If you practice triathlon, road cycling or MTB as more than just a hobby and you are used to buying and selling second-hand sports equipment online, it is likely that you or someone in your club has at some point encountered a fraud attempt. In the worst case, someone may even have scammed you with a fake sale or purchase.
There are two common situations: the first is when you are going to buy an item and the seller offers you a rather peculiar system to pay them, such as a transfer through an intermediary or a deposit in a trust company. The moment you accept and pay the money, you have lost it.
The second scenario is when you are going to sell your bike on the second-hand market and you end up without it. General second-hand item websites do not offer any guarantees or security for transactions or shipping. The advertisers are anonymous and there are no guarantees for payments and collections between individuals. If you come across a scammer, you might lose your money, your bike, or both.
That was one of the reasons that led us to create Tuvalum
. From the very beginning, we were clear about the need for a website specialized in second-hand sports equipment for cycling, triathlon, and MTB that offered security, trust, and convenience. These are the criteria we apply to achieve this:
1- At Tuvalum there are no anonymous sellers
One of the reasons why many second-hand sites generate mistrust is because any anonymous person can post an ad without verifying their identity. At Tuvalum, all users must register and verify their contact details. This way, you always know who is on the other side.
2- We use a secure payment gateway
At Tuvalum, we have a payment gateway. We use Braintree, one of the world's most secure systems for e-commerce. When a buyer reserves an item, the money is held in this system and is not transferred to the seller until they receive the product and confirm that it is OK. This way, the buyer is guaranteed to get their money back if what they receive does not match what was advertised. And the seller is also assured that they will receive the money from their sale after sending the item. In this way, your payment information is protected by one of the most secure encryption systems for e-commerce.
3- We have a shipping system
When you buy and sell on Tuvalum, you don't need to look for a shipping company. We've already taken care of it for you, handling the shipping management. When you sell, a courier comes to your home to pick up the product. When you buy, you receive it conveniently at your address. The goal is for you not to worry about how you will receive your order. You also have the option to meet with the seller and pick it up in person. At Tuvalum, we work to ensure your buying and selling experience on the website is always comfortable and safe. After all, the idea is that you don't have bad experiences or fall victim to fraud, scams, or theft when buying and selling a second-hand bicycle online.