I know that I should have avoided Halfords after reading previous posts, I fully regret thinking "that won't happen to me".
I'm looking for some advice from those unfortunate enough to have been through this or similar themselves...
Bought a £1000 Boardman Team Carbon road bike through my employers Bike For Work scheme. Took the bike boxed, put it together myself (handlebars, wheel & seat), fully inspected the rest including bolts, screws etc. I also extensively tested the gears (derailieurs, alignment, chain, cables, etc) and brakes before even riding it. It was perfect, and perfect on my first 26 mile ride on the open road - I was very happy.
Then it all went wrong, 13 miles in to my second ride, travelling downhill at around 20mph when the rear wheel locked. I fell but on a quiet Sunday morning there were no cars and nothing more than cuts and bruises. The bike however was destroyed, the rear derailleur had detached and passed between the rear wheel and the frame. Frame cracked plus extensive damage to derailleur, cable, spokes and chain.
Bike returned, next 1.5 weeks not having my phone calls returned and finally I emailed the CEO and Chief Exec - now I think I'll get some where. No, Halfords are claiming it my fault:
"Inspection of your bike has not revealed any manufacturing defects to be present. We do however understand that on delivery of your new bike to our store, you advised our store team that they were not to carry out your bike build as you wanted to do this yourself and based on comments you have since made to our store team regarding this build and its set up, we do not believe the build was conducted correctly by you and this has subsequently caused the failure you have described. We therefore concur that our stores gesture of goodwill to reduce the cost of your repair from £745 to £430 is more than fair for damage that has been sustained to your bike which is not covered as a warranty issue and this offer will remain available to you."
And what is more, I can't take them to small claims court as they helpfully point out (or as it feels to me - hide behind):
"We advise this because a cycle to work scheme operates as a loan: the Employer is technically loaning the equipment to the Employee for a fixed-period of time and as such, you would not be able to issue any legal proceedings against Halfords as legislation that governs a cycle to work scheme states that your Employer must own the equipment."
I'm just amazed by the behaviour of this national retailer, taking full advantage of this situation to avoid an expensive repair on their substandard products.
I'm in the process of establishing contact with my employers Bike For Work team and I have asked Halfords what comments I made which led their shop staff to believe I didn't set up the bike correctly.
So, I'm looking for some help and advice from those who have suffered similar...
I'm looking for some advice from those unfortunate enough to have been through this or similar themselves...
Bought a £1000 Boardman Team Carbon road bike through my employers Bike For Work scheme. Took the bike boxed, put it together myself (handlebars, wheel & seat), fully inspected the rest including bolts, screws etc. I also extensively tested the gears (derailieurs, alignment, chain, cables, etc) and brakes before even riding it. It was perfect, and perfect on my first 26 mile ride on the open road - I was very happy.
Then it all went wrong, 13 miles in to my second ride, travelling downhill at around 20mph when the rear wheel locked. I fell but on a quiet Sunday morning there were no cars and nothing more than cuts and bruises. The bike however was destroyed, the rear derailleur had detached and passed between the rear wheel and the frame. Frame cracked plus extensive damage to derailleur, cable, spokes and chain.
Bike returned, next 1.5 weeks not having my phone calls returned and finally I emailed the CEO and Chief Exec - now I think I'll get some where. No, Halfords are claiming it my fault:
"Inspection of your bike has not revealed any manufacturing defects to be present. We do however understand that on delivery of your new bike to our store, you advised our store team that they were not to carry out your bike build as you wanted to do this yourself and based on comments you have since made to our store team regarding this build and its set up, we do not believe the build was conducted correctly by you and this has subsequently caused the failure you have described. We therefore concur that our stores gesture of goodwill to reduce the cost of your repair from £745 to £430 is more than fair for damage that has been sustained to your bike which is not covered as a warranty issue and this offer will remain available to you."
And what is more, I can't take them to small claims court as they helpfully point out (or as it feels to me - hide behind):
"We advise this because a cycle to work scheme operates as a loan: the Employer is technically loaning the equipment to the Employee for a fixed-period of time and as such, you would not be able to issue any legal proceedings against Halfords as legislation that governs a cycle to work scheme states that your Employer must own the equipment."
I'm just amazed by the behaviour of this national retailer, taking full advantage of this situation to avoid an expensive repair on their substandard products.
I'm in the process of establishing contact with my employers Bike For Work team and I have asked Halfords what comments I made which led their shop staff to believe I didn't set up the bike correctly.
So, I'm looking for some help and advice from those who have suffered similar...