Westdene Cycles Poor Customer Service.

[Cruxpearl]

Well last week I went to Westdene Cycles, I dropped off a bike and asked if they can build it up for me with my own components, not ones bought from them, but I even asked if they can help me out of a predicament, as I needed the bike the same afternoon, and it was hell busy before the 94.7...

Well I can tell you, I popped past that same afternoon and the bike was completed as requested

 

Now that is Service!!!! And with a smile!!!!

 

They are always Courteous

They are always Friendly

They are always HELL Busy!!!!!

So sometimes they can't jump on you because you just happened to walk into their store...

but if you ask they will always get someone to attend to you.

 

If their service was really that sh*t poor, they would long ago have been forced to close their doors.

Yet, they are still consistently one of the more busy bikeshops in town!!!

You won't survive if your service is as poor as you are trying to make it out to be...

[Harryn]

Harryn' date=' I love it when he Wannabe came forward, so more people can be warned, and that is true, that have happened to me at the also, and they not that cheap to[/quote']

 

What you do or do not love is not really the issue. Fairness is the issue. Sammajoor speaks about the right to free speech, and he has a point. But what about the audi alterem partem rule (the right of both sides to be heard). Westdene have not been notified that their name is being made kaka in front of a captive audience - although I think I am about to correct that.

Harryn2007-11-26 05:36:45

[Sammajoor]

Harryn' date=' I love it when he Wannabe came forward, so more people can be warned, and that is true, that have happened to me at the also, and they not that cheap to[/quote']

 

What you do or do not love is not really the issue. Fairness is the issue. Sammajoor speaks about the right to free speech, and he has a point. But what about the audi alterem partem rule (the right of both sides to be heard). Westdene have not been notified that there name is being made kaka in front of a captive audience - although I think I am about to correct that.

 

That is so true the old story rings true.  His side, my side and the truth it is easy for us to sit and judge somebody and make an emotional decision, but yes it is someones business and his income that is being thrashed .

 

Give him an oppurtunity to clear his name who knows the person they were talking to might have been talking of buying two or more bikes. Guess who would have had my attention

[mbaymike]

Who uses this shop as their LBS?

Was there on Saturday (about 12h30)' date=' looking for some info on the Ksyrium SSC SL wheels, as they sell Ksyrium wheels. Shop was not busy with about 5 customers in Cycling section. 3 Staffmembers standing behind counter chatting to 1 customer. I stood at counter looking (later glaring) at them. One staff member looked at me once, but DID NOT acknowledge seeing me. After 10 minutes of them chatting to guy and ignoring me, I thought if I started wandering around the shop, looking like I might also be a potential customer, "SOMEONE" might come and help me.

No such luck, and I left the shop without getting any attention or help.

This is the second time this happened, AND I WILL NOT GO BACK TO THEM, EVER!!!!!!

Ps. The part I was interested in buying was in the display cabinet behind them, a BBB spoke spanner for the Ksyrium wheels.  

[/quote']

 

Wannabe, I had the same experience here in George with a certain shop.....the owner is some young nitwit who I must admit is good at what he does..but he makes sure that you know he is always right.....went looking for a bike and explained to him what I was looking for....he said he doesn't have those cheap bicycles....R6000 may not by much for some....for others it's a lot.  He recommended I come back when I have more cash....went to Mosselbay shop and was fixed up within half an hour.....ps...the shop in george had what I was looking for in the shop...i guess i was not important enough. 

 

 

[Gumpole]

Well last week I went to Westdene Cycles' date=' I dropped off a bike and asked if they can build it up for me with my own components, not ones bought from them, but I even asked if they can help me out of a predicament, as I needed the bike the same afternoon, and it was hell busy before the 94.7...

Well I can tell you, I popped past that same afternoon and the bike was completed as requested

 

Now that is Service!!!! And with a smile!!!!

 

They are always Courteous

They are always Friendly

They are always HELL Busy!!!!!

So sometimes they can't jump on you because you just happened to walk into their store...

but if you ask they will always get someone to attend to you.

 

If their service was really that sh*t poor, they would long ago have been forced to close their doors.

Yet, they are still consistently one of the more busy bikeshops in town!!!

You won't survive if your service is as poor as you are trying to make it out to be...

[/quote']

 

Some bike shops survive on good service, some survive on good prices.

Westdene survive on their prices (not saying that the service is bad, just other places are better)

 

If you want much better service go to Dunkeld, Linden, etc etc... but you WILL pay more!

Gumpole2007-11-26 05:11:54

[scotty]

Excellent thread, i've just finished my 1st batch of popcorn and coke and starting on my 2nd .

[Cruxpearl]

Well I have been a customer of Westdene's now for nearly 20 years, and I have NEVER had a problem with POOR Service...

 

And at the end of the day, it's all about perception...

 

I for one have a bad perception of the service at some of the shops mentioned in this thread as some of the bike shops with better service.

I have also been to some of the bike shops where people have not addressed me in 10 minutes of browsing around, that doesn't make them bad shops with poor service!!!!

If I had asked for something and then received poor service, or bad attitude, or being screwed over, then there is grounds for some complaints, but Really not if you haven't been swarmed by sales staff in 10 minutes.

On any busy day (Mostly Saturdays) there is more than 30 customers in Westdene Cycles at any one time, with only 6-8 staff members, there simply isn't enough of them to attend to every single customer personally.

 

So If you are looking for something specifically, then open your mouth and ASK FOR IT!!!

[AndreZA]

So If you are looking for something specifically' date=' then open your mouth and ASK FOR IT!!!

[/quote']

 

Yes, and they will never tell you you've got a crap bike.

 

 

[Zoo Cookie]

 

No such luck' date=' and I left the shop without getting any attention or help.

  

[/quote']

 

 

why not getting a dog?

[Sean]

Harryn' date=' I love it when he Wannabe came forward, so more people can be warned, and that is true, that have happened to me at the also, and they not that cheap to[/quote']

 

What you do or do not love is not really the issue. Fairness is the issue. Sammajoor speaks about the right to free speech, and he has a point. But what about the audi alterem partem rule (the right of both sides to be heard). Westdene have not been notified that their name is being made kaka in front of a captive audience - although I think I am about to correct that.

Personally I am more interested in the above mentioned rule, I have an audi that I want to part with but it too has been altered..... what must I do?

[Delgado]

I can't see what the fuss is about!!! Service as a concept does not exist in this country and if you want a taste of proper service go visit the US. I can't see 99% of local business (including corporates) lasting longer than a week in the states!! Closed doors would be inevitable!!

Delgado2007-11-26 06:43:29

[racman]

pull up a chair, it's going to get even more interesting now

[mrmed]

Westdene is my LBS and I must say I always get a good deal without having to ask. At the end of the day if the guys know you they will take the time to come and chat. But you're right the youngsters don't take much interest. I always deal with Stuart or Faried.

[Wannabe]

Guys, at least acknowledge a customer in some way or other, even or ESPECIALY when you are busy with another customer. Do not ignore him. This is not the first time this happened at said shop. I wandered around the best part of an hour at a previous visit to them. Not even one staff member asked if they could help in any way. Must admit, I wast mostly browsing, but I was looking for a BB and a front derailer, that's why I stopped at said shop. AND I HAD THE MONEY TO BUY SAID PARTS.

My LBS sourced said spoke spanner for me from BBB. Problem solved.

 

Lesson learned, even when I happen to drive past said shop, I WILL NOT STOP AND GO TO BROWSE (yes, I too love walking around bicycle shops to see what tickles my fancy, whats available, etc.)

That is my democratic right, which I will exercise.

TOPIC CLOSED FROM MY SIDE.

[racman]

No you can't close the topic - I haven't finished my popcorn yet !!!

[Pantani]

 

I wandered around the best part of an hour at a previous visit to them.

 

WTF?????!!! An hour! Hmmm, You can call me dumb, and slow, and say that I have a challenged attention span, but how did you find an hours worth of browsing in there?