Ripped off by Fipper Bicycles ?

**ashbo** · 24-04-12, 21:24

Is there anyone else who got ripped of by Fipper Bicycles from Medan Indonesia ? www.fipperbicycles.com is a scam

**travellingchez** · 24-04-12, 21:29

Originally Posted by ashbo

Is there anyone else who got ripped of by Fipper Bicycles from Medan Indonesia ? www.fipperbicycles.com is a scam

How so? Do elaborate.

**AdamVW** · 24-04-12, 21:37

Hmmm, if I'm not mistaken, it sounds like you've been 'taken for a ride' ashbo!!

hehe (sorry, couldn't resist that one)

**ashbo** · 25-04-12, 06:20

Originally Posted by AdamVW

Hmmm, if I'm not mistaken, it sounds like you've been 'taken for a ride' ashbo!!

hehe (sorry, couldn't resist that one)

Yeah, yeah ...

Actually it's a funny one.

Your joke not been ripped off.

Ashton

**ashbo** · 25-04-12, 06:31

I ordered a set of wheels for my road bike a week ago from Fipper Bicycles, paid roughly $ 1000 per Western Union, yeah I know ...

And the next thing I hear from these guys is that they need more money to clear customs. That's when I finally decide to check more thoroughly on Fipper Bicycles and subsequently to cut my losses instead of sending more money down the drain.

**Jaime C** · 25-04-12, 06:57

I should start a business bringing stuff back from the states.

I usually can bring 2 x 32k luggages.

**merkava74** · 25-04-12, 09:24

Funny this was just discussed:

http://www.livinginindonesiaforum.or...ood-to-be-true

**jim69** · 25-04-12, 09:43

This is just common sense.

If it looks to good to be true then it usually is. So check it out.

**ashbo** · 27-04-12, 05:05

Originally Posted by jim69

This is just common sense.

If it looks to good to be true then it usually is. So check it out.

That's beside the point, I'm only looking for testimonials. And by the way it was only a 25% discount ...

**thelawnet** · 01-05-12, 06:06

That photo does not look entirely genuine. Jl. Gatot Subroto is a main road in Medan, I have been along it many times and haven't seen that. I did ask about bikes when I was there, and was not directed there.

I know of two bike stores in Medan selling Western-style bikes, they are opposite each other.

This one is the higher end one:

https://foursquare.com/v/green-the-b...8df04db5d0c815

The prices are a little higher than in the West (import duties), and definitely not selling brands like Cannondale and Bianchi. Generic Taiwanese stuff with low-end Shimano components is already expensive for this area, I think they sold Giant also. But things like this? http://www.fipperbicycles.com/produc...Road-Bike.html No way.

There are a (very) few students with blinged up fixie bikes cruising around the city (which is flat), but you get out of the city and everyone is on motorbikes, so no need for gears, even. Bicycles are for old men.

Anyone wanting to buy or ride a bike in Indonesia should understand that Indonesia is a place you bring your bike to, from your home country, because choice is poor and prices high. You don't go there to get a bargain. The bikes are after all made in Taiwan.

I bought my bike in the store opposite Green, I paid 2.7 million for a basic hybrid with Shimano Tourney gears. A bike with Deore would have been around 9 million.

My guess with respect to this store is that there exists no shop called Fipper Bicycles in Medan. For the amounts of money involved people could go and sort it out in person, so it doesn't make sense for an actual bike shop selling $3000 bikes to do this. Medan is not exactly inaccessible for Westerners. So my guess is that the store does not exist, your money is going to Indonesia for sure, but just to a crook with no bicycles to sell.

Just to repeat again, there are NO bicycle bargains in Indonesia. If you live in a Western country - buy a cheap bike from ebay and collect in person. And if you are coming to Indonesia to ride, it's better to bring your bike with you.