Ten days ago, as you may recall me writing, I ordered and paid for a new bike. Having the maturity of a small child on Christmas Eve, I wanted it there and then. But the man in the shop explained that they had to build it and check it for road-worthiness, because if I took away a bike that wasn't roadworthy, and ended up under a bus, the shop will be liable.
They had a sign up that said 'Our promise. If you order before 12 noon we will build your bike for the same day. If you order after 12 noon, we will build it for the next day.' As this was early Friday afternoon, I could have possibly expected a Saturday build, definitely Monday. But no, they said Tuesday at the earliest. Tuesday wasn't convenient so we agreed Thursday.
On Monday we returned to the shop and ordered and paid for a bike for Jimmy. Basically the same model, although obviously mine is female geometry and without the crossbar to enable me to ride side-saddle. We agreed Thursday also for his.
Thursday evening we go there, to be told that my bike is ready but his isn't; it hasn't been built, it wasn't on the list. After some deliberating we decide to take mine and he said he'd collect his Saturday (we were at a funeral Friday).
He suggested that I ride it round the car-park, but I declined, seeing as though the car park was being used for boy-racers thirty-something women, with children in the back, doing handbrake turns. "It's like Brands Hatch!" I exclaimed.
Being that I am middle-aged and increasingly nervous cautious, and I haven't actually properly been on a bike in cough
years, I thought - should I ride on the A204, a busy bus-and-commuter
route in the rush hour, or should I wheel it to the park conveniently
situated just round the corner. Immediately inside the park gates I
mounted, eased down on the right pedal and fell off.
Yeah, yeah, I can see you all laughing now.
What I did was remount immediately, and then go "Er? How come my handle bars are all wonky?"
Simple answer, they were loose in the mount, so the smallest amount of pressure meant they just swivelled round to 90 degrees. I wheeled it back to the shop, spoke to the sales assistant who summoned the manager. The manager was all apologetic and said this shouldn't have happened. It's part of procedures when issuing a bike to tighten the handlebars because they are stored hanging up with the handlebars in line with the body of the bike. I suggested that part of the procedures should be training staff to follow procedures. The manager said the sales assistant had been there three months and it was unlikely that it was the first bike he had issued*.
I also raised the issue of Jimmy's bike not being ready as booked, despite the 'promise' on the yellow notice. The manager ran a print and realised that it was actually scheduled for collection on 30 December 1899. Yes, really... I suggested that there should be some recognition of the late delivery and the manager said he'd see what he could do. Jimmy collected his bike on Saturday (no 'recognition' offered) and it was only when he got it home that we realised that my mudguards, paid for and annotated on the order, hadn't been fitted. Sigh
Naturally, an email, stating all the facts, has been sent to Head Office Customer Service. Auto reply promised a substantive reply in 7 days.
* You might say I should have checked: my going round to the park was my way of checking. That does not in any way resolve them of the duty of care, stated at the point of purchase, to ensure a bike leaving the premises is road-worthy.
