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Pedal Revolution, Norwich

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UK and Europe
Published
28 July 2006
Last activity
31 July 2006
Original author
wafflycat
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  1. [censored] customer service.

    My husband bought me a Bianchi ML3 from Pedal Revolution some time ago.
    Loved the bike, and, at my level of cycling, it's as high a spec for road
    cycling that I'll ever need.

    Back in the beginning of May (7th May to be exact) we noticed a crack in the
    headtube of the frame when we were down in Devon. The bike was still under
    warranty.

    My husband rang Pedal Revolution who asked for the frame & forks to be taken
    in to be replaced under warranty. Husband stripped the bike down & we took
    the frame & forks in.

    It took an age for replacement frame & forks to be supplied. Bianchi
    supplied a Via Nirone, which is the current equivalent to the ML3. No
    problem with what was offered as the replacement, but it took ages to get
    here and we were on the phone to Pedal Revolution at least weekly, and got
    different 'responses' every time we phoned. In the end I sent an email off
    to Bianchi direct saying I was not happy with customer service and it was
    shortly after that the replacement arrived.

    BUT...

    The Via Nirone is a different frame to the ML3 and this has knock-on
    effects. My husband spotted that a different bottom bracket was required.
    Got that replaced.

    Then - the seat post needed to be changed as again - different dimensions.
    Something else husband picked up on rather than Pedal Revolution.

    Then - the front mech needs changing - again due to difference in frame
    dimensions between the ML3 and the Via Nirone. Requires a different Campag
    Veloce for a triple. Pedal Revolution didn't have a suitable one in stock.
    One will have to be ordered, they said - when it arrives, we'll give you a
    call.

    16 days later - still no replacement. Once again we are having to ring
    repeatedly. Once again, everytime it's a different person answering the
    phone and we get a slightly different story as to why my replacement hasn't
    arrived. This afternoon my husband got what is increasingly feeling like a
    brush-off - *again*. Got to ring again next week, apparently.

    I am not a happy bunny. My road bike was not some super-duper, custom frame
    with high-end parts difficult to get a hold of. It was a basic, entry-level
    road bike with basic Campag parts. Yet somehow, getting these replaced to
    give me a bike to ride would appear to be so difficult a task, as if the
    parts are hand-made by specially trained blind squirrel monkeys in Peru,
    with the parts having to be brought down form the highest, most desolate
    Andean plateau on the backs of frogs. >🙁

    Pedal Revolution customer service is, from personal experience, sh!te. I
    will never again buy anything from Pedal Revolution. I will never recommend
    Pedal Revolution to anyone. Is it too much to expect that a cycle dealer
    *know* the specifications of the bikes he/she sells, so that when a
    replacement under warranty is made, it comes with all the requisite parts of
    the correct size?

    My frame failed at the beginning of May. It is now getting towards the end
    of July and I have been without my road bike for the duration of some of the
    loveliest cycling weather for a long time.

    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Cheers, helen s

    --

    ~~
    you may need to remove dependence
    on fame & fortune from organisation
    to get correct email address
    ~Noodliness is Good~

  2. wafflycat said:

    [censored] customer service.


    [ deleted a story of poor customer service, shops not knowing basic stuff
    about fairly posh bikes they sell, etc. ]

    I was about to post a "why do LBS expect to stay in business" posting, but
    adding to this thread seems as relevant.

    I try to keep the LBS in business by buying things there. I'd just expect a
    little bit in return.

    So, today I went back to get a Schwalbe Marathon 27*1 1/4 tyre for the old
    bike. Not there. Last week was told "we'll order some, they'll be in on
    Wednesday".
    I could have ordered them cheaper from the web, they'd have been here by
    now, and I wouldn't have taken two trips into town. I've had the same run
    around with tyres before, its got sufficiently annoying that they'll be
    mail-order now.

    At the same time I asked if they had a quick-link for a Campag - emphasised
    Campag - 10-speed chain (the new bike needs a chain clean, so I need a quick
    link).
    Was duly sold a Connex link (decent maker, I use their chains on other
    bikes).
    Got home, thought I'll measure things to check, cleaning/changing can happen
    another day. Got the digital calipers out, suspicious on the link pin
    diameter (estimate campag pins at >4mm, measured connex link at 3.x mm).
    So, off to Connex website; there are two different quick-link groups from
    Connex, one for Shimano, one for Campag. Shop has sold me a Shimano one. So,
    I'll have to go back AGAIN for a refund/swap (a 1hr round trip on the push
    bike).

    And shops wonder why their business is going to the internet.

    - Nigel

    --
    Nigel Cliffe,
    Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

  3. wafflycat wrote on 28/07/2006 16:51 +0100:

    Quoted message said:


    My husband rang Pedal Revolution who asked for the frame & forks to be
    taken in to be replaced under warranty. Husband stripped the bike down &
    we took the frame & forks in.

    That was probably your problem. Unless you bought a bare frame and
    forks and fitted your own kit, you should have returned it complete and
    received a complete one back. Its then their problem if asked by the
    manufacturer to strip it down and build it back up. Commiserations.

    --
    Tony

    "Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
    his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
    - Leonardo da Vinci

  4. "Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    wafflycat wrote on 28/07/2006 16:51 +0100:

    Quoted message said:


    My husband rang Pedal Revolution who asked for the frame & forks to be
    taken in to be replaced under warranty. Husband stripped the bike down &
    we took the frame & forks in.

    That was probably your problem. Unless you bought a bare frame and forks
    and fitted your own kit, you should have returned it complete and received
    a complete one back. Its then their problem if asked by the manufacturer
    to strip it down and build it back up. Commiserations.

    Alas, that's how PR asked for the bike to be taken back in. We were told
    that if we wanted it dealt with quickly, we had to strip the bike down
    ourselves, as if we took the bike in complete, we would have to wait for
    them to find the time to do it and that would mean delay as they couldn't
    guarantee when they'd find the time... I should have had warning bells right
    then!

    Cheers, helen s

  5. wafflycat said:


    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Sorry you are having problems.

    I've been frequenting Madgetts recently. Bit of a trek to Diss, I know -
    but Mick Madgett has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about
    bikes.

    I was seriously impressed when he re-dished a wheel before my eyes,
    whilst conducting a phone call by proxy (someone else operated the
    handset) and advising me about my Fixie conversion.

    They have a lot of Bianchi's there too 😉

    --
    Chris

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

    Quoted message said:
    wafflycat said:

    [censored] customer service.


    [ deleted a story of poor customer service, shops not knowing basic stuff
    about fairly posh bikes they sell, etc. ]

    (and snip a second tale of bike shop incompetence)

    I've just had fairly dismissive service from Edinburgh Bikes in Leeds, who
    took a month to sort out a 5 minute query...and they're a new bike shop, so
    you'd expect them to try a little bit.

    I guess if they're not bothered about my custom (I was only spending £400),
    then so be it. I'll go elsewhere in future (probably JD Cycles in Ilkley,
    Cyclesense in Taddy and Wiggle for bits'n'bobs).

    Peter

  7. In article <[email hidden]>
    Nigel Cliffe <[email hidden]> wrote:
    <snip>

    Quoted message said:

    So, today I went back to get a Schwalbe Marathon 27*1 1/4 tyre for the old
    bike. Not there. Last week was told "we'll order some, they'll be in on
    Wednesday".
    I could have ordered them cheaper from the web, they'd have been here by
    now, and I wouldn't have taken two trips into town. I've had the same run
    around with tyres before, its got sufficiently annoying that they'll be
    mail-order now.


    That sort of thing seems to be a very common problem with some shops.
    If people asked for a specific item we'd make a note of it, be sure to
    order it and give them a call when it came into stock - it really
    doesn't take much effort and customers do appreciate the service.

  8. Peter said:

    I've just had fairly dismissive service from Edinburgh Bikes in Leeds, who
    took a month to sort out a 5 minute query...and they're a new bike shop, so
    you'd expect them to try a little bit.

    Have they been open a month yet?

    ...d

  9. "David Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Peter said:

    I've just had fairly dismissive service from Edinburgh Bikes in Leeds,
    who
    took a month to sort out a 5 minute query...and they're a new bike shop,
    so
    you'd expect them to try a little bit.

    Have they been open a month yet?

    ..d

    Yup
    peter

  10. Chris Smith said:
    wafflycat said:


    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Sorry you are having problems.

    I've been frequenting Madgetts recently. Bit of a trek to Diss, I know -
    but Mick Madgett has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about
    bikes.

    I was seriously impressed when he re-dished a wheel before my eyes,
    whilst conducting a phone call by proxy (someone else operated the
    handset) and advising me about my Fixie conversion.

    They have a lot of Bianchi's there too 😉

    I thoroughly recommend Scotty Browns on Manchester St in Christchurch
    (http://scottybrowns.com). The rate you're going, it would be quicker to
    send it half way wound the world (:

    Steve
    (That's Christchurch, New Zealand by the way)

  11. Must agree about Madgetts. I live in north Kent but I selected them to fit
    the Mountain drive onto my Brompton and as you say Mick is a wealth of
    knowledge. He did the job well, in the time he specified and at the price
    he said he would. Defiantly would recommend them.

    SW

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

    Quoted message said:
    Chris Smith said:
    wafflycat said:


    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Sorry you are having problems.

    I've been frequenting Madgetts recently. Bit of a trek to Diss, I know -
    but Mick Madgett has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about
    bikes.

    I was seriously impressed when he re-dished a wheel before my eyes,
    whilst conducting a phone call by proxy (someone else operated the
    handset) and advising me about my Fixie conversion.

    They have a lot of Bianchi's there too 😉

    I thoroughly recommend Scotty Browns on Manchester St in Christchurch
    (http://scottybrowns.com). The rate you're going, it would be quicker to
    send it half way wound the world (:

    Steve
    (That's Christchurch, New Zealand by the way)

  12. "Chris Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    wafflycat said:


    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Sorry you are having problems.

    I've been frequenting Madgetts recently. Bit of a trek to Diss, I know -
    but Mick Madgett has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about
    bikes.

    I was seriously impressed when he re-dished a wheel before my eyes, whilst
    conducting a phone call by proxy (someone else operated the handset) and
    advising me about my Fixie conversion.

    They have a lot of Bianchi's there too 😉

    --
    Chris

    Madgetts are good, no doubt about it. Problem is, my bike was bought at
    Pedal Revolution, so it needed to go back to Pedal Revolution. Pedal
    Revolution will not be getting any of my readies ever again... In Norwich,
    my first port of call is normally Specialised in Connaught Road - excellent
    service and have never let me down - but my bike was not bought there as
    Steve doesn't do general bikes - he has Brommies, Dahons, Look, Time,
    Racelight & a few other good frame makes.

    Cheers, helen s

  13. On 28/07/2006 16:51, wafflycat said,

    Quoted message said:

    My husband bought me a Bianchi ML3 <snip>

    Quoted message said:

    My husband rang Pedal Revolution who asked for the frame & forks to be
    taken in to be replaced under warranty. Husband stripped the bike down &
    we took the frame & forks in.

    If you bought the whole bike from them, it is up to them to strip it
    down, not you. When I bought my tourer from Woods Cycles in Hanham
    years ago, there was a problem with the forks. They took the bike back,
    sorted out the warranty, replaced the forks and gave me my bike back.
    That's what it's meant to be like!

    --
    Paul Boyd
    http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

  14. On 28/07/2006 17:39, Nigel Cliffe said,

    Quoted message said:

    And shops wonder why their business is going to the internet.

    I've just had an experience with my LBS that nearly made me wonder the
    same, until I realised the problem was Shimano's, not the shop's. (So
    full marks restored to Somerset Bike Centre in Weston-super-Mare).

    I bought a 180mm disc at a price no bike shop could beat, so I needed an
    adapter. I could have bought one on-line, but toddled off to above shop
    instead. Two weeks and a few phone calls later, thinking I should have
    got it from the net, said adapter is in. Great!! Got it home
    yesterday, had a look at it and decided it looked a bit familiar.

    So, if anyone else fits a 180mm disc to the front of their bike, it
    might be handy to know that the Shimano front 180mm adapter is
    *identical* to the standard rear 160mm adapter (different part number,
    of course). Just to really make my day, I already had a spare 160mm
    rear adapter. :-(

    --
    Paul Boyd
    http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

  15. Chris Smith said:
    wafflycat said:


    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Sorry you are having problems.

    I've been frequenting Madgetts recently. Bit of a trek to Diss, I know -
    but Mick Madgett has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about
    bikes.

    I was seriously impressed when he re-dished a wheel before my eyes,
    whilst conducting a phone call by proxy (someone else operated the
    handset) and advising me about my Fixie conversion.

    They have a lot of Bianchi's there too 😉

    I never use any other bike shop - but then I live in.

    One get very blase about "just going to the LBS",
    when your LBS is Madgett's ;-)

    BugBear

  16. Chris Smith said:
    wafflycat said:


    Pedal Revolution will not ever be recommended by me to anyone again.

    Sorry you are having problems.

    I've been frequenting Madgetts recently. Bit of a trek to Diss, I know -
    but Mick Madgett has probably forgotten more than I'll ever know about
    bikes.

    Oh yeah, forgot the blatent plug for the (out of date)
    website:

    http://www.madgettscycles.co.uk/

    BugBear

  17. wafflycat said:


    Madgetts are good, no doubt about it. Problem is, my bike was bought at
    Pedal Revolution, so it needed to go back to Pedal Revolution. Pedal
    Revolution will not be getting any of my readies ever again... In
    Norwich, my first port of call is normally Specialised in Connaught Road
    - excellent service and have never let me down - but my bike was not
    bought there as Steve doesn't do general bikes - he has Brommies,
    Dahons, Look, Time, Racelight & a few other good frame makes.

    Cheers, helen s

    I'm too poor to shop at Specialised... 🙁

    --
    Chris

  18. bugbear said:

    Oh yeah, forgot the blatent plug for the (out of date)
    website:

    http://www.madgettscycles.co.uk/

    BugBear

    Yes, Madgetts do have one of those "We're much more interested in Bikes
    than Websites..." type websites 😉

    --
    Chris

  19. Chris Smith said:
    bugbear said:

    Oh yeah, forgot the blatent plug for the (out of date)
    website:

    http://www.madgettscycles.co.uk/

    BugBear

    Yes, Madgetts do have one of those "We're much more interested in
    Bikes than Websites..." type websites 😉

    Mick makes up for it on the phone. Just ring with your questions :-)

    --
    Nigel Cliffe,
    Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

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