How to avoid the trap of a stolen bike dealer?

If you want to prepare for mountain biking, buying a bike between people is an economical way to achieve your goals. However, sometimes there are too good business and what could lead to the acquisition of a stolen ATV.

Here are some things to look out for to avoid burglary and bike theft service.

Buying a used bike is a good option, it's quick, easy, and overall a good price.

There are many online selling sites: Leboncoin, Facebook groups, eBay, and some specialize in sports (Decathlon cases) or even cycling (Trocvélo).

However, several hundred thousand bicycles are stolen every year in France. Not all of them are mountain bikes, but victims are estimated to report less than one in two bike thefts to the police.

So how do thieves sell their stolen bicycles?

Thieves simply attract potential customers with very (too) low prices compared to the usual price of a bike.

But when buying a stolen bike, the buyer can hide it. And since “no one should ignore the law,” it is useful to know that withholding information may be punishable by up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to € 375.000.

Disappointing no? In any case, this gives reason to think.

To avoid the hassle, a few tips are not a luxury to avoid falling into the trap of a stolen bike salesman.

Too low price = scam

Nobody sells a bike VERY cheaper than their market price. If you allow yourself to be seduced, ask the salesperson why he beats the price.

Be critical of the story you are being told, peel the onion to the middle, do not be alarmed. If the story smacks of an adventure novel, use critical thinking. A salesperson who stands with his back to the wall with very specific questions will end up aborting the sale himself and flying away.

Don't call him back if you don't have an answer, it's because you just avoided screwing up and he decided to grab someone less cool than you.

In fact, at a really low price, there is no miracle: either the bike is stolen, or there is a problem with it.

Likewise, if you are offered a new electric bike (VAE) with no charger and no keys, tell yourself it’s better to skip the deal there (unless the seller proves to you that he has them with invoice and dealer name) ...

How do I know the rating of a bike?

Either you can see the price of a new one and do the same thing as apply a year of ownership discount to cars, or look at sites such as Troc Vélo or NYD Vélos that allow you to estimate a target price for a bike. Simple and effective.

Give preference to specialized sites

Specialized sites like Leboncoin or Troc Vélo offer a wide variety of mountain bikes and you can easily find out the pedigree of the seller.

They have specialized processes and services to track fraud rather than post suspicious ads.

Their service also offers to register as a trusted third party to conduct financial transactions, collateral insurance and collateral with a guarantee.

Know who the seller is

Buy only from people who can prove to you that they own the bike.

On a personal online sales site, check if you are dealing with a recipient by simply clicking on their profile to see other items sold or for sale.

A person who has a lot of bicycles for sale is suspected by default: what is he doing about it? And you can ask him and listen to his story ...

If you have made an appointment, go accompanied and in a neutral place with the public, without a lot of money with you.

Beware of unmarked motorcycles

From 2021, cycling professionals have had to label bicycles on sale, whether new or used.

Marking is a solution that allows you to assign a unique number to a bike by marking its frame. This number is stored in a centralized database at the service provider. This solution makes it possible to find the owner of a bike by setting up bike tracking and therefore makes the used bike market more reliable by limiting the hiding of stolen bikes.

If the bike seller is an individual and the bike is not registered, ask him to do this, it costs only a few tens of euros (for example, a bike code), and depending on his reaction, this should calm you down or scare you away.