Lengthy repair

[jhkuo]

The warranty repair of my bike has taken over two months due to non-delivery of the parts (headset) from the supplier. After some negotiation, the store (London based) finally agree to swap the parts over from one of their stock bikes, instead of waiting for the replacement part to eventually arrive.

During this period, although the bike is rideable, the headset makes worrying noises that makes me concern over its safety. Does anyone know whether there is ground for me to ask for 2 months warranty extension to cover the lengthy repair period?

 

[ianrauk]

don't ask you don't get.
Which Bike Shop is it?

 

[gbb]

The warranty repair of my bike has taken over two months due to non-delivery of the parts (headset) from the supplier. After some negotiation, the store (London based) finally agree to swap the parts over from one of their stock bikes, instead of waiting for the replacement part to eventually arrive.

During this period, although the bike is rideable, the headset makes worrying noises that makes me concern over its safety. Does anyone know whether there is ground for me to ask for 2 months warranty extension to cover the lengthy repair period?

I assume therefor they are going to fit your replacement parts when they arrive ? If that were the case...it seems to me to be a waste of yours and their time, assuming the parts they've already fitted were new.
I can't say i'm right on the following point, but when i had a new frame under warranty, he shop were going to charge me for fitting it all back together...ie labour wasn't covered. I rebuilt it myself. So if thats true, you've done ok to get them to swap the bits they already have for no charge.

Noisy headset....you should be absolutely entitled to take it back and get them to fix it. I don't see why they'd even argue the matter, they'd probably be glad to do it for you.

Extension of warranty...i'll leave that to others...

 

[jhkuo]

One of the biggest chain stores in London.

don't ask you don't get.
Which Bike Shop is it?

 

[jhkuo]

They are going to fit the replacement headset, taken from their stock bike, for me on Monday, rather than waiting for the delivery from the supplier.

I assume they always have the headset in question, it's just that they are reluctant to take it off the bikes for sale, so they made me wait for the shipment for 2 months.

The bike was bought less than 1 year ago, so the parts and labour are covered by the warranty.

I assume therefor they are going to fit your replacement parts when they arrive ? If that were the case...it seems to me to be a waste of yours and their time, assuming the parts they've already fitted were new.
I can't say i'm right on the following point, but when i had a new frame under warranty, he shop were going to charge me for fitting it all back together...ie labour wasn't covered. I rebuilt it myself. So if thats true, you've done ok to get them to swap the bits they already have for no charge.

Noisy headset....you should be absolutely entitled to take it back and get them to fix it. I don't see why they'd even argue the matter, they'd probably be glad to do it for you.

Extension of warranty...i'll leave that to others...

 

[andy_wrx]

I asked a friend in Trading Standards about this years ago, when I bought a 2nd hand camera with a 3-month warranty from the shop, it went wrong and was back with them for 2 months for repairs.

I wanted him to say that when I picked it up, they must legally be forced to add the time it was with them onto the warranty period, but he said that from Trading Standards' point-of-view, a warranty was meaningless, not a legal requirement at all
- rather : basically the item has to be of merchantable quality, which meant it had to be fit for its purpose for a reasonable timespan

What a 'reasonable timespan' might be could be for a longer or shorter period of time than the warranty, and in the case of something like a bike could vary for the individual parts - the brake blocks and tyres would be expected to only last a shorter period of time as they are designed to be wear-out replaceable items, whereas the frame would be expected to last rather longer.

 

[e-rider]

This sounds like a bit of a joke to me. You waited 2 months for a headset - I assume it was identical to the original. Why not just get a different (upgraded) headset and fit that instead? That is what any normal person/shop would suggest.

Secondly, you have suggested that you have had TWO faulty headsets within a year or so. Headsets should last for years if the bearings are kept greased and they are installed and adjusted correctly - something is seriously wrong here. What exactly was wrong with the first one?

 

[Smokin Joe]

This sounds like a bit of a joke to me. You waited 2 months for a headset - I assume it was identical to the original. Why not just get a different (upgraded) headset and fit that instead? That is what any normal person/shop would suggest.

That's my view.

Two months is seriously taking the piss, you can get one in two days over the internet. This is what annoys me about many LBS, they moan about people deserting them and ordering online yet what do they expect with service like that?

 

[Rubber Bullets]

I can't say i'm right on the following point, but when i had a new frame under warranty, he shop were going to charge me for fitting it all back together...ie labour wasn't covered. I rebuilt it myself. So if thats true, you've done ok to get them to swap the bits they already have for no charge.

Perhaps I'm miss understanding you on this. Did you buy a frame only and put a bike together round it in the first place? Or did you buy a bike which developed a frame fault which required a replacement?

If it's the first I guess it would be quite reasonable to charge you to put it back together. If it's the second then it sounds outrageous. A garage couldn't replace a faulty gearbox on a car but say 'sorry mate, we got you the gearbox under warranty, but you'll have to fit it yourself or we'll have to charge you for the time to do it'. If you bought a whole bike then the shop would have a responsibility to return it to that state.

As far as the OP is concerned then I would think that the new part fitted, regardless of where it came from or how long it took, should be guaranteed for a reasonable length of time. As stated above warranties as such may not mean much, but under European and British consumer law the shop has a responsibility to ensure that anything it sells is fit for purpose. In addition it is the shop, not the manufacturer, who you have a contract with, and they are required to repair any fault that was present at time of purchase within a reasonable lifetime for any product. This is a lot easier within the first 6 months as the responsibility of proof lies with the shop to prove that a fault wasn't present, after this time the consumer must prove that it was, which may require expert opinions etc. if not small claims court appearances!

RB