The 2018 BOBCAT E55 as advertised

The seller's listing on ernieriekeequip.com describes a 2018 BOBCAT E55 with 1,268 engine hours and a listed price of $30,000. The site shows contact details published as 3311 Merriam Ln, Kansas City, KS 66106, US and the phone number 9137013634. Those values are taken from the listing and the site's published contact information and have not been independently confirmed.

What the buyer reports

According to a buyer's account filed with this publication, a payment of $30,000 was made by bank wire for the 2018 BOBCAT E55 advertised on the site and no unit was delivered. The buyer reported that the payment was made by bank wire and that the advertised unit did not arrive. The payment allegation is recorded here as supplied by the reporting buyer.

Checking a BOBCAT E55 before you pay

For any compact excavator or mini excavator purchase follow a sequence of practical checks before sending funds.

  • Verify the serial number and the machine identification plate in photographs and in person. Ask the seller to supply a clear photo of the machine identification plate or PIN and compare it to the body, remote-control panels and other identifying marks visible in the listing photos. Ensure the plate matches the machine pictured and the bill of sale when you inspect in person.

  • Ask an authorized Bobcat dealer to check the PIN against manufacturer records. An authorised dealer can confirm whether the PIN corresponds to a machine registered with the manufacturer and may have service history tied to that PIN.

  • Inspect hours against wear in the photos. Look for consistent wear on the undercarriage, seat and controls for 1,268 hours on a 2018 machine; mismatches between advertised hours and visible condition are a reason for additional scrutiny.

  • Get a full machine VIN/PIN and run a stolen-equipment check. Use national services, local police property desks or the National Insurance Crime Bureau and cross-check the PIN before paying.

  • Run a lien search. Search UCC filings in the state the seller publishes as their address; a lien or security interest will often be filed in the seller's claimed jurisdiction.

  • Insist on an in-person inspection or an independent inspection by a technician who can confirm the PIN, hours and mechanical condition. Do not accept only seller-supplied photos if you plan to wire funds in advance.

  • Confirm seller contact details. Call the published phone number and, if possible, visit the published address to confirm the business operates from the listed premises.

How the payment was taken

The reporting buyer said the payment was made by bank wire. A settled bank wire generally cannot be reversed by the payer through a chargeback. That means the buyer should immediately contact their bank's fraud or wire department to discuss a recall request and to learn what assistance the bank can provide. The buyer's account states $30,000 was sent by bank wire for the advertised E55 and that the machine was not received.

What we have and have not verified

Verified:

  • The domain ernieriekeequip.com was registered on 2026-09-16 and resolves with HTTPS enabled and a homepage title reading Ernie Rieke Equipment  Ernie Rieke Equipment. The site responds with HTTP 200 at its homepage.
  • The site publishes the trading name Ernie Rieke Equipment, the address 3311 Merriam Ln, Kansas City, KS 66106, US and the phone number 9137013634.

Not verified:

  • The physical existence or current location of the specific 2018 BOBCAT E55 advertised on the listing.
  • Any registration, ownership or lien status tied to the machine's PIN or title. No dealer licensing or DOT details were published on the site in the materials supplied to this report.
  • Any recovery of funds or outcome of bank recall attempts relating to the buyer's reported $30,000 wire.

This record reproduces the buyer's account as filed and the site's published claims. A right of reply is open to the business and the entry will be updated as checks are completed.

If you have already paid

If you wired funds for this listing contact your bank's fraud or wire department at once and request a wire recall. File a complaint with IC3 at ic3.gov and with your state attorney general. Keep every message, receipt and bank confirmation you have, and give those documents to your bank and to any investigators you contact.