Jalopnik: BikeBandit Has Stolen $646,000 from Customers and Disappeared

Dirty Points
"Motorcyclists around the country are confused and frustrated by BikeBandit, a well-known online seller of motorcycle parts and gear. Starting in late 2021, customers have been complaining that orders are never delivered, and refund requests are never answered. BikeBandit’s online customer service chat is broken. Its phone number is dead....

BikeBandit quietly filed for bankruptcy in February 2022. But there’s no indication of that on the retailer’s website, where up until the middle of April 2022, you could fill a shopping cart, enter your payment info, and send your money to a defunct company that had no way to fulfill your order."

https://jalopnik.com/motorcycle-parts-seller-bikebandit-has-stolen-646-…
6
1
|
Roczoff
Profile picture for user Roczoff
Posts
234
Joined
1/23/2022
Location
Missoula, MT, USA
Roczoff 5/31/2022 7:22pm
5/31/2022 7:22pm
When someone tells you who they are, right in their business name, believe them.
79
2
KirkChandler
Profile picture for user KirkChandler
Posts
1678
Joined
7/31/2015
Location
Oceanside, CA, USA
KirkChandler 5/31/2022 7:30pm
5/31/2022 7:30pm
Roczoff wrote:
When someone tells you who they are, right in their business name, believe them.
😂😂😂

Touché
3
2
dkurtd
Profile picture for user dkurtd
Posts
1136
Joined
4/15/2018
Location
USA
dkurtd 5/31/2022 8:30pm
5/31/2022 8:30pm
Robert Rosenberg and Vey's Powersports (the owner of Bike Bandit) has been ripping people off for months. If I lived in El Cajon I wouldn't be spending any money in his shop. If you read through the bankruptcy filing you will see what kind of criminal this guy is.
KONG
Profile picture for user KONG
Posts
768
Joined
9/2/2021
Location
FR
KONG 6/1/2022 1:25am
6/1/2022 1:25am
Roczoff wrote:
When someone tells you who they are, right in their business name, believe them.
Yep, we finally know why they were called Bike Bandit.
2
3

The Shop

See All »
kawasa84
Profile picture for user kawasa84
Posts
1803
Joined
6/7/2008
Location
Flower Mound, TX, USA
kawasa84 6/1/2022 1:33am
6/1/2022 1:33am
Wow, this is crazy. I assume this was somehow planned.
I bought parts from them for a couple street bikes years ago. Glad I never went back.
ns503
Profile picture for user ns503
Posts
4606
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
NS Toolies, CA
ns503 6/1/2022 2:21am
6/1/2022 2:21am
How did it take this long for this to get posted? Usually stuff like this is up here as soon as something happens. Sounds like this was going on for months.

But good that it's out there now. Talk about shady shit...
2
Joshracing 6/1/2022 3:58am
6/1/2022 3:58am
Website still looks to be functioning.... just to get what they can before it's fully closed I guess! $$$$$$$$$$
WhipMeister
Profile picture for user WhipMeister
Posts
5263
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Big D, TX, USA
WhipMeister 6/1/2022 4:36am
6/1/2022 4:36am
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure you were ordering the right thing. No issues.

If they filed for bankruptcy in February, all funds received since *should be* in the hands of the trustee, who is obligated to use them to settle debts. An unfulfilled order is a debt. Though I 'm not sure how you make the claim or if you would actually get anything back because of your position *in line*. The court filings would provide this information.
1
1
bite_the_curb 6/1/2022 5:59am
6/1/2022 5:59am
damn

pretty sure i bought parts for my suzuki from them years ago.

yak651
Profile picture for user yak651
Posts
8846
Joined
8/26/2006
Location
Appleton, WI, USA
Fantasy
1358th
yak651 6/1/2022 6:27am
6/1/2022 6:27am Edited Date/Time 6/1/2022 6:27am
ns503 wrote:
How did it take this long for this to get posted? Usually stuff like this is up here as soon as something happens. Sounds like this...
How did it take this long for this to get posted? Usually stuff like this is up here as soon as something happens. Sounds like this was going on for months.

But good that it's out there now. Talk about shady shit...
I don’t think they were a common site mx enthusiasts used as there go to. I know they typically had good prices but delivery was long so Rocky Mountain or Motosport were more appealing to use. I’m sure if they were a more popular vendor of choice it would’ve been posted sooner. Hope those ripped off can get their money back
nskerb
Profile picture for user nskerb
Posts
540
Joined
11/21/2019
Location
Kelso, WA, USA
nskerb 6/1/2022 6:36am
6/1/2022 6:36am
Must be ArtForPetrolHeads' buddy.
5
Dirty Points 6/1/2022 7:21am
6/1/2022 7:21am Edited Date/Time 6/1/2022 7:42am
ns503 wrote:
How did it take this long for this to get posted? Usually stuff like this is up here as soon as something happens. Sounds like this...
How did it take this long for this to get posted? Usually stuff like this is up here as soon as something happens. Sounds like this was going on for months.

But good that it's out there now. Talk about shady shit...
yak651 wrote:
I don’t think they were a common site mx enthusiasts used as there go to. I know they typically had good prices but delivery was long...
I don’t think they were a common site mx enthusiasts used as there go to. I know they typically had good prices but delivery was long so Rocky Mountain or Motosport were more appealing to use. I’m sure if they were a more popular vendor of choice it would’ve been posted sooner. Hope those ripped off can get their money back
Probably also a factor that with the global supply chain issues, customers are used to waiting quite awhile for a backorder right now. The customer may not be aware that the vendor has taken payment and closed up shop.

As has been mentioned, the powersports dealership and people behind Bikebandit are still operating, and the bankruptcy filings indicate years of nonpayment as they organized Bikebandit into a structure designed to blow up financially on its own.
4
Jeremy Macduff 6/1/2022 7:57am
6/1/2022 7:57am
I've had no problems getting OEM parts from Motosport.com and Beta throughout this entire pandemic. I completely rebuilt a 2003 CR250 and bought $2500 in OEM parts. No backorders, no delays.

BikeBandit has always been untrustworthy, from its inception.
1
Madmax31
Profile picture for user Madmax31
Posts
2143
Joined
1/7/2009
Location
Cincinnati, OH, USA
Fantasy
178th
Madmax31 6/1/2022 8:03am
6/1/2022 8:03am
They got me for $300.95. Part back ordered then unavailabe money will be returned. That was a year ago.
jeffro503
Profile picture for user jeffro503
Posts
27635
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR, USA
jeffro503 6/1/2022 8:28am
6/1/2022 8:28am
This really sucks to hear. I used them once or twice years ago and never had any issues. Something went haywire it sounds like , and they decided to go out with a bang.
Dirty Points 6/1/2022 8:41am
6/1/2022 8:41am
Madmax31 wrote:
They got me for $300.95. Part back ordered then unavailabe money will be returned. That was a year ago.
That sucks, man.
FreshTopEnd
Profile picture for user FreshTopEnd
Posts
13287
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
FreshTopEnd 6/1/2022 10:09am
6/1/2022 10:09am
WhipMeister wrote:
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure...
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure you were ordering the right thing. No issues.

If they filed for bankruptcy in February, all funds received since *should be* in the hands of the trustee, who is obligated to use them to settle debts. An unfulfilled order is a debt. Though I 'm not sure how you make the claim or if you would actually get anything back because of your position *in line*. The court filings would provide this information.
Don't think that is how BK works on post filing purchases.
1
1
tek14
Profile picture for user tek14
Posts
4942
Joined
1/26/2014
Location
Vantaa, FI
tek14 6/1/2022 11:03am
6/1/2022 11:03am
Crazy that website is still out there.

Pit Row

See All »
WhipMeister
Profile picture for user WhipMeister
Posts
5263
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Big D, TX, USA
WhipMeister 6/1/2022 12:08pm
6/1/2022 12:08pm
WhipMeister wrote:
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure...
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure you were ordering the right thing. No issues.

If they filed for bankruptcy in February, all funds received since *should be* in the hands of the trustee, who is obligated to use them to settle debts. An unfulfilled order is a debt. Though I 'm not sure how you make the claim or if you would actually get anything back because of your position *in line*. The court filings would provide this information.
FreshTopEnd wrote:
Don't think that is how BK works on post filing purchases.
You certainly know better than I. Just what I was led to believe during a different action many moons ago.
KONG
Profile picture for user KONG
Posts
768
Joined
9/2/2021
Location
FR
KONG 6/1/2022 1:24pm
6/1/2022 1:24pm Edited Date/Time 6/1/2022 1:25pm
Is that where Varner orders his parts?
Laughing
23
1
Big Lenny
Profile picture for user Big Lenny
Posts
14378
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Compton, CA, USA
Big Lenny 6/1/2022 1:38pm
6/1/2022 1:38pm
WhipMeister wrote:
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure...
Wow. I bought stuff from them a long time ago. I think they were the first to provide OEM parts explosions so you could be sure you were ordering the right thing. No issues.

If they filed for bankruptcy in February, all funds received since *should be* in the hands of the trustee, who is obligated to use them to settle debts. An unfulfilled order is a debt. Though I 'm not sure how you make the claim or if you would actually get anything back because of your position *in line*. The court filings would provide this information.
I use to mess with then too...Dry
1
Tbteam
Profile picture for user Tbteam
Posts
2866
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Ormond Beach, FL, USA
Tbteam 6/2/2022 3:14pm
6/2/2022 3:14pm
Assholes. Always a terrible source. You’d order something and pay, and then three days later get a message saying that the part was unavailable.

If you paid with a CC, just dispute the charge and your company will reimburse.
Flipsid33
Profile picture for user Flipsid33
Posts
167
Joined
11/24/2011
Location
Canyon Country, CA, USA
Flipsid33 6/6/2022 9:57am
6/6/2022 9:57am
Full circle.

Remember when there were book stores? Now Amazon is opening them.

The online places really screwed up the local parts guys and dealerships. There's a lot of need for local brick and mortar shops but their value was greatly decreased by people shopping online. Maybe this is part of the circle.
1
3
Dirty Points 6/6/2022 11:25am
6/6/2022 11:25am Edited Date/Time 6/6/2022 11:26am
Flipsid33 wrote:
Full circle. Remember when there were book stores? Now Amazon is opening them. The online places really screwed up the local parts guys and dealerships. There's...
Full circle.

Remember when there were book stores? Now Amazon is opening them.

The online places really screwed up the local parts guys and dealerships. There's a lot of need for local brick and mortar shops but their value was greatly decreased by people shopping online. Maybe this is part of the circle.
The article makes it clear that the owner of BikeBandit is a brick-and-mortar powersports dealer.
1
Magoofan
Profile picture for user Magoofan
Posts
10401
Joined
5/4/2021
Location
Shadow Glen (for those who remember), CA, USA
Magoofan 6/6/2022 2:05pm
6/6/2022 2:05pm Edited Date/Time 6/6/2022 2:07pm
Man....that is criminal. Someone needs to go to Federal pound me in the ass" prison for this.

Is that site really tied to Veys? If so, I won't set foot in there again.
Brad460
Profile picture for user Brad460
Posts
4498
Joined
5/15/2012
Location
Richfield, WI, USA
Fantasy
260th
Brad460 6/6/2022 2:23pm
6/6/2022 2:23pm
Madmax31 wrote:
They got me for $300.95. Part back ordered then unavailabe money will be returned. That was a year ago.
Why wouldn’t you dispute the charge with your CC company?
3
MPJC
Profile picture for user MPJC
Posts
2083
Joined
5/18/2017
Location
CA
Fantasy
159th
MPJC 6/6/2022 3:25pm
6/6/2022 3:25pm
Madmax31 wrote:
They got me for $300.95. Part back ordered then unavailabe money will be returned. That was a year ago.
Brad460 wrote:
Why wouldn’t you dispute the charge with your CC company?
Exactly. My wife dealt with something similar and Visa helped her out.
Bow977
Profile picture for user Bow977
Posts
653
Joined
1/19/2021
Location
Bakersfield, CA, USA
Fantasy
1065th
Bow977 6/6/2022 4:08pm
6/6/2022 4:08pm
Madmax31 wrote:
They got me for $300.95. Part back ordered then unavailabe money will be returned. That was a year ago.
Brad460 wrote:
Why wouldn’t you dispute the charge with your CC company?
MPJC wrote:
Exactly. My wife dealt with something similar and Visa helped her out.
If their merchant account is closed the dispute wont help.
MPJC
Profile picture for user MPJC
Posts
2083
Joined
5/18/2017
Location
CA
Fantasy
159th
MPJC 6/6/2022 4:32pm
6/6/2022 4:32pm
Brad460 wrote:
Why wouldn’t you dispute the charge with your CC company?
MPJC wrote:
Exactly. My wife dealt with something similar and Visa helped her out.
Bow977 wrote:
If their merchant account is closed the dispute wont help.
I didn’t know that. It’s seriously messed up that a company can basically just go on screwing people over.

Post a reply to: Jalopnik: BikeBandit Has Stolen $646,000 from Customers and Disappeared