You are reading a single comment by @thisonetimeyah and its replies. Click here to read the full conversation.
  • I came across an online bicycle shop with a decent sale and a shocking number of sought-after bikes in stock, like 6 speed 2020 Bromptons sold out at most dealers.

    The retailer is https://alphabike.co.uk/ but read on before buying anything.

    I've found a few red flags and want to know what everyone else thinks:

    1. There's no telephone number, only a contact form and email address.
    2. The website domain has only just been created in the past few weeks.
    3. Aside from a few tweets (@alphabikeco) they have no social presence.
    4. There is one tweet with pictures of Bromptons supposedly sent to them by their customers but I did a reverse image search and one of the pictures is floating about on the internet. This could be a white lie to make themselves appear established but doesn't look good.
    5. The website makes no reference to a legal company or company number which they'd have to display as an online retailer.
    6. The address isn't to a specific unit on the road, just Alpha Bike then a road name. A Google search for Vickers Drive North and Alpha Bike doesn't show it listed anywhere but their own website.
    7. There's no Google business listing or reviews on TrustPilot or elsewhere.

    I sounded unsure before, probably deluding myself for a good deal, but typing this out I feel more certain: this has got scam written all over it, hasn't it?

  • this has got scam written all over it, hasn't it?

    Yes, avoid!

  • They're selling Carrera bikes new, which is a Halfords own brand, and Hoy bikes which are exclusive to Evans. The whole content is probably scraped.

    It's weird because it looks like someone's gone to a fair amount of effort to make this look legit, when surely it's going to get shut down very quickly.

  • This is remake of a previous scrabble website!

  • You’ve answered much of your own questions there. If their domain is only a few weeks old then they wouldn’t have had many customers, if any, to write reviews on Trust Pilot or have a decent social media presence.

    As for Google reviews, it takes about two weeks to receive a code to verify a business listing, perhaps they haven’t submitted this.

    Appears to be a small online business which sources bikes - if they actually do - once they get a purchase.

    I don’t represent them but I’m also owner of a small online retail business and I’d hate for anyone to write about me this way without any evidence.

    If you’re in doubt, leave it out. Get on with your life.

About