Author Topic: Anyone had so many problems with a dealer... (Read 1264 times)

DirtyBikerTart · « **on:** 13, May, 2008, 01:04:01 PM »

that you've had to take them to court?

Having major issue with the cowboys that sold me a bike. Its been back countless times with fault after fault. They have fixed it but it keeps developing faults and now I just want my money back and they refuse to answer my calls.
Told me it was acceptable for this bike to break down once a week.
Never told me that when I bought it

'>

Any advice from anyone greatly appreciated.

Cheers
DBT

Mr Rizla · « **Reply #1 on:** 13, May, 2008, 01:05:38 PM »

give us more details, what your bike is, model etc, when you bought it and whats gone wrong with it so far.
You are protected under consumer rights.

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #2 on:** 13, May, 2008, 01:30:29 PM »

i've already been to Trading Standards regarding this and they agree that I am entitled to my money back - however this dealership (independent) are playing games. They think they are well hard and get really nasty.

dread · « **Reply #3 on:** 13, May, 2008, 02:34:17 PM »

I know that the onus is on the dealer to prove that the bike was "fit for purpose" before they sold you the bike, I also think it's the job of Trading Standards to act on your behalf when something like this happens, apart from stating that you should get your money back, what else has Trading Standard said?.

Westie · « **Reply #4 on:** 13, May, 2008, 02:38:44 PM »

Write to watch dog, a small number of the many dealers out there have had it to easy for to long, get them named and shamed....

Biker Biker · « **Reply #5 on:** 13, May, 2008, 03:09:56 PM »

Sod watch dog.... out them in MCN

In fact I now a printer that can print 1000 post cards for £80....... let the dealership know that you are going to go public and see what they say. Or if you dont want to go active we can do passive and arrange a sit in. I had a friend that spent the whole weekend in MFI as they made a right hash of her brand new batchroom and then refused to fix it..... she got them to do it tho. I think it was when the press took an interest and started taking pictures that MFI got a little worried.

If all ese fails we can send round Yeti and the boyz... well they were mostly girls actually but it helped Strummin get her money back for a bike

pieman · « **Reply #6 on:** 13, May, 2008, 04:00:05 PM »

Sorry to hear that it's still a problem DBT. Surprised the other half hasn't already burned the place down or summat!!! Have you used TRD as a mouthpiece yet? Surely that's quite a threat? ("Do you know who I am?")

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #7 on:** 13, May, 2008, 04:24:31 PM »

Thanks guys!
Yup - I've tired TRD threat - they aint bovvered.
Trading Standards or Consumer Direct as they are now known dont actively get involved, they just advise you on a course of action.
I quite like the idea of sitting in there with the 'boyz' and girls

'>
Esp on a busy weekend.
They sold me a bike that I have only been able to ride 10 times. In 3 months! Not acceptable, now I want my money back. I'm prepared to take a £200 loss for wear and tear but that's it.
When I went to go for a PX for a same price bike - they wanted another £800!! They put the price of the PX bike up by £500 saying it was that time of year and bikes were selling!
Took the bike off their website and put the price up in the shop. I sent a letter before action notification and all of a sudden the bike is back on the website at the original price.
Gave them 2 numbers to contact me on with VM - nothing. Unless the with held number that rang for 2 rings was them.

'>

andyblade · « **Reply #8 on:** 13, May, 2008, 06:41:11 PM »

what bike shop was it ??

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #9 on:** 14, May, 2008, 08:14:43 AM »

A certain bunch of cowboys in Mitcham

'>

Biker Biker · « **Reply #10 on:** 14, May, 2008, 08:39:17 AM »

I'm from Mitcham too..... which one? The h**da place near fair green???

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #11 on:** 14, May, 2008, 08:55:39 AM »

no - it's not a main dealer. They are on the Mitcham Road - probably more Tooting than Mitcham. But I know that h**da place you mean! When I was looking for a bike for my BF - some of the prices they were charging...rip off!!

Tino · « **Reply #12 on:** 14, May, 2008, 11:00:54 AM »

Bike Smart?

?? Please don't tell me you went to bike smart?

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #13 on:** 14, May, 2008, 11:01:46 AM »

Yeah

'>
Now trading under a different name - not sure if it's the same people though

Tino · « **Reply #14 on:** 14, May, 2008, 11:07:25 AM »

Is he trading under a new name because he went bankrupt?

I bought a bike there once, got overcharged, and after sales services was shocking. Never again.

Sorry to hear that you are having dificulties with them, I not sure as to what to do, but I feel for you.

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #15 on:** 14, May, 2008, 11:18:47 AM »

Christ no! Never ever use them for servicing! I've seen some dodgy stuff but this takes the biscuit.
Apparently, I had a 'new' battery fitted. New to my bike, maybe!
It was an old sealed battery, that had been forced open, topped up and charged.
I looked at it at work whilst my maintenance engineers were available, and they all agreed it was an old battery.
Like I said to them, new to my bike but not a new battery.
He coughed and spluttered at me and tried to deny it.
Even his new mechanic couldn't deny the dodgy work practices. Couldn't admit to it but couldn't deny it either. Says it all.

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #16 on:** 14, May, 2008, 02:02:17 PM »

I actually think the guy who does the workshop is potentially a good mechanic - but I think he's in partnership with a greedy little shite.
They both lie and twist your words though and I certainly dont think you can trust them.
Compared to another dealer I know who has been going in the same location for 36 years - there is no comparison.
Shame really - they have a good range of bikes in too. But I would not recommend them or go back to them. If they had agreed to PX for maybe £100 or £200 difference - then I would have been happy. I'm even prepared to take a partial refund, but because they got greedy and tried to fleece me for another £800 on top of the £2.5K, I now feel they are being unreasonable.

Mr Rizla · « **Reply #17 on:** 14, May, 2008, 11:46:39 PM »

I wonder it TallGuy is a reading this thread.. Col, what is the legal standing here, for a purchase approaching 6mths old ? cheers

pieman · « **Reply #18 on:** 16, May, 2008, 04:16:14 PM »

I had trouble with BikeSmart too. They are well dodgy. That's where I got the ninja from. The bike wasn't too bad, but the service was shite once I'd commited to buy it - nearly walked away.

Biker Biker · « **Reply #19 on:** 19, May, 2008, 11:18:37 AM »

DBT - I spoke to Freckles last night about your issues and we are both up for a sit in protest..... However Freckles has her own cause to fight after being turned away from the Swimming baths in Norbury on Sunday as it the whole centre was for Men only….. and We are planning to protest as women only get an hour during the week rather than a whole day at the weekend.

eezyrida · « **Reply #20 on:** 19, May, 2008, 01:05:27 PM »

Quote (Biker Biker @ May 19 2008,11:18)

Swimming baths in Norbury

Where are the swimming baths in Norbury? I know of the ones at Streatham and Thornton Heath, but never knew there was one in Norbury.

I would recommend against using the one in Thornton Heath because if you do you are in danger of being crushed by a 4x4

'>

Biker Biker · « **Reply #21 on:** 19, May, 2008, 01:23:17 PM »

Great even 4x4's have an allocated swimming time? Are bikes allowed?

DirtyBikerTart · « **Reply #22 on:** 20, May, 2008, 09:37:03 AM »

Hi BB,
Thanks to you and Freckles

'>
But I understand that Freckles' problems take priority - I quite right so! That is disgraceful!
I have employed the use of the Riders Digests editor - he's very good and is helping me fight my cause.
We went to see them yesterday - talk about thick.
He does not understand that a refund is a totally different concept to buying the bike back off me. He refuses to refund, and refuses to buy the bike off me for the price I want....because...."I know what's wrong with it".
*sigh*
My case in point....

Anyway ladies - thanks for you offer of assistance, that is very kind

'>

DBT

eezyrida · « **Reply #23 on:** 20, May, 2008, 02:01:14 PM »

I wonder if the fact that DBT is a lady rider is significant here, ie the shop perhaps trying on something they otherwise wouldn't because she is female.

What got me thinking about this was when I stumbled on this very interesting thread on londonbikers.com which seems to me remarkably similar to this situation.

It would be interesting to find out whether other female bikers have also run into problems like this, and whether any of this could be attributed to sexism in what is, in gender terms, still a very one-sided activity.

We have Girls 2 Bikes 2. Perhaps time for an all-female chain of bike shops/workshops? Just a thought.

Biker Biker · « **Reply #24 on:** 20, May, 2008, 03:41:30 PM »

It’s the exact reason why I started getting interested in servicing my own bike..... if you ask them to do something how do you know that it has been done?

Only go on recommendation.... HGB & Daytona's in Ruislip are really good. When I had a spare bit on the brake caliper that I couldn't remember how to put it in, they were more than happy to help (for free) and gave advice about bleeding brakes.

When I went with Freckles to buy her first bike…. We wandered around many a dealer before we got bored an walked out. Apparently girls don’t buy bikes LOL!

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Author Topic: Anyone had so many problems with a dealer... (Read 1264 times)