Being given the runaround by a bike shop

Exige260

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jun 29, 2012
23
1
Ordered a Cube pre lockdown. , provisional date of 1st of June , keep phoning the shop ( three occasions ) and keep getting fobbed off ( not returning calls , moaning that they are v busy etc ) Im only trying to send £4K of business their way and im feeling less than impressed . Their whole tone on the phone is one of not giving a **** . Advice and tactics ? Cheers .
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,985
8,570
61
West Sx RH
If you haven't paid any deposit or monies then go elsewhere, simply they are not worthy of your custom.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,284
30,660
Ordered a Cube pre lockdown. , provisional date of 1st of June , keep phoning the shop ( three occasions ) and keep getting fobbed off ( not returning calls , moaning that they are v busy etc ) Im only trying to send £4K of business their way and im feeling less than impressed . Their whole tone on the phone is one of not giving a **** . Advice and tactics ? Cheers .
It's not a valid excuse, but they are probably fed up with pressure from customers due to the shortage of new bikes and not getting much delivery information from their sources for the same reason.

Lockdown and some good weather has created a huge bike buying boom and shortages with even second hands running out and overpriced.
.
 
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Reactions: TedG

sjpt

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 8, 2018
3,853
2,764
Winchester
What shop? They've probably got a good excuse for not delivering; but not for not even pretending to be helpful.
 

Exige260

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jun 29, 2012
23
1
The bike was ordered pre lockdown , i phoned again today and they “ promised “ to fone back with an update , guess what. ? No fone call . No excuse for such shoddy customer service , gonna get my bike and then name and then never darken their retail doorstep again .
My last bike was bought from Evans with absolutely no problem , this time i thought i would give a local independent a go , use or loose etc , well lesson learnt .
 

Andy-Mat

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 26, 2018
2,214
562
78
Ordered a Cube pre lockdown. , provisional date of 1st of June , keep phoning the shop ( three occasions ) and keep getting fobbed off ( not returning calls , moaning that they are v busy etc ) Im only trying to send £4K of business their way and im feeling less than impressed . Their whole tone on the phone is one of not giving a **** . Advice and tactics ? Cheers .
It sounds to me that they may need some form of "JOLT", possibly a solicitors letter, to send you back your money....
Andy
 

PP100

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 28, 2020
252
149
Tell them if it is not supplied by a certain date (depends how much longer you are prepared to wait) you want your deposit back and you will go elsewhere.
Depends if you are prepared to walk away and pursue a claim for the deposit if they get stroppy. (even if they cite terms and conditions that doesn't mean they are enforceable)- might need a small claims court.

Did you pay deposit by Card? ask your CC bank for advice - Perhaps make a claim via your bank for goods not supplied within a reasonable time- pre lockdown (3 months!) is an unreasonable time even allowing for current circumstances.

 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,985
8,570
61
West Sx RH
Solicitor's are a bad idea, the costs will likely out do any deposit paid.
 
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Reactions: sjpt

Samcycles

Pedelecer
Apr 26, 2020
68
50
Northern Ireland
Deposit paid and voucher issued for cycle to work scheme .
First you need to speak to your cycle to work scheme provider and inform them of the issue. Many providers allow for a change of supplier.
Next start communicating with the LBS in writing, email, letter or both. Outline all the details and in particular the agreed delivery date. You are legally entitled to request a refund if they fail to deliver within 30 days of purchase or by an agreed delivery date.
If they refuse you need to follow their complaints procedure, assuming they have one.
Depending on how you payed you can use the charge back scheme for Direct Debit you have 120 days from point of payment to make the claim through your bank. If you used a credit card you can use the charge back scheme for amounts up to £100 above that you need to make a section 75 claim through your card provider.
I can't stress enough to try and keep things amicable, don't make threats but be firm. There are free online templates for these letters.
Contact your local trading standards for advice.
Read up on the law most retailers won't have a good understanding of your rights so if it turns legal it's best you do. You are protected under the Consumer Rights Act 2015
I hope you get sorted soon and get your bike.
Sam
 
  • Informative
Reactions: TedG and Nealh

Spitz

Pedelecer
Jan 23, 2020
26
10
I am in a similar position in that I placed an order with a local electric bike specialist for a Cube bike in early May and was told at that time that my bike would produced during ‘build week 26’ (Ie. this week) I am therefore hopeful of hearing some positive news next week.

Exige260, maybe ask the shop if they can get a build week confirmation for your bike?
 

Exige260

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jun 29, 2012
23
1
The build week was supplied and has now passed ( by 3 weeks ) , im going to pay them a visit tomorrow and demand to see a log of all their communications with Cube , i have a feeling that there will not be one . I have a feeling ( due to a past conversation) that they have ordered the wrong frame size and are lying to cover their mistake .
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
17,012
6,537
they could have sold it to someone else for a higher price and just left you to wait for another one to arrive which now could be months.


they have stock but no cube bikes.
 

BazP

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 8, 2017
358
174
74
Sheffield
I recon my local bike shop normally has just about the largest selection of Ebikes that I've seen but at the moment almost everything is out of stock, especially Cubes. Specialised Levo's are about the only ones available and I think that is because they purchased 400 around Christmas time, all with a spare battery.
 

Nosweat

Pedelecer
Sep 2, 2019
90
29
No comfort to anyone who's paid their deposit yet is stuck without a bike at the moment but there is something positive about the thought that for once, bike sales this year have vastly outstripped demand.
 

Gringo

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 18, 2013
1,346
842
Northampton
The delay in getting your bike may not be the shops fault but the poo customer service is entirely wrong.
my latest bike is a cube acid and I pre-ordered it from Rutland cycles. It was due to be delivered January 2018 and I sold the bike I had at the time in anticipation of the new bike coming.
After several amended dates it eventually turns up nearly 6 months later than planned. (my choice of size and colour was the last to go through the production line)
Frustrating as it was, None of this was the shops fault, they had kept me informed and even offered me a loan bike while I waited.
Good customer service = customer loyalty, I will be visiting them again when I get my next bike.
 
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Reactions: Amoto65 and sjpt

Andy-Mat

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 26, 2018
2,214
562
78
Solicitor's are a bad idea, the costs will likely out do any deposit paid.
The good side is they will have to pay those costs as well, so even just mentioning a solicitor, can speed things up.....
Andy