Comments on: The fake Bakfiets Cargobikes keep on coming

By: henry

henry — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:29:11 +0000

Thanks Amoeba & KIm,
I’ve passed all the relevant info on to Erik at Wheelhouse.

The IP address is apparently in Costa Mesa, CA. It could be somebody else in the bike biz, a pissed off customer or business relation, or just one more random, internet empowered freak? You never know.

I’ve dealt with a few of these situations before. One was a Dutch company that sells a lot of poor quality but decent looking Chinese made bakfietsen. There was a small Danish bike company who was attacking both Workcycles and Pashley on many blogs. Another was a dealer for a short period who seems to have changed plans and began attacking Workcycles amongst other makes. In all three cases we were either 100% or 95% sure of the culprit, but we never got anybody to admit or apologize. Publicly turning the tables got them to at least direct their attacks elsewhere.

It’s frustrating and a waste of time but seems to be the flip side of a connected world in which even a small firm can garner an international audience and customer base.

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 18:03:09 +0000

Oops! You’d already found that last one!

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:56:52 +0000

Henry,
Yet another one:

http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html#comment-154939

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:49:57 +0000

Henry,
Oops! That should be:
http://cargocycling.org/2010/10/the-big-china-rip-off.html#comment-57062

It’s ‘angry customer’ again.

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:47:55 +0000

Henry,
Here’s another one:
http://cargocycling.org/2010/10/the-big-china-rip-off.html

By: henry

henry — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:47:34 +0000

Hi Kim,
Thanks for making contact and for reaching out to Wheelhouse – I was actually planning to mail you and the other bloggers he’s hit about exactly that. I’d very much appreciate getting the IP address of “angry customer”.

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:36:43 +0000

I am fairly sure that “angry customer” is running a smear campaign which was why I gave wheelhousebikes the chance to reply. I can let you know the IP address if you are interested.

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:40:58 +0000

Henry,
That’s worse than I thought. I have suggested at two of the sites that IP addresses are logged.

I had assumed it was a smear campaign.

By: henry

henry — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:01:31 +0000

Hi Amoeba,
Thanks for the heads up. I just did a quick search and found exactly the same comment on at least four other blogs:
http://www.cheaphack.net/2010/07/diy-bakfiets.html
http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/longtail-bikes-a-review-and-buying-guide.html
http://www.kimharding.net/blog/?p=1395
http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/2010/03/bulk-groceries-on-a-bike/

I’m fairly sure it’s just a smear campaign but I’ll investigate further and (assuming they’re false) ask to have the comments (and other comments from the same IP) removed.

By: Amoeba

Amoeba — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:17:20 +0000

Henry, I’ve seen a couple of criticisms of http://www.wheelhousebikes.com/, who are listed as one of your dealers, I copy one below. Since both posts are anonymous, it’s impossible to contact the individual(s) concerned, or to be certain about motivations, but I thought you ought to know. Since I live in Europe, it doesn’t affect me, plus it isn’t any of my business, but I thought you should be aware, just in case. Because while I don’t own any of your products, I have ridden some and I liked what I saw.
FWIW, I perceive you as a decent honest person who does something you love.

[quote]
angry customer Says:
March 11th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
I paid close to $2,000 for what I thought was a real dutch bakfiet bike from
http://www.wheelhousebikes.com only to find out it is a $150 Chinese knockoff. Avoid wheelhouse bikes like the plague.

What happened to integrity?

wheelhousebikes is the biggest scam company in California!
[end quote]
http://cargocycling.org/2010/10/the-big-china-rip-off.html#comment-66588