Adder

Wow, that got a response. Let's clear some things up: 1. I did work at another Hout Bay bike shop as a mechanic, I am an Architect and was suffering from burn out and taking a year off, It was a cool thing to do for that year. 2. I left that shop at end June 2011, my year was up, batteries recharged and time to move on. 3. Desmond knows me well enough to know the above, and full well I am not involved "with running a competing bike shop". 4. When CC opened in Hout Bay, I was one of the first in line to go there, shake hands and wish them all the best. 5. It was standard practice in the UK bike shops i frequented to wash every bike that came in through the door. Apart from the courtesy, how can you work on a dirty bike? 6. I received legal advice from my insurers recommending that I not accept the stolen then recovered Colnago. Also that I was legally entitled to either a brand new exact replacement, or failing that a complete refund. My reply to them, which I copied to Desmond was that I didn't want to put a new business under that kind of pressure and was happy to take the bike, with it's clearance document. 7. The bike was missing for 7 days between being stolen and being recovered. 8. All my statements in my OP are fact, and have been recorded as the events unfolded in communication with my insurers and their legal department. 9. As for an Alias? I don't see anybody using their real name here. 10. As for hiding? Why hide from the truth. 11. Afraid? Of What. Yes I was pissed off when I posted, still pissed off now. This is the "Rant & Rave" section isn't it? Or did I stray into the "Please Play By Our Rules & Don't Offend Anyone By Speaking Your Mind And Upsetting Our Friends" section

Just had a series of poor experiences with Complete Cyclist Hout Bay which i need to vent. I'm just going to list them without too much emotion getting in the way: 1. Ordered a Colnago frame from them as part of a build up bike for an insurance payout (I had 2 bikes stolen from my garage on christmas day). It was promised on a wednesday, then a thursday, then a friday. On the friday i was told there had been a mix up with the courier and the frame was coming from Jhb via PE, via Bloem. I made my frustration clear. Presto! frame arrived 2 hours later. Total calls from them to me: 1 2. Bike was built up, and paid for. I asked if they could keep it for me until my home security had been upgraded as per new insurance conditions. I took the bike to work to 'show it off' and checked it back in with them later that same day. I received a call from them the next day to inform me that they'd had a break in and my bike was missing. And that my insurance should cover it.(!?). I made it clear that i was not claiming from my insurance. We started discussing a replacement bike. No Colnago of my size left, no Fulcrum 3 wheels available for 4 weeks. A week passes of discussing possible solutions, then I go into the shop to find my Colnago has been recovered and is hanging in the wash bay. Total calls from them to me: 0 3. I insisted on a clearance letter from their insurance company stating that the bike was free of any claims and legal encumbrances. Another week goes by of zero communication from them, but daily requests from me. Eventually I resorted to sending an e-mail asking for my money back. Now that elicited a call back, and 1 hour later I had my clearance letter and my bike. Total calls from them to me:1 4. On tuesday I took my brand new, ridden once Cannondale Flash Carbon 29er for a tubeless conversion. The front wheel was off when I dropped it in. I received it back today (again no call from them) with tubeless conv. done but bike not washed. When I come to take front wheel off (still in the shop) I find the 5mm allen key won't fit and the edges of the nut on the hub are rounded off. The ensuing conversation went like this: Shop: The key wasn't put in all the way, but it's working now. Me: So why didn't your mechanic put the key in all the way? Shop: No, that was you just now, you did it. Me: That's just ridiculous. Shop: Well, it's working now, so stop stressing. Me: How can you say that? Shop: It's working so just leave it at that. So I haven't P.S I've been riding for 30 years and fixing/maintaining bikes for 15, including 2 stints as a professional mechanic. I've made my share of honest mistakes, but always tried to rectify them and never treated any customer like that. Pissed Off. I'm really disappointed, Hout Bay needs a decent bike shop and the guys there seem nice enough. But I won't be going back.