Bicycle warranty woes!

dan~_2

Hiya,

I bought a Scott bike from Hargroves cycles in 24/8/2011 - All bikes have a 12 month warranty.

My girlfriend was cycling on it, and the gear hangear (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/products/medium/406.jpg) snapped off! Thus making my girlfriend come to a sudden stop and has badly bruised the back of her leg and multiple cuts.

So I take the bike back to Hargroves today and they simply said the following

"That part isn't included in the warranty as their designed to snap on any impacts"

Fine, except my girlfriend didn't have any impacts...

I then ask if they can speak to Scott about the issue, this went on for abit and then passed the phone to me, so I could speak to Scott.

I explained to Scott that the part isn't fit for purpose, and under UK law it needs to be replaced.

Long short cut short, he said "We'll send Hargroves a replacement Free of charge" - Result!!

However, Hargroves then printed it off, but said it'll cost £15 - What?!?!

Apprantly the condition is that I get a new chain which costs £15 fitted - OK the price is good, but I don't need a new chain!

Apprantely when I passed the phone back to Hargroves he was still speaking to Scott and they came to the conclusion that because the chain is slightly rusty that's the cause?

If the chain being rusty is the cause, then why are they giving me the free replacement?

The annoying thing is, they were being a bit patronising (Scott) said that the gear assembly has had an impact or the part snapped because of "dodgy gear changing", but it hadn't, and Scott asked Hargroves to check the gear assembly and I heard the Hargrove employee say "Nope, it all looks good, but the chain is slightly rusty, if that helps"

It just felt like a friend helping out a friend, without helping the customer!!

Am I right in believing they cannot say "You can have the free replacement part, only if you buy a new chain for £15"?

At the end of the day it's only £15, but principles are here and they need to stop this, as it could be happening to anyone who doesn't stick up for themselfs.

Are they in the right?

Are there any laws there breaking by making me pay £15 for a new chain, and then I get the free replacement hanger from Scott fitted?

Am I in the wrong?

Thanks!

reeac

If you keep the bike a couple of years you'll be needing a new chain [depending on conditions of use and maintenance] so an easy way out is to buy one now.

sequence

Seems a unfair to me. They should either replace it free of charge or not at all. Insisting you have a new chain makes no sense, and I would not accept it. It would probably be hard to pursue this further though as it's gone past 6 months, so I think you need to show that the defect is present at manufacture - difficult especially when these things are designed to break. If you get and have fitted a new chain, you'll have problems with the gears skipping due to uneven wear between the cassette and chain. So I wouldn't accept it. A new mech hanger should only be around £4 - £7 I think.

Premier_2

dan~ wrote: »

...I explained to Scott that the part isn't fit for purpose, and under UK law it needs to be replaced.

As the product is over 6 months old, it would be your responsibility to prove that the item was faulty at point of sale.
You'd probably need to get an expert witness on your side and prove to a court that your assertions were correct.

dan~ wrote: »

...If the chain being rusty is the cause, then why are they giving me the free replacement?

Probably as a gesture of goodwill.

dan~_2

So, Scott is offering a replacement part free of charge as I went on about fit for purpose etc, which they accepted in the end.

But Hargroves said they'll only fit it, if I buy a new chain.

This is where I'm at, at the moment.

SteveJW

Evans list a genuine gearhanger for a Scott roadbike at £19.99

Have you a picture of the broken hanger

Why not get the hanger and fit yourself, five minute job

As the part is designed to break it will be difficult to prove not fit for purpose. You would have to prove not knocked on a post, bike fallen over, something hit it whilst riding along

As previous post they are offering replacement as a gesture of goodwill

Replacement chain, I usually run a chain for around 4,000 miles before changing, always manage at least one change before any problems with skipping (8,000 miles)

Premier_2

dan~ wrote: »

So, Scott is offering a replacement part free of charge as I went on about fit for purpose etc, which they accepted in the end.

Did they? :huh:
If so, what evidence do you have to support such an admission?
How has the design of the replacement part changed from that originally supplied? You don't want another part that has already allegedly been admitted as not being fit for purpose do you?

Or did they just offer a straight replacement because you went on ... and they couldn't be bothered to argue?

dan~ wrote: »

But Hargroves said they'll only fit it, if I buy a new chain.

This is where I'm at, at the moment.

That appears to be what you said previously

dan~_2

I have a receipt from Hargroves for the work to be done which says the following

Hanger replacement from Scott - Free of Charge
New Chain Must be fitted £15

The bike has had around 100 miles on it in the 8 months.

I went to Hargroves to collect my bike as I said I wanted to fit the replacement part myself, which they said is fine but it'll void any furthur warranties on the bike (what warranty......)

I've just come back to Hargroves to pick up my bike as I want to fit it myself now, mainly because I have no faith and see NO reason why I should HAVE to buy a new chain to warrant a replacement faulty part, as that I'm sure is illegal, as the chain isn't faulty.

So Hargroves now will ring Scott up to see if they can still send the replacement part, as Hargroves said the condition of Scott giving me the free of charge part was by me buying a chain...

If they come back with no, I'll be back on the phone.

Yes the part is only a few quid but this site is called Money Saving Expert, which is exactly what I intend to do, save money and not pay for things when they are under warranty, and yes I've checked the manual and the part in question ISN'T listed in parts not under warranty

sequence

It's only done 100miles and they're trying to flog you a new chain ? Sounds like a rip off to me.

Dave_C_2

The bike is 8 months old and they say that the chain is "Rusty" and you say only 100 miles. Something is seriously wrong here and they are taking the mick. The chain should still have the original factory (and best) lubrication in it. The expert view is here. It sounds like the chain could also be defective.

Have you inspected the chain? Surface rust does not mean that the chain is defective, it's the bits you can't see. As long as it's flexible and not worn or stretched it's OK

Dave

Strider590

Might want to do some web searching, I casually came across at least 3 instances similar to yours with Scott bikes.