Quick Kijiji Question
- Thread starter Darts
- Start date
I'm looking at buying a high end expensive bike. I asked the vendor for a copy of his purchase receipt. He said he couldn't find it.
How do I know the bike isn't stolen?
have him email you the bike's serial number and check it here...
http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm
have him email you the bike's serial number and check it here...
http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm
Thanks. I wasn't aware of this resource. Also, if he declines to provide the serial number, that would raise a red flag.
have him email you the bike's serial number and check it here...
http://app.cpic-cipc.ca/English/searchformbikes.cfm
That will only tell you if it's been reported stolen. It still may be but the original owner never reported it. If you buy it and it's later reported stolen, you can be charged with possession of stolen property and lose the bike.
Ask the guy if he bought it new. If so, the store should have a record of the sale and the purchase price. If he bought it "used", I'd be a little suspect.
The Kijiji is funny place. Once my friend try to sell her engagement ring there, and the police officer from Mississauga invite her in his office because someone reported the ring. What'shappened? A woman lost her ring somewhere in downtown in a restaurant's toilet. After she went to the Kijiji and reported every diamond what was look familiar than hers. Doesn't matter the setting. She checked the size of the stone and if it was close for hers she reported immediately. Around 10-15 different rings. I couldn't believe the police officers took it seriously and reported every seller and ask them evidence about their rings. Just no way to identify a stone if they don't have laser encryption and the losted ring didn't have any. Waste lots of time , taxpayers time and money...etc She just guessing, and try to find a needle in the haystack and give many headaches for honest sellers who tried to sell their diamond ring.
Is this a new bike from a vendor or a used bike from an individual? If it's used - how old is it? If it's more than two years, not having a receipt isn't that odd. There are definitely some resales of stolen bikes on kijiji but if it's really high end, this would be the first place for the legit owner to look. Another tell for something suspicious is if he only wants to meet in a parking lot somewhere to transact. A legitimate seller (in my experience) would be selling from home or have a store and you would be able to take the bike for a test ride (leaving eg: ID for the seller to hold).
When you ask for the serial number, tell him that most bikes have it stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket shell. Best thing is for him to take a picture with his cellphone and email or text it to you.
