Open Letter to Bike Shop Owners

[EigerSA]

if it was just that then I probably would've done just that; but it wasn't just that, it was attitude, it was the fact I didn't get a phone call when I should've, it was the fact that it cost more than I was quoted, it was the fact that at the day I paid for a service that I didn't receive and not for the first time.

 

I am not going to accept cr@p service, I'll vote with my legs and go to another store. But I want the owner of the store to know exactly why I'm going to another store, he can call me a few choice names and go about his business the same as before or perhaps take note and make some changes, up to him.

[The Drongo]

Still trying to figure out whats wrong with the avatar?

Big H.... give me a clue!

 

Dude.

 

It's the kind of Avatar that your mother warns the kids about!!

[Guest Big H]

if it was just that then I probably would've done just that; but it wasn't just that, it was attitude, it was the fact I didn't get a phone call when I should've, it was the fact that it cost more than I was quoted, it was the fact that at the day I paid for a service that I didn't receive and not for the first time.

 

I am not going to accept cr@p service, I'll vote with my legs and go to another store. But I want the owner of the store to know exactly why I'm going to another store, he can call me a few choice names and go about his business the same as before or perhaps take note and make some changes, up to him.

 

......and next time spend the 10 seconds..... it will save you whining on the Hub, and a few days of kuk writing letters and complaining.....

[EigerSA]

......and next time spend the 10 seconds..... it will save you whining on the Hub, and a few days of kuk writing letters and complaining.....

 

No. I don't want to check other peoples work. You've been in Nigeria to long.

[Minion]

I'll add another point:

 

5.) If you promise to call your customer back within a week, do so (even if it's just to say you can't help them). I was planning to buy a Lemond Revolution trainer locally. The shop is obviously not interested in my business, so now I'm going to see what I can find online.

[brad890]

I can understand your frustration EigerSA, when you do something do it properly regardless of how major or minor the task is. and must admit the whole not calling a customer back really grates my gears, why should I have to continuously phone back for a service I am paying for.

 

ok rant is over and feeling a little better lol

[EigerSA]

I can understand your frustration EigerSA, when you do something do it properly regardless of how major or minor the task is. and must admit the whole not calling a customer back really grates my gears, why should I have to continuously phone back for a service I am paying for.

 

ok rant is over and feeling a little better lol

 

[Trapper]

That's why I use Solomons in Pretoria. Great service, good pricing, extra effort and commitment to keep the customer happy.

oh, and the discounts.

[Grebel]

Riiiight!

 

My bux are on the table....

 

 

Whats the odds, Ive got a good idea to

 

Can I get a piece of this action as well...

 

Edit: I agree with you 100% on this. If you pay for a service, you expect to get what you pay for... service!!

Edited March 14, 2011 by Grebel

[Christie]

Few people take their car for a "check out" drive after paying more than R1000 per hour for labour at the agents. If I pay top rates, I would expect the job to be done right.

 

I have little faith in the ability of bike shops to do a proper job. Just recently had my road bike with Shimano Di2 (internal routing) in to have a different crank fitted. Bike shop never checked or wondered where the wire ran inside the frame, they sheared the wire off in 3 places, plus smashed one of the electrical connectors to bits. Shimano agents will only have new internal wires for Di2 in stock at the end of May. To get the bike running again I have to ask one of the electronic engineers at work to make some new wires for me.

[chris_w_65]

The guy I was riding with on Sunday had his freehub lock up, I checked it out and the lock ring that holds the casette on hadn't been tightened and had turned out. How useless must the guy at the distributor LBS be to leave it lose.

 

BTW, it was an expensive looking Italian bike that starts with a P. I think just the wheels were worth more than my car.

[Peak Performance Fitness]

Excellent letter!

 

Do you mind posting this on the Peak Performance Consumer Facebook page as well? (http://www.facebook.com/#!/home.php?sk=group_119171684815801) Its the right of the general consumer to know about this!

[Guest Big H]

Few people take their car for a "check out" drive after paying more than R1000 per hour for labour at the agents. If I pay top rates, I would expect the job to be done right.

 

I have little faith in the ability of bike shops to do a proper job. Just recently had my road bike with Shimano Di2 (internal routing) in to have a different crank fitted. Bike shop never checked or wondered where the wire ran inside the frame, they sheared the wire off in 3 places, plus smashed one of the electrical connectors to bits. Shimano agents will only have new internal wires for Di2 in stock at the end of May. To get the bike running again I have to ask one of the electronic engineers at work to make some new wires for me.

 

Exactly..... how many of these so called specialist bikeshops have trained wrenches. They may have one but the rest is left to "spannerboys".

 

Your average mechanic at a dealership garage at least did some training on the cars and electronic analysing equipment they use. Do not see much of that at LBS workshops. They have a workshop manager that checks the car before it is washed and cleaned.

 

Very few LBS's does that, yet we expect them to preform miracles in a small dimly lit cluttered workshop. Your own cognative senses should tell you CHECK what they have done.

 

I still say if Eiger was not lazy and used his own 10 second rule there would have been no need to whine and be vindictive. It is just common sense to do such a thing.

 

But he decided to insult me as a person living in Nigeria to justify his own stupidity...... just not on.

Edited March 14, 2011 by Big H

[29thumbs]

Dude, why dont you just get it services at the right place.

can i complain if i get my Alfa 156 serviced at Fikkies auto repairs.

[Pickles]

Why did you not have that 10 second test ride in the aprking lot as you claim to be an experienced cyclist???????

 

I am a very experienced driver. And when I pull out of a R5500.00 service at Mc Carthy Motors, I DO NOT believe I should have to check ANYTHING I have just paid some blue-collar to service! Geddit.

You EXPECT to get what you pay for. And I TOTALLY agree about the post-matric brain surgeons, having a gap-year, getting grease under their thumb-nails...treating the customers like half-wits. It's VERY bad for business.

[EigerSA]

you chose to focus on one aspect of my rant, the 10 second part, you chose to be sarcastic when there was no cause to be.

 

Is it not reasonable then to expect the mechanic to have taken the bike on a test ride? I'm paying more money for that bike service than I do for my vehicle's "a" service, a test ride should be an absolute given, regardless of what type of bike shop or mechanic, that's just plain old simple common sense.

 

How does it work in Nigeria then? Do you pay and then do their work for them, because taking the bike for a test ride is part of the service that's being paid for. Maybe it's just differently in Nigeria?