Op shop sells $1000 bike for $20 as owner browses inside

A PRIZED road bike valued at $1000 has been sold at a suburban Melbourne op shop while the rightful owner was unknowingly browsing inside the store.

Ryan Tennison

2 min read

May 3, 2018 - 4:30PM

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A PRIZED road bike was mistakenly sold at an op shop while the unwitting owner was browsing at the back of the store.

Joel Larter said his Fuji brand bike, valued at $1000, was sold for $20 without his knowledge while he was inside a Keysborough Salvation Army shop.

The 18-year-old said he asked permission to place the bike just inside the store’s entrance before looking at clothes at the back.

Joel Larter had his $1000 bike sold without his knowledge while browsing a Salvation Army outlet. Picture: Tony Gough

A Fuji bike similar to Liam's.

But when he went to leave, the distinctive grey and green bike was gone.

Another worker had sold the bike, thinking it had been left at the store as a donation.

“Apparently a passer-by saw the bike inside the store and asked if they could purchase it,” he said.

“I spoke to the manager and all she could tell me was that a man had paid cash,” Mr Larter said.

A store volunteer had agreed to sell the bike for just $20.

Mr Larter said he regularly visited the store and that he would normally bring his bike inside.

“There is nowhere for me to put my bike outside, there aren’t any bike racks,” he said.

The student designer said he had been given the bike as a gift from a family friend.

“My close family friend is really into cycling and gave me this top quality bike,” he said.

“I’ve now had the bike for a couple of years and use it quite often.”

The person who purchased the bike is yet to be tracked down.

Mr Larter is pleading with the buyer “to do the right thing” and return the bike.

Joel Larter had his $1000 bike sold without his knowledge while browsing a Salvation Army outlet. Picture: Tony Gough

Store management organised a payout of $170 after checking Gumtree to gauge prices on other Fuji bikes.

“I took below market price for the bike just to get something back from this,” Mr Larter said.

“The reimbursement was really nice of them to do. Hopefully this can all be rectified soon.”

The bike was loaded with racing features including drop bars and race grade tyres.

Despite the mix up, Mr Larter said he will continue to visit the Fiveways Blvd store.

“It was an honest mix up and they did everything they could to help me,” he said.

The Salvation Army declined to answer questions.

The Salvation Army operates 220 retail stores around the country with all proceeds going into charity work.

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