Difficulties with Winstanleys Cycles

[upandover]

Hi guys,

I'm having a frustrating time with Winstanley Cycles in Wigan, who I ordered my electric bike from earlier in thee year, through the Cycle to Work Scheme, and I'm wondering if anyone is able to offer advice please.

I'd had the bike (Izip Mountain Trailz) about three months, when, over a two week holiday the battery stopped working. I've done everything right, left it charged etc, but when I came to re-charge it, it only had a few minutes power in it. Repeated draining and charging hasn't helped.

I contacted Winstanley who came back to me twice with questions from the manufacturer, seemingly checking anything I might have doen to cause it. They have repeated failed to call when they said, and I only got the ball rolling when I stayed on hold for 25 minutes rather than accepting the promise of a callback.

Three weeks later, and they've agreed to pick up the battery, and send it the the UK distributer for testing. My sense though, is that this is likely to take even longer and will undo
undoubtedly be a negative experience.

My understanding is that my contract is with the trader I bought the bike from rather that the manufacturer, and that having had the bike for less than three months, I should be able to deal directly with them.

While I have another bike, I'm concerned that I'm left in the hands of the manufacturer, and will have another nine months of paying for a bike, which I could only use if I spent a fortune on a new battery.

Should I be pushing this more with winstanley? Certainly the guy I spoke to this afternoon called Phil couldn't seem to care less, but I would hope that somebody there would?

Kind regards
Steve

 

[domtyler]

Yes definitely push the case. Also, the owner of the bike is your employer if you have bought through the bike to work scheme, do you work for a large company? If so they might be persuaded to take up your case and exert some extra pressure on your behalf.

 

[HF2300]

If it's an SLA battery and a smart charger, as the specs seem to say, it should all be pretty foolproof. I can't see why, if you've followed the charging / maintenance instructions, you should have to pay for a new battery; in fact, it's a tenet of consumer legislation that goods should last a reasonable amount of time.

Definitely push it with Winstanleys, and ask to speak to more senior people if you're getting no joy from the shop floor; and don't let them fob you off.

Bear in mind also that the fault may not be with the battery.

 

[PatrickPending]

Contact trading standards - they should advise you. I'd imagine it would still be under warranty....

 

[bonj2]

it'll teach you not to buy an electric bike in future!

 

[Kestevan]

Standard tactic I employ is to visit the shop in person, preferably when they are nice and busy.

Complain in a fairly loud and forceful manner (without getting abusive).

It's much harder for the manager/shop monkey to fob you off in a shop full of potential customers.

 

[Tynan]

if's it new and patently not working I'd consider a full refund, unfit for purpose

 

[upandover]

Thanks Guys - just the encouragement I needed to pursue harder.

Bonj - arrogant and unhelpful. A nice double act.

Cheers

Steve

 

[louise]

Pleased I've seen this was going to buy a bike from them

Bit gutted though I had my eye on this
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/9385/Giant_Cypress_LX_Womens_Bike_2007

 

[louise]

Pleased I've seen this was going to buy a bike from them

Bit gutted though I had my eye on this
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/9385/Giant_Cypress_LX_Womens_Bike_2007

Maybe though, I should judge it on 1 persons experience

 

[CopperBrompton]

Under the Sale & Supply of Goods Act, for any item found to be faulty within six months of purchase the presumption is that the fault was present when sold, and the onus is on the retailer to prove otherwise.

The safest course of action is to formally reject it as of 'unsatisfactory quality' (replaced 'fit for purpose' about 12 years ago). If you accept the offer of a repair, then you lose your right to reject it.

Ben

 

[mickle]

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/768-meerkat-metro.html

 

[upandover]

Thanks Mickle

Fascinating that Tesco's are selling them now. Cheaper than mine too, though mine looks much more like a regular mountain bike.

As it happens my new battery arrived yesterday afternoon. After a five week wait i got fed up and pushed matters, and the manufacturer simply sent out a new battery.

I really enjoyed the ride in on it this morning. My legs have been recovering this week from a longer ride at the weekend, and feeling somewhat worse for the wear. I was hoping for a good ride in. Not ridden the bike in six weeks, and what a difference it was since last time i used it.

I glided into work, using the motor on the hills, and barely broke a sweat over the 150 metres or so of climbing (8.5 miles). When I used it before it was still incredibly hardwork, and I don't think I would have developed the habit on a normal bike without the headstart.

I intend to keep using it as an alternative to my regular bike, when I fancy an easy ride in, which should mean I use the car a lot less, and then sell it on when i get to the end of my year's cycle scheme payments.

Great inventions.

Steve

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Just ignore Bonj, sadly you'll get used to him. As just about everyone has said in one manner or other, push for a full refund or replacement bike. Accept nothing less.

Good Luck, Dave

Bonj - arrogant and unhelpful. A nice double act.

Cheers

Steve