Faulty exercise bike from Argos

trimmtrabdeano

Hi all,

First time poster here and hoping for some help.

At the end of December last year I purchased an everlast exercise bike from Argos. It cost £80 and the bike has been great. I've been using it a couple of times a week but recently the foot strap has broken and its now unusable. I took it back to Argos where the customer service team (and then the very rude manager) told me that it has broken due to misuse! I haven't misused it and was surprised they said that. I asked them how they think I'd misused it and they said that I might have been standing up on it. I haven't been standing up on and told them that I'd been riding it as you were meant to. they made me feel like I was in the wrong and that I shouldn't be bothering them.

Where do I stand on this? I don't think its right that something like an exercise bike should break after 10 months. I'm not really after a refund but wondered if I should be able to get a new one in exchange?

Any help would be ace!

vuvuzela

Have you tried contacting the manufacturer and seeing if there are spares available ? Might be the easiest option.

trimmtrabdeano

They said that I should ring the manufacturer but I didn't really see why I should be the person to chase them seeing as I bought the bike from Argos and not them. It sounded like they were palming me off more than anything. Really rude. I asked to see the manager to explain that I hadn't misused it and she came and and just stood there and said 'yes' she wouldn't even look me in the eye!

wealdroam

trimmtrabdeano wrote: »

They said that I should ring the manufacturer but I didn't really see why I should be the person to chase them seeing as I bought the bike from Argos and not them.

Well surely one reason might be that you are having difficulties getting Argos to help you.

Your choice really... keep hammering away at Argos or call the manufacturer.

zaax

It is the sellers responsibility for the goods to be of merchantable you will to get a report from a qualified person who can say that (an engineer?), as the goods are over 6 months old. Then sue Argos via the small claims court, if you win you can claim the cost of the engineer / examiner. BUT if might be easier to go to the manufacture.

BTW if you go back to Argos video it on your phone and email the video to Argos HQ to see what they think of the managers attitude.

George_Michael

Don't forget that any report needs to state that the defect was due to a manufacturing defect and not simply that the strap is broken,

I agree that contacting the manufacturer may well be the best and quickest way to get a repair especially if there is a 1 year warranty on the bike.

trimmtrabdeano

Cheers for the advice guys. I've just sent a quick email to the manufacturer to see what they say. I'm not being unreasonable am I? An exercise bike should last longer than that.