Cycle industry worse than motorbikes

[busy builder]

After ordering a Haibike from Tredz online, promised 3 day delivery, after waiting nearly 3 weeks for delivery I cancelled the order.
Went into my local (ish) bike dealer Highland Bikes Inverness and ordered same Haibike Trekker 3 Low last Wedbesday, they gave me the impression it was in stock. We went away and got back yesterday expecting a bike to collect. Not in yet.

Gets a call this morning, bike has arrived damaged, some paint chips on the frame, would I still like the bike ???

Do I get a discount if I accept it damaged ? errrr no
but we can give you a small credit note to spend in the shop, so they won't discount the damaged bike but offer a small credit note, I asked how much ? about £20, this against a £2600 bike.

I want a new bike ordered please.....so another week to wait.

Is this how bike dealers work ???

 

[Davey B]

I've been buying cycle stuff online for years...never had that sort of issue...ever. Dozens of purchases from Merlin Cycles (mainly online but also visited their shop/warehouse) Pauls Cycles (a bike), Alpkit (bike), a couple of German dealers and a Spanish dealer (delivered to France) Also used Tredz for parts a fair few times, never an issue.

On a chipped paint bike..I'd be wanting £200+ price reduction...you do right refusing a paltry £20

 

[steve hughes]

Just make sure when your bike arrives its “ scratch free” remember the guy on here with Guzzi V100 Mandello with a scratched frame , it highlighted other things that were not right like the swapped engine

 

[DJ123]

Most do not stock Bikes these days, and all rely on what's either factory stock or stock in the channel at distributor warehouses.

I've been fortunate the 2 Bikes i've bought online/delivered were delivered within the time frame given. One from Tredz during 2020, and another from Nukeproof directly about 18 months ago.

There's no margin for Bike shops in the Bike any more - it's all in servicing/labour/accessories etc.

 

[busy builder]

In all fairness to Tredz, it was DHL, who had the bike and didn't deliver it.
I think it was stolen whilst in their warehouse.

 

[Pukmeister]

There's no margin for Bike shops in the Bike any more - it's all in servicing/labour/accessories etc.

...which is why I do all my own servicing, both bikes and motorbikes.

The local Giant store did the first service on my £4k EMTB. On the next ride I took, my front brake pads fell out on the approach to a busy road junction. The branch manager hardly gave a fuck when confronted about it, though to be fair to the store mechanic he was quite humble and rectified it immediately. They won't be laying so much as a finger on my bike from now on. I buy my spares like chains, cassettes, crank arms etc online from other suppliers, the suspension and motor can be sent away to specialists for a rebuild when needed.

 

[AdrianS]

...which is why I do all my own servicing, both bikes and motorbikes.

The local Giant store did the first service on my £4k EMTB. On the next ride I took, my front brake pads fell out on the approach to a busy road junction. The branch manager hardly gave a fuck when confronted about it, though to be fair to the store mechanic he was quite humble and rectified it immediately. They won't be laying so much as a finger on my bike from now on. I buy my spares like chains, cassettes, crank arms etc online from other suppliers, the suspension and motor can be sent away to specialists for a rebuild when needed.

The same hear.
We bought 2 expensive e-bikes from Rutland cycling in Leicester in 2020. They offered to deliver to us after they had been through the workshop. I was disgusted when they were delivered; they hadn’t been touched even though we had a piece of paper with a check list all ticked.
Faults included - loose front light, front brake lever touching the grips before the brakes kicked in, tyres at 10psi, one rear mech not indexing, saddle at 30 degrees off line etc. I rang to moan and they said just bring the bike back ! No apology etc without having the bikes back.
Also bought one bike from an online dealer in Swansea - a Giant Defy which came very poorly set up with some broken components which could not have been done in transit. Got £30 back to pay for parts for me to repair. I should have rejected the bike under Consumer law.
With respect to no margins in new bikes - I don’t believe that. The discounts given for “ last years models” is sometimes very big, so there must be a generous margin.
Depreciation is also big on expensive bikes - much more than motorbikes.

 

[ymfb]

My LBS stocks bikes, not every size, I’ve bought 5, 4 were in stock needed a week to get properly setup the third took 12 weeks, but I knew that at the start. I didn’t pay a deposit, but paid in full after inspection and collection.

I try and use the LBS as it’s a great service, I only buy consumables on line and then If I have no plans to be near the LBS.

 

[parkys100]

I have amongst several fringe bikes 2 main titanium framed road bikes one winter with mudguard and one American summer bike .
I purchased all the shimano ,chris king (those that know?) ,ITM ,selle italia and all the other bits .
Assembled and set up (rear brake on the RHS) brake , gears ,

Laced the DTswiss hubs (winter bike ) sapim spokes, mavic rims and built wheels .Summer ride Chris king hubs (those in the know ) sapim, mavic rims .

I would not allow a single person near my push bikes ,I have all the wheel building jig (home made 35yrs ago) .bottom bracket LH/RH (£££££) threads taps ,pedal thread taps .

Spoke tension meter , anti twist spoke pliers ,wheel dish tool (just used to build my Suzuki van van moto wheels) .

AS many threads have suggested why would you let people near your machinery push bike ,cars ,moto bikes , ,camper vans the list is endless ,just do it yourself .If you can ?

 

[Davey B]

I have amongst several fringe bikes 2 main titanium framed road bikes one winter with mudguard and one American summer bike .
I purchased all the shimano ,chris king (those that know?) ,ITM ,selle italia and all the other bits .
Assembled and set up (rear brake on the RHS) brake , gears ,

Laced the DTswiss hubs (winter bike ) sapim spokes, mavic rims and built wheels .Summer ride Chris king hubs (those in the know ) sapim, mavic rims .

I would not allow a single person near my push bikes ,I have all the wheel building jig (home made 35yrs ago) .bottom bracket LH/RH (£££££) threads taps ,pedal thread taps .

Spoke tension meter , anti twist spoke pliers ,wheel dish tool (just used to build my Suzuki van van moto wheels) .

AS many threads have suggested why would you let people near your machinery push bike ,cars ,moto bikes , ,camper vans the list is endless ,just do it yourself .If you can ?

Away from this forum, most can't. What they need is a local sole trader indie bike mechanic. There was one near me in West Yorkshire. Used to be the mechanic at a well thought of cycle shop til it went tits up in c 2018, then he set up on his own.
He doesn't charge a lot. I frequently used him for little jobs, stuff I have always done myself over the years but I was quite happy to pay him a tenner for 20 minutes of his time and buy a pair of brake pads (at about £1 more than the online suppliers) with my thinking being that we will all mourn the loss of local bike shops/mechanics and we can all use them, if only for the odd job...they're no different to local bakeries, local butcher etc etc use em or lose em...IMHO