Cheap Decathlon commuter

[Abitrary]

I was thinking about going for this:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/rockrider-5-0-m-3964996/

Purely to get me to work and back, as a backup hack bike, when my main one is in the LBS.

And they state guarantees which are there to be taken the piss out of.

 

[bonj2]

No they're not.

inmy experience, at least half of the stuff i've bought from there I've had to take back.

 

[gambatte]

inmy experience, at least half of the stuff i've bought from there I've had to take back.

Opposite experience, clothing, bike, workstand, tools, tubes, CO2 pump, pedals (just a quick 'off the top of my head' list of stuff I've had from there)

Not had anything that went wrong.

The only thing that I wasn't impressed with was the lights, but these were freebies that came with the bike. Nothing wrong with them, just they did seem cheap and bulky- so I wouldn't have bought them in the 1st place.

If anyones wanting to look online at their bikes, dont bother with decathlon itself, its not got anywhere near the available range. Try the actual BTwin website

http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/

 

[bonj2]

Opposite experience, clothing, bike, workstand, tools, tubes, CO2 pump, pedals (just a quick 'off the top of my head' list of stuff I've had from there)

Not had anything that went wrong.

The only thing that I wasn't impressed with was the lights, but these were freebies that came with the bike. Nothing wrong with them, just they did seem cheap and bulky- so I wouldn't have bought them in the 1st place.

If anyones wanting to look online at their bikes, dont bother with decathlon itself, its not got anywhere near the available range. Try the actual BTwin website

http://www.btwincycle.com/EN/

Well for a start that's not 'most'.

And secondly, go and have a proper look around. And next time you're off skiing, check out how much Decathlon gear is being worn by people from all over Europe.

I'm not saying ALL the things in decathlon are crap, including their skiing stuff, (and by the way I couldn't ski to save my life), even their actual bikes themselves I think are probably quite good. I'm just saying that the list of accessories I've had that have been substandard are:
Chain - tight link, probably fake. One from CRC was in a proper hard box which is exactly the same as the ones in halfords and the ones i've seen in LBSs.
Camelbak - chest strap attachment far too flimsy, kept falling off and got lost.
Tube - didn't have thread on it for valve collar, despite being pictured with one on the box.
Bib longs - padding in the wrong place. Uncomfy.
'wedze' socks (they are skiing ones actually) - developed a hole after a few weeks.
The way I see it, I could go in there, and TRY something from there, and save a couple of quid, but there's a good chance I'll end up having to take it back again, so I just save myself the time and get a quality one from somewhere else to start with.

 

[gambatte]

I'm not saying ALL the things in decathlon are crap, including their skiing stuff, (and by the way I couldn't ski to save my life), even their actual bikes themselves I think are probably quite good. I'm just saying that the list of accessories I've had that have been substandard are:
Chain - tight link, probably fake. One from CRC was in a proper hard box which is exactly the same as the ones in halfords and the ones i've seen in LBSs.
Camelbak - chest strap attachment far too flimsy, kept falling off and got lost.
Tube - didn't have thread on it for valve collar, despite being pictured with one on the box.
Bib longs - padding in the wrong place. Uncomfy.
'wedze' socks (they are skiing ones actually) - developed a hole after a few weeks.
The way I see it, I could go in there, and TRY something from there, and save a couple of quid, but there's a good chance I'll end up having to take it back again, so I just save myself the time and get a quality one from somewhere else to start with.

So to clarify:

you reckon Camelback aren't quality?

and you reckon a global brand like this is probably buying in 'fake' goods?

 

[fossyant]

Their clothing comes with a two year guarantee - a zip bust on my thermal jacket - over a year old and got a new one.

I don't buy components from them as they are cheaper on the net and don't stock the ones I want. I usually get regular clothing, had a workstand, a couple of tools, 2 x sets of Mavic wheels (same price as net) and general bits and bobs. Any specialist stuff I'll order from the net.

That said, I have spent a fortune with them this year.

 

[Maz]

oh good. they're open on sunday - hope to be in sheffield and check the bikes out!

 

[gambatte]

oh good. they're open on sunday - hope to be in sheffield and check the bikes out!

Popped in this week, they do seem a bit low on some stocks. End of the sales I suspect....

Couldn't get the shorts I was after!!

 

[bonj2]

So to clarify:

you reckon Camelback aren't quality?

Decathlon don't make Camelbaks. They're well respected in all of the areas of sport which they are used. The Decathlon version is excellent -I've had one for years and been up[ mountains and on my bike with it many times, with no problems at all.

well, I use the term 'camelbak' like people use the term 'hoover' - it's not actually one made by that brand, but that type of thing. ACTUAL camelbaks probably are a lot better quality.

There's no point in saying "well I've got one and it's ok for me so therefore they must be good quality", that's purely anecdotal evidence, it doesn't prove they're good quality, any more than my recount of my experiences proves that they're bad quality. I'm not saying don't EVER go there because it WILL be crap, I might have just been unlucky.
I'm just saying, I'm getting to the stage where I can no longer count on one hand the products I've had from there that have been either not effective, not what i thought i was getting, not working properly, or come apart/developed a fault in some way. So FOR ME, I choose not to go there because i like the stuff i get elsewhere better. If you or anyone else wants to go there and likes the products from there then don't let me stop you.

and you reckon a global brand like this is probably buying in 'fake' goods?

i was just suspicious that's all. I've no evidence it was fake, but i don't see why they'd be in a different box. I think what's possibly more likely is that they might simply be different ones that are made for the french market, and possibly therefore made in a different factory, than the ones made for the uk/us/jap market.

Rubbish. You've made this claim. You're wrong. You can carry on making it because you haven't even asked the store. Of course it's not fake. And a tight link is nothing.

I have, i took it back and got my money back. There's no point 'asking the store' because the checkout numpties won't know.

So?? They're not needed anyway.

You've obviously got a different perspective to me with regard to being prepared to accept things that aren't exactly the same as what you thought you were paying for. If we didn't have the excellent consumer law that we have got in britain and that the general case was that if you bought something and it worked you should count yourself lucky and if it didn't, tough - then I would be totally thinking along the same lines as you there. But I've got a semi-independent LBS half a mile up the road that while they might not sell the same choice of value unbranded stuff that decathlon has, if there's something that's a year old and not in its original box they'll give it me for a third the price, and will price match aswell. And the blokes in there are all cyclists themselves (albeit some mainly bmx) aswell and a lot more passionate and give good advice, so i just go there straight off without even thinking about it, the thought 'oooh could i save a few pence here and there by going to decathlon' just doesn't enter my head any more.

 

[gambatte]

I might have just been unlucky......So FOR ME, I choose not to go there because i like the stuff i get elsewhere better. If you or anyone else wants to go there and likes the products from there then don't let me stop you.....the thought 'oooh could i save a few pence here and there by going to decathlon' just doesn't enter my head any more.

Fair enuff

I think what's possibly more likely is that they might simply be different ones that are made for the french market....... i took it back and got my money back. There's no point 'asking the store' because the checkout numpties won't know.........And the blokes in there are all cyclists themselves (albeit some mainly bmx) aswell and a lot more passionate and give good advice..............

So they give good customer service, no probs returning goods?

As to the advice. They have people who are into the sports in each section. In the Sheffield store they have a oldish guy with a 'tache in the cycling area. I always have problems getting away 'cos he's so keen with the advice!!

 

[bianco]

Fair enuff



So they give good customer service, no probs returning goods?

As to the advice. They have people who are into the sports in each section. In the Sheffield store they have a oldish guy with a 'tache in the cycling area. I always have problems getting away 'cos he's so keen with the advice!!

Yeah I know that guy, he's called Dave. He used to be a semi pro and race alongside the best. He then quit and became a Artic driver then retired and worked for Decathlon. Wonderful guy, gives great advice!

Then there's Jon, the main mechanic who's also fanstastic at his job. Brilliant store the Sheffield one is!

 

[bianco]

You need to be specific then. Though you're still wrong-


So you're not really saying that most of their gear is crap. Make your mind up.


it's not fake bonj. Get over it.


So you'd take an new bike back then if the tyres weren't at the correct pressure?

Don't bite bonj!

 

[bonj2]

Don't bite bonj!

ok then i've said my piece. sure you're more qualified to comment on how good they are than anybody is anyway

i'll add that the chain oil, overshoes and feathered patches are things i've had from there which have been good.

 

[bonj2]

actually to be honest evans have gone up a lot in my estimation recently. I've only been there twice, the last being yesterday, but both times the service was pretty above-average. quite a lot of weird bikes, aswell - they had a saddleless trials bike with hydraulic rim brakes!