What is an unbuilt bike all about?

[Fordulike]

Just ordered a new non electric bike online, and noticed at the checkout, there was an option to receive an unbuilt bike for no extra cost.

The blurb states that the advantage is that you will receive the bike quicker if an unbuilt bike is specified.

I had visions of cables, disc calipers and gear clusters etc.. tipping up in a big box to be assembled, so I didn't go for the unbuilt option.

So question is: what do you really receive when opting for an unbuilt bike online?

 

[Cyclezee]

I would take that to mean some assembly required i.e. fit front wheel, pedals, seatpost and saddle, rotate handle bars through 90 degrees and adjust?

Any bike we ship with exception of cargo bikes just needs to have the pedals fitted, the handle bars rotated and adjusted.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Maybe it means direct from the factory. The dealer would normally open the box, get the bike ready and check everything like spoke, tension, brake adjustment, gear adjustment, etc. Then he'd put it back in the box and send it to you.

 

[D8ve]

Perhaps it's the frame plus all standard parts.
You can then upgrade as required or reuse your good components fron your old bike?

 

[Fordulike]

Would've e-mailed the retailer, but as this particular bike is now selling as discontinued at a bargain price, I had to press the 'Buy' button there and then to avoid disappointment.

 

[RobF]

Halfords offer most of their bikes built or 'unbuilt' in a box.

Sad indictment of some of the staff whose cack handedness has given the company such a bad reputation.

They've earned it, though.

Only the other day I saw a mountain bike with the stem the wrong way up.

Dreadful, basic error.

OK, mistakes happen, but it should have been spotted before the bike went on display.

 

[neptune]

If Halfords are guilty of poor build quality, it is IMO because the job is done by young lads who are paid peanuts, and not given adequate training. A job as important as this should be checked by a supervisor. This whole build thing amuses me. What if you bought a new car, and it was delivered as a box of bits unless you paid extra to have it "built"? If you bought an "unbuilt" bike, what if it was just a box of bits and you had to build the wheels, assemble the rear gear hub, and by the way, the chain would arrive as separate rivets, side plates and rollers?

 

[Gdread]

Halfords offer most of their bikes built or 'unbuilt' in a box.

Sad indictment of some of the staff whose cack handedness has given the company such a bad reputation.

They've earned it, though.

Only the other day I saw a mountain bike with the stem the wrong way up.

Dreadful, basic error.

OK, mistakes happen, but it should have been spotted before the bike went on display.

Completely agree with that, the bike hut manager promised to build my daughters but a kid did it, awful attention to detail, most nuts were loss and sturmey archer needed adjusting. I knew I shouldn't have let them build it!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think it's good that companies train young lads like that. Everybody has to start somewhere. The problem is probably that the supervisor becomes busy with something else - normally their own management training, so the young lads get trusted to do it on their own when they're not really ready.

 

[RobF]

Too many tales of bikes being presented to customers in a poor condition for this to be in any way excusable.

Pity, because they have plenty of decent bikes which riders never get the pleasure they should from because of dreadful set-up.

I understand the 'Bike Hut' concept is being updated which will involve moving the bike area to the ground floor and enlarging it.

What Halfords dearly need to do is get to grips with their staff, too many of whom are incompetent.

I can guarantee Halfords will not do that, so it will be the same old tune, just played on a bigger stage.

 

[flecc]

I understand the 'Bike Hut' concept is being updated which will involve moving the bike area to the ground floor and enlarging it.

The largest of my local Halfords did the opposite, moved it from a large area of the ground floor to the first floor, the ground floor filled with a big expansion of car stuff. They even scrapped the bike stand outside leaving nothing to lock bikes to.

They do at least have a guy who appears to be very competent on bikes, but I don't like the appearance that they are anti bikes at that branch.
.

 

[Gdread]

I think it's good that companies train young lads like that. Everybody has to start somewhere. The problem is probably that the supervisor becomes busy with something else - normally their own management training, so the young lads get trusted to do it on their own when they're not really ready.

That's a good point but I bet that if it was a £2k oke Koke 2000 mountain bike and not a Real classic ladies bike then the supervisor would have definitely built it!

What's a big pity was that the local bike shop didn't have the bike my daughter wanted

 

[NZgeek]

So question is: what do you really receive when opting for an unbuilt bike online?

Do you have a welder???