Warranty advice

[Jason Scott]

Some of you will know my story already but to recap: my wife and I bought two Cube Ebikes from an online retailer (who were very helpful) and we took delivery on 23rd March. Around mid April my bike developed a fault - the rear rack housing the battery broke (welding fault). I contacted the shop and they apologised and said they'd contact Cube to get a replacement part, which would either be shipped to me or a Cube rep would arrange to deliver and fit. I'm still awaiting the replacement and have refrained from riding the bike because it rattles too much and I fear more damage.

It's soured an otherwise excellent experience but as mentioned in my earlier thread, put doubt in my mind on the strength and reliability of the rack.

Is my only recourse to accept replacement of a faulty part or am I being too complacent in not pursuing a refund of the whole bike?

 

[Plasmadaddy]

3 week old bike breaks, I'd expect a complete replacement.

Definitely not fit for purpose after such a short period of time!

 

[kangooroo]

Technically, if a fault develops within the first 6 months (and most definitely within 3 weeks) then it is deemed faulty at the time of purchase and you can reject it and obtain a full refund. You could choose a repair instead and this should be completed within a maximum of 28 days at minimal inconvenience to yourself.

I would write to the retailer outlining the problem again then if there is no reply you could send a letter before action advising you will be seeking redress through County Court (if you wish to take this approach - it depends on how co-operative they are).

If they are local then you could return the bike to them and ask for a refund or exchange. Either way, such a fault developing on a bike after just 3 weeks is not acceptable quality or fit for purpose.

 

[RobF]

The failed part is a separate bolt on component.

It's reasonable to give the retailer the opportunity to replace it.

Passage of time is the key point.

It would be unreasonable to expect the retailer to have the part immediately, but it should be to hand within week or so.

That time has arrived, so I would be having a firm word with the retailer to tell them any further delay is not acceptable.

 

[Jason Scott]

Thanks. They're not local and have been helpful (hence why I'm not naming them here) but I think I've been a bit niave in how I've dealt with this. I've been blaming myself and now that it's more than a week since the fault, I've started to get annoyed.

The bit which confuses me is a bike is the sum of all its parts which make up the saleable product.

At this point it's looking likely that any repair will be up to 2 weeks since reporting it.

 

[trex]

Warranty covers only manufacturing faults under normal use. IIRC, I read somewhere that the total weight (bike + rider + luggage, in this case, your child and seat) is limited to 115kgs and the weight on the rack limited to 25kgs. From the Cube handbook:

Child seats may only be fitted to suitable
bicycle racks. Please consult your specialist
dealer on this matter.
• The maximum additional load amounts to 25 kg.

 

[Jason Scott]

Our daughter is 16kg. Battery is 2.6kg. I doubt a seat comes to 6.4kg, so it should be fine, but I'm unwilling to risk it after the rack failed before we even attempted this option.

 

[trex]

simple solution?

 

[Jason Scott]

Thanks for the suggestion however my bike is a step through frame.

 

[trex]

I see the problem now. May be you should consider another low step bike like this Carrera Crossfire-E, much easier to fit the child seat to.

 

[RobF]

I may have lost track, but can the OP fit a seat which clamps to the down tube to the Cube?

They are sprung by the support bracket, so the seat itself would be an inch or two clear of the rear carrier/battery.

This Thule one is not cheap, but there are plenty which are cheaper.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3304&g=836895&p=836899&d=124&c=4&l=2&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Child Seats&gclid=CKLl_oGRpcwCFVU_GwodPhgMzQ

 

[Jason Scott]

On a standard downtube we could, but the Cube low steps have metal welded to the back of the tube to protect the cable going to the battery, meaning it isn't oval shaped and around 54mm in diameter.

 

[RobF]

On a standard downtube we could, but the Cube low steps have metal welded to the back of the tube to protect the cable going to the battery, meaning it isn't oval shaped and around 54mm in diameter.

Have you tried a seat or two?

Some are designed to allow clearance for the cable for a front mech.

The cable runs down the rear of the tube on some bikes.

A gear cable isn't as thick as a battery cable, but clearance is clearance - if there's enough of it.

 

[Alan Quay]

Have you tried a seat or two?

Some are designed to allow clearance for the cable for a front mech.

The cable runs down the rear of the tube on some bikes.

A gear cable isn't as thick as a battery cable, but clearance is clearance - if there's enough of it.

IIRC the Bellili (thinks how you spell it) ones from Halfords are like that.

Only about £40. I've still got the bracket, I'll dig it out in a bit....

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[Jason Scott]

Thank you both, that's very helpful. We borrowed an old Hamax seat and adapter but it didn't fit around the tube.

 

[Alan Quay]

Thank you both, that's very helpful. We borrowed an old Hamax seat and adapter but it didn't fit around the tube.

(Not my pic, but that's what it looks like)

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[Jason Scott]

I've had a look at the site and I think that's the Bellelli standard. There appears to be a Bellelli multifix (http://bellellicanada.com/product/ further down the page), which specifically says it fits circular as well as elliptical frames. I'll pop down to Halfords tomorrow morning.

 

[Jason Scott]

I may have lost track, but can the OP fit a seat which clamps to the down tube to the Cube?

They are sprung by the support bracket, so the seat itself would be an inch or two clear of the rear carrier/battery.

This Thule one is not cheap, but there are plenty which are cheaper.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3304&g=836895&p=836899&d=124&c=4&l=2&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=Child Seats&gclid=CKLl_oGRpcwCFVU_GwodPhgMzQ

I haven't seen that one before but it says the adapter can fit oval tubes up to 55mm which is promising.

Still go the matter of repair, replacement or refund under warranty though. I love the bike but never expected problems in the first few weeks when spending £1700.

 

[soundwave]

then just take it back to the shop and ask them to change it fro a different bike as for you its not fit for the purpose you bought it for.

might have to pay a restock fee tho?