Chas Roberts in Croydon

"Richard Hare" <richardhare@"nospam"clara.co.uk> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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Hi

Has anyone had any dealing with Chas Roberts bikes in Croydon recently? I ask as I ordered a bike
there in February and am still yet to receive it.

I

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was led to believe that these bikes are about as good as a steel frame

bike

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can get, so I ordered a Rough Stuff with a Rohloff hub. The salesman, a

guy

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called Andrew had trouble locating the dropouts for this hub and it

wasn't

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till July that he eventually got hold of them. I can understand that problems like this can occur,
but for some reason and despite many phone calls on my part, he has continually failed to send me
a finalized spec

and

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build the bike. I just don't understand why each time I call he promises

to

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get the bike finished in x number of weeks/days and each time he fails without even bothering to
contact me. I have now had to resort to writing to the company and even letters have gone
unreplied.

I am now at the point where I can't trust anything I am told by the

company

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and to be honest I would prefer to have my £400 deposit back and go elsewhere!

I'd like to know if anyone with experience of dealing with the company

shed

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any light on this? Are they always so slap dash with their customer relations? Or is it just this
salesman. Or maybe it's me, quaintly expecting people in an established and respected business not
to behave like dodgy second hand car dealers! Regards

Rik

I have a Roberts road bike 4 years old. I spent ages planning the spec but the saddle was not the
exact one I wanted and the wrong handlebars were fitted. They fitted the correct bars immediately
but I accepted the saddle. The bike fits like a glove and rides like a dream. The frames are great
but you have to watch them on the details. I would buy from them again their bikes are worth a
little bit of hassle.

Ken.

Richard Hare' richardhare@'nospam said:

I'd like to know if anyone with experience of dealing with the company shed any light on this? Are
they always so slap dash with their customer relations? Or is it just this salesman. Or maybe it's
me, quaintly expecting people in an established and respected business not to behave like dodgy
second hand car dealers! Regards

Rik

Its the cycle trade. The best cycle shops are owned and run by people wjo love bikes and cycling but
have no head for business. You have to have no head for buisness as theres bugger all money to be
made in it if you love bikes and cycling.

I was in it for 7 years or so.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

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Agreed....

but customer relationships are just like any other relationship. For example if I continually made
arrangements to meet you in the pub for a drink and then always failed to show up without offerning
an apology or an explanation you'd think there was something wrong and you'd probably want to
curtail the relationship .....I know I would and do! I don't think it's got much to do with how much
money they are making or how much they love cycling, just good manners and respect really.

Rik

"AndyMorris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Richard Hare' richardhare@'nospam said:

I'd like to know if anyone with experience of dealing with the company shed any light on this?
Are they always so slap dash with their customer relations? Or is it just this salesman. Or
maybe it's me, quaintly expecting people in an established and respected business not to behave
like dodgy second hand car dealers! Regards

Rik

Its the cycle trade. The best cycle shops are owned and run by people wjo love bikes and cycling
but have no head for business. You have to have no head for buisness as theres bugger all money to
be made in it if you love bikes and cycling.

I was in it for 7 years or so.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this: Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
home.in.tum.deoe quotefixOpen ↗

Ken I know, I spent a long time deciding what spec I wanted and talking to other cyclists about
the best frame builders to complete this spec, and to be honest I am prepared to put with a fare
bit of hassle when looking to get hold of my dream bike, I'd even be prepared to wait as long as I
have (since February 1st) but I'm less prepared to put up with people who promise they'll supply
something just to get me off the phone and then can' t be bothered to contact me when things go
off schedule.

Rik

"Kenneth Clements" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a Roberts road bike 4 years old. I spent ages planning the spec but the saddle was not the
exact one I wanted and the wrong handlebars

were

Quoted message said:

fitted. They fitted the correct bars immediately but I accepted the saddle. The bike fits like a
glove and rides like a dream. The frames are great

but

Quoted message said:

you have to watch them on the details. I would buy from them again their bikes are worth a little
bit of hassle.

Ken.

Quoted message said:

I'm less prepared to put up with people who promise they'll supply something just to get me off
the phone and then

can'

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t be bothered to contact me when things go off schedule.

Rik

Rik,

I totally agree with you; I've never dealt with Chas Roberts, but when I've had similar problems
with other suppliers (in several industries, not just cycling!), my initial approach to the top
people has been 'I will deal with your company, but I won't deal with that person'. If the second
person has the same attitude, then I have to go somewhere else, but it rarely comes to that. I can
understand things being late, but I can't understand unprofessionalism.

Regards,

Pete.

In article <[email hidden]>, "Richard Hare"

richardhare@'nospam'clara.co.uk said:

Hi

Has anyone had any dealing with Chas Roberts bikes in Croydon recently?

Not recently (8 years ago for my touring bike which is superb) but a friend's friend recently
ordered from them on my recommendation about 3 months ago. He got his touring bike built and
delivered to his spec very quickly and is over the moon with it.

I'd phone and speak to Chas himself to get the problem sorted pronto. They're a nice bunch of
guys and they build terrific bikes. Persevere with it, you'll be really glad you did once you've
got the bike.

Slightly OT, but when riding your Roberts bike in France expect a few smirks from the locals.

Apparently, Roberts is slang for t*ts...

I think we can say [censored] on this newsgroup can't we?

Anyway Les Roberts still haven't built my bike!

"Nigel Shoosmith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Slightly OT, but when riding your Roberts bike in France expect a few smirks from the locals.

Apparently, Roberts is slang for t*ts...

Richard Hare' richardhare@'nospam said:

I think we can say [censored] on this newsgroup can't we?

Anyway Les Roberts still haven't built my bike!

Is that Les(lie) Roberts or "les roberts"?

Tony

--
"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain