I want to buy a Mustard frameset. >>>>> Jeff directed me to his friend, and it went very badly from there. >>>>> Fortunately, I sent no payment. >>>>> >>>>> I also reported this to Admin. >>>>> >>>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>>> >>>>> On May 3, 2024, at 5:29 AM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! < >>>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> That Jeff McCathern guy tried to sell me a Roadini. He’s a scammer. I >>>>> wasn’t brave enough to say so publicly, but I will now. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 6:25:52 AM UTC-4 Roberta wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Kim, the link takes us directly to a blue lug page. How did you get >>>>>> scammed? >>>>>> >>>>>> BTW, I’ve gotten scammed too — with eBay. I will never not buy >>>>>> directly from the seller. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Friday, May 3, 2024 at 12:29:57 AM UTC-4 Kim H. wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> @Brenton- >>>>>>> I am sorry to hear and see you go through this ordeal. I wish it was >>>>>>> not so. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The administrator for this RBWOB group is Jim - cyclo...@gmail.com >>>>>>> Your message may take a day or two for him to respond. I hope he can >>>>>>> help you. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> My regards, >>>>>>> Kim Hetzel. >>>>>>> I got scammed too last year over these - >>>>>>> https://global.bluelug.com/catalog/product/view/id/27109/s/rew10-works-hex-brass-valve-cap/category/1321/ >>>>>>> >>>>>>> last year. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 9:17:48 PM UTC-7 brenton...@gmail.com >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The more I think about this the more fired up I get. I've had so >>>>>>>> many pleasant exchanges here, both transactional and >>>>>>>> non-transactional, >>>>>>>> that I feel protective of this group. If no scam is happening, no one >>>>>>>> will >>>>>>>> be bummed on me sharing out a phone number and email. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I was direct messaged from 'Jeff McCathern' via >>>>>>>> *jeff00m...@gmail.com* who said they were friends with a seller >>>>>>>> named "Leonard" and I gave my phone number to that emailer. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The text message correspondence was with phone number *424-269-2563 >>>>>>>> <(424)%20269-2563>* which got super cryptic and scammy. When they >>>>>>>> told me the bike was in LA, I said I would happily have a friend (I >>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>> lots of friends in LA, some are in this group!) meet up to buy the >>>>>>>> bike, >>>>>>>> they accused me of being cautious and suggested a deposit. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Not sure who the admins of this group are, but everything about >>>>>>>> this says *scam*. I would love to be wrong. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 8:48:01 PM UTC-7 Brenton Eastman wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi. I've been searching for a blue homer in 54.5 for my wife and >>>>>>>>> in my ISO post I was linked to this facebook listing: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> " @Brenton - >>>>>>>>> If you go FACEBOOK Rivendell Bicycle BUY/SELL/TRADE, there is a >>>>>>>>> blue Homer under the owner's name of >>>>>>>>> *Payton Beargrr* >>>>>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/3127504017358010/user/33810597/?__cft__[0]=AZWM_HUDwICO-DZxRDgeH6PKEH27Q60_rtRW56T14XolOXVDtbhiBhqSs5IRAf2tQDooAhYlS1GgrtEsUMVFG9ZrTDTGQLgc2dwfiW-pCa6kFgLsLZXBqq6yep7jrikH2XvXt0mesTqEacdgnkqciYIV4VxMZbmA-_JjOgp9P2iC9Yu-ioEmc_h01k1sYLT7-4XapFpB_ZNlHwVe_6xRHXgq&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Very near mint condition A. Homer Hilsen, 54.5cm with 650b wheels. >>>>>>>>> Unsure of year but it's likely 4 or less years old. Taiwanese made >>>>>>>>> frame. I >>>>>>>>> am not the original owner but this appears to be a Rivendell build. >>>>>>>>> -Nitto handlebars, stem, and seat post >>>>>>>>> -Brooks saddle >>>>>>>>> -Paul racer brakes, Paul canti levers >>>>>>>>> -Paul thumbie mounts with Microshift shifters >>>>>>>>> -Riv Silver double crankset >>>>>>>>> -IRD front derailleur >>>>>>>>> -Shimano Alivio rear derailleur >>>>>>>>> -MKS Grip Monarch pedals >>>>>>>>> -mismatched Shimano hubs, no name rims >>>>>>>>> -Soma Cazadero 650 x 42b >>>>>>>>> -Sackville bag >>>>>>>>> The only imperfections are the two small paint chips on the top >>>>>>>>> tube, noted in the pictures. >>>>>>>>> $2500 + shipping. >>>>>>>>> Let me know if you have any questions. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Kim Hetzel." >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Other people seem to also be looking at this bike. Robert Carlton >>>>>>>>> said owner confirmed it's a 58. The facebook post has some comments >>>>>>>>> and the >>>>>>>>> owner says the bike is in *Fargo ND.* >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I've been texting with someone (who says the bike is in *LA*) and >>>>>>>>> he wants a $400 deposit to sell it to me for $1300 (complete bike, >>>>>>>>> insane >>>>>>>>> price). The whole thing is odd. They can't send me a pic with measure >>>>>>>>> tape >>>>>>>>> to prove a claim of *69cm standover*. It sure doesn't look like a >>>>>>>>> 54.5 based on every other Riv stack I've seen and studied. Our >>>>>>>>> messages >>>>>>>>> have been super cryptic. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I just *HOPE* anyone else looking for a blue homer in 58 or 54.5 >>>>>>>>> doesn't fall for a scam. Posting here amongst people I trust, admire, >>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>> have become friends with. My Roadini frame and dozens of parts on >>>>>>>>> both my >>>>>>>>> Rivs have been purchased from this group. I don't want to stir up any >>>>>>>>> drama >>>>>>>>> if this is in fact a legit sale, but the listing is from Jan 2023, 16 >>>>>>>>> months old, this bike at any price under $2000 should be long gone on >>>>>>>>> it's >>>>>>>>> way to a new owner. PS. I'm not sending a deposit. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9d7fa74f-3093-4c10-b38a-63aa4a200dafn%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9d7fa74f-3093-4c10-b38a-63aa4a200dafn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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