Not sure this is the right place but I couldn’t find anywhere better to post. I recently got stung by a pretty convincing scam online bike shop purportedly based in Adelaide. Fortunately I didn’t lose too much so the main cost was to my ego. I’m looking to buy some more items and am doing more due diligence on Aus online shops.
I’ve come across lofti.com and it’s a puzzle. It appears to be associated with a legit bricks and mortar bike shop in Adelaide, but the online reviews are very patchy - some genuine good ones and some one star (though mostly about poor service rather than being a scam). Has anyone used them, or been to Whippets Workshop in Stepney (SA)?
Your question reminds me of this article by @Iain_Treloar , which I expect you have read. I found it pretty informative.
I appreciate this isn’t really the advice you’re after however. I remember using bike bug predominantly when I was over in Perth. I don’t think it ever provided great service or value, but things I paid for turned up (eventually) and were as expected. I did end up ordering from UK shop websites I knew and trusted a few times and had to stomach the shipping.
On an unrelated note, hope your IT is doing well!
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Thanks for the reminder of that article, John. Having re-read it it’s almost like the scammer I fell for read it too! Some interesting progression on the scam:
- There was no narrative seeking to create urgency - they were just a small family business starting up online
- Their prices were not outrageously cheap - for instance I paid $89 for an item that I could have got from ccache (reputable) for $104
- There were a few positive and negative reviews on Trust pilot, with some extensive and well written responses by the scammer to negative ones. Interestingly the scam site did not have a click-through to TP - I looked it up independently. So either they made a few genuine sales or seeded TP themselves
- Google street view showed a non retail premise, but they had directly addressed this in their TP response when it was questioned by reviewers
- Their IP registration is recent, but again they directly addressed it in the TP reviews as being a new store.
- The comms they sent were timely and relevant, but clearly LLM assisted. That’s not necessarily a red flag any more, sadly
- They provided an Australia Post tracking number which was valid, but pending - ie the parcel had been registered but not delivered to the post office so “check again in 24 hours”
There were some red flags beforehand - the account BSB was for a bank in Queensland, not South Australia and payment was by direct payment, but in the overall scheme they didn’t seem too big. More fool me.
All in all it seems like they put a bit of effort into the scam so at least they somewhat earned their money.
Lofti.com has a few similar vibes, but on further research it seems more like the result of incompetence rather than maliciousness.
The IT is a joy. At 10 months old he is either rampaging through the house or snoring in a patch of sun or on the couch. I hope your IT is doing well.
I’ve definitely heard of Whippets Workshop, and just gave them a call to confirm they’re behind Lofti - which they are. So that’s a safe one!
As chance would have it, I’m actually looking into an Adelaide-based scam store at the moment. Would you be able to drop me an email with what happened for you @Ken_Durham , and any correspondence from the ‘store’? You can reach me at iain (dot) treloar @escapecollective.com.
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Thanks for confirming that, Iain. Its a relief, as Lofti seems to have the only Hollowtech T47i BB in Australia.
I’ll send you the details of my experience later today.
I’ve been going to Whippets for a while for bike servicing I couldn’t/didn’t want to do and for assistance building a bike from scratch. They are a reliable and reasonable small bike shop.
I’ve click and collected some small things from lofti.com without trouble too - I’ve not really delved into the poor reviews mentioned but perhaps any services difficulties are related exactly to the small bike shop aspect.
As a disclaimer, I’m not associated with them other than as a repeat customer.
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These are ones I have used without issue. Shopping around on these for different deals at different times. Crooze seem good on tyre prices, for example
Bikebug
Pushys (same company as Bikebug)
Odd Spoke
ccache
MTB Direct
99 bikes
Crooze Australia
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I have bought a few odd / old stock things from things from Lofti, no problems at all. Aside from Pushys / Bikebug (the same company) or CCache, I have fond that https://www.georgesbikeshop.com.au has been good in getting Shimano stuff that has been out of stock at the big players, the chainrings I ordered were even cheaper too. Postage is from Perth if that is an issue……
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I work part time at Saint Cloud (saintcloud.com.au) in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Vic. We have a pretty comprehensive online store and can often get in other items people are after if they call/email. Free express postage Australia wide for items over $100.
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Thanks everyone for the recommendations. I’m buying from quite a few of those listed here for the first time, and it’s good to know they are sound. The price difference across different shops on the same item can be significant, but each store seems to have the cheapest of something!
I’m pretty local to St Cloud, Sadie. You guys have saved me when it comes to hard to find parts on more than one occasion.
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MTB Direct are now also part of the Pushys & BikeBug empire I believe, based on the holding company name that purchases from there have shipped from.
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That’s a misconception related to some similar company names. Adventure Online = Pushys/Bikebug. Adventure Operations = MTB Direct. Adventure Operations is the parent company of Oztrail (as in the camp chairs) and is based in Brisbane (like Pushys). Absolutely no relation other than both being very adventurous.
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Ah, thanks for the clarity.
I’m a big believer in LBS’s/local online shops but man, its hard not to AliExpress it sometimes! I’ve misplaced the 12mm through axle ends for my front wheel (DT Swiss 350 hubs) and these are my choices:
Average Australian store:
I’m sure DT Swiss is the issue here, as the OEM caps aren’t significantly cheaper overseas. I’m sorry Australian stockists but a 99% price difference is too hard to resist.
and a glorious display of Stinners and other rare beasts in Oz.
Ken, I have one that you can have for nothing. I had some wheels built at Off Course in Brunswick and they came with SRAM ends which I swapped out for HG. Lemme know and I’ll see if I can fish em out.
The age old response … it depends. If I know what I want I go to Off Course and pay the retail - they have what I need for my bikes and their prices seem no more or less than overseas sites whn postage is added (example - White VBC crankset a few years ago, Yokozuna brakes, all the good stuff). Something generic like a BB tool I will use Pushys or MTB Direct - fast delivery.
@Ken_Durham are you allowed to/willing to name and shame the scam shop? Partly so that other people know it’s definitely one to avoid, and partly because I’m curious to see if I would have been sucked in too (I’m not in Aus so wouldn’t have been a viable option for me anyway, but hypothetically speaking).
But appreciate if you are uncomfortable linking to a known scam website! I guess anything that increases traffic might push them up the algorithms and so increase risk to the wider public.
Thanks Pete,
That’s a very generous offer. Fortunately, after a much more thorough search of the shed this evening I found the missing caps.
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I’d be happy to, but I confirmed with @Iain_Treloar that I was scammed by a site that he is currently investigating for an article. I don’t want to steal his thunder, so I’ll defer to him.
I can confirm that while the URL has a placeholder site the shop has gone - it seems it’s part of the MO to wrap up operations when the scammer has fooled enough suckers.
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