Recently, I faced a serious accusation: someone considered Agivelo a scam. It’s disheartening to see that, especially when my mission is to provide high-quality bicycles at fair prices. I want to address this directly with potential customers who may be doubtful about my offerings:
A potential customer, who probably couldn’t believe that a guy like me has a PhD and runs several websites, considered me a scam. Besides the arguments stated and debunked below, he likely couldn’t comprehend that my offer is superior to many others. I don’t spend 80% of my (actually your) budget on marketing, which is why my website, social media, and even the bike itself may not look super polished designed. Your money goes as much as possible into researching sturdy technology to ensure you get the best price. If I prioritized appearance, I wouldn’t be able to provide the quality and pricing you deserve. You could easily spend between €1,000 and €2,500 without obtaining better value, probably obtaining worse.
For example, the Gios Mignon, frequently referenced by my customers, seems to have one of the cheapest welded steel frames I’ve seen on the market. I’m also unsure if the group set is dedicated to 20″ mini velos. Our group set is the best price performance and dedicated for 20″ bicycles. I’ve tested it against an SRAM Apex 1×11, which needed a custom chain ring, and caused problems after 500 km. I’m quite sure, you won’t find this level of consideration and analysis from the competition at the price offered here—far from it.
It’s frustrating to see how people can become so convinced that anything is true if enough others believe it; thus, 80% of the cost of major products can go into marketing rather than quality components. You may buy a €1,000 bicycle but only receive €200 worth of bike. Maybe that sounds exaggerated but is actually not too far from common reality. The money that supports big companies and their staff certainly doesn’t grow on trees—it comes from your pockets.
Now, let’s get to the real points. In the following, I will state and debunk the arguments made by the individual who considered me a scammer after supposedly checking me out and arriving at his (obviously wrong) conclusion:
- He said I stated the tire clearance wrong, which he took as inconsistency.
- Yes, I made a mistake. When you ask me for a measurement, it’s possible that I’m preoccupied and don’t have the exact number at the moment. When I get back home, where the bikes are stocked, I measure whatever you’ve asked. Mistakes can happen sometimes.
- After I answered his questions, it appeared as if he ghosted me, and I followed up, which he interpreted as “pressure sales tactics.”
- Or perhaps he just caught me wanting to sell a bike—or maybe I have ADHD or autism. It’s puzzling that customers focus on things other than just getting a sturdy mini velo for half the price of the competition. I even offered him an additional €300 in savings. If he doesn’t like my style, he can choose to spend €700 more on a lower-quality bicycle. Excuse my language, but it needs to be said.
- I offered him a €200 discount plus an additional €100 in parts from a returned bike and he got concerned my name was not stated in the tracking info
- Yes, the bike was returned by another customer because DHL failed to deliver it in time for Christmas 2024. Since then, the mini velo has not been returned to me and is still with DHL, who requires me to pick it up. To resolve this issue and help him save some money, I offered to forward the bike with DHL in exchange for a discount for him. He requested to see the tracking number and complained that neither my name nor that of the previous customer was listed. However, this is not true: My name is shown when you type in the respective zip code. If the name of the previous customer were also displayed, I wouldn’t be able to provide the tracking number for privacy and data protection reasons, as I’m a decent guy and not a scammer.
- He claimed I am unpopular on the web, especially on social media.
- Yes, I don’t prioritize social media and marketing because that’s not my main focus. Again, customers should be happy for this, as it saves them money.
Currently, I have only seven bicycles left. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Many people prefer to spend twice as much on inferior quality and then voice their frustrations to me. Bicycles take up space, have unrealistic margins, and obviously attract hypercritical customers who only want to ride what their friends have been indoctrinated to believe is best. You need a massive brand to sell bikes around €1,000 with tiny margins, or you must position yourself as a boutique brand selling above €2,000. If that’s what customers want, then I will do something different and still enjoy riding my Agivelo happily. That’s why I started this business in the first place—to create a nice mini velo for myself! Mission completed. It will last for the rest of my life! Feel free to spend your money wherever you choose.
And if you are really afraid of getting scammed: Why are you not ordering via Ebay? They don’t forward any money until buyer confirmed receipt of the product.