Halfords, Need an exchange ***Resolved***

[sash knighton]

Hi Caggers

 

Heres my problem, I got a bike last weekend from Halfords on the cycle to work scheme,

I got my bike and it seemed fine, but when i rode it only down my road, i niticed the suspension seemed to be alot softer than it was (should).

So my question is, am I entitled to an exchange for another bike?

I have searched forums and I cant seem to find a answer.

Please Help

[andydd]

Ive got a bike item which I need to return, and the Halfords Refund Policy seems quite good, http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CSCategoryDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=21202&categoryId=292509&topCategoryId=292503

 

It says you must have proof of purchase and original packing.

 

What bike is it ?. Im a keen rider and Halfords are known for selling some bit dodgy cheap bikes, but everyone has to start somewhere.

 

On more expensive bikes, the rear suspsension will be by means of a shock, coil or air, on air one the 'softness' can be adjusted by increasing the air pressure 'psi' but on cheaper and more heavy duty Downhill bikes (like mine), you change the spring depending on the type of riding and your weight, for example 300-250 lbs would suit a light rider and 500-600 lbs would suite someone heavier.

 

If its a cheaper bike (and my apologies if its not), then I think that the shock will be something quite cheap with few/no adjustments and I'd guess that they all would come with a standard spring (prob in the mid range region).

 

If you want a good, perfect fitting bike I suggest you visit a more specialist local bike shop and not Halfords, but alas decent bikes are not cheap, mine was £2000 plus...

[sash knighton]

Thanks andydd, you have just shed some light on my situation. I phoned my Halfords store, and the guy I spoke to was a little arrigant to say the least, he pretty much told me, cutting it short that if I was happy with the bike before I left the store and thats that. And that I can bring the bike down later today he will look at it as he said it seems like the suspension needs adjusting.

The thing is the only adjustments he can make on it is something to do with the recoil of it. To be honest all I want is the suspension to he harder. It seems soo much effoert is used when I'm riding.

 

Oh I almost forgot to mention I have a Carerra Crossfire 2

[rebel11]

Hi sash

 

Go armed with some legislation, if he says the following:-

 

'cutting it short that if I was happy with the bike before I left the store and thats that'.

 

Quote SOGA (1979) :-

 

http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act

 

All goods must be:

 

• as described
  
• of satisfactory quality and
  
• fit for purpose
  

[2ltr16valve]

Only problem I for see here is halford just issue the bike. The contract I think is with the cycle to work scheme

So would the op not have to take it up with them ? As it's them that paid for he bike as a loan paid direct from wages

[rebel11]

Good point 2ltr16valve

 

See how it goes with Halfords, if your still not happy, write to 'Cycle to Work Scheme', quote SOGA.

 

Only problem I for see here is halford just issue the bike. The contract I think is with the cycle to work scheme

So would the op not have to take it up with them ? As it's them that paid for he bike as a loan paid direct from wages

[andydd]

I'm not sure that SOGA would atually have effect here,

 

It appears to me that the bike is as described, fit for prpose and of satisfactory quality, its just that the buyer believes that the fork is too soft for him. (Unlike more expensive bikes/forks, it prob only comes with a one-size does all fork).

 

Sorry I misread the original post, having looked at the bike, its not the rear suspension, there is none, there is only front fork suspension. With cheap bikes like this, the forks will be pretty basic and there wont be many settings, it appears to be a Suntour NVX fork, it has a rebound setting (not recoil), this doesnt really affect the 'softness' of the fork but it adjusts how fast the fork returns to its original setting.

 

With high-end forks, you normally adjust them the same way as I mentioned above for rear shocks, (i.e with Air or by changing the spring), but i doubt whether the spring can be changed in the Suntour fork.

 

If you really want forks where you can adjust settings to get them just right you will have to fork out (I know !) more momney, this is what I have http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Fox-Racing-Shox-36-Van-180-FIT-RC2-Suspension-Fork-2014_64707.htm

 

Are you sure the fork is too soft ?, I have mine set up pretty soft and go through most of the travel (180mm) when out on a ride (admittedly, often some pretty extreme stuff). The fork may also have a pre-load setting, this squashes the spring down a bit and will make it a bit firmer.

 

So to summarize I believe Halfords are not being too unreasonably here, you did try the bike out first and prob should of spent longer, perhaps ride round the car park before you bought it. Whether they do allow a refund or exchnage depends less on soga and more on their goodwill.

[sash knighton]

so doing research on halfordds policy, my cycle to work scheme policy and sale of goods act, it apears in my favour.

I'm going down there after work today, I will keep you all updated.

I might even upload a video of what happens on the world of you tube

[rebel11]

Hi sash

 

How long do Halfords give you to try the bike, what was the surface like?

[sash knighton]

I'm not sure that SOGA would atually have effect here,

 

It appears to me that the bike is as described, fit for prpose and of satisfactory quality, its just that the buyer believes that the fork is too soft for him. (Unlike more expensive bikes/forks, it prob only comes with a one-size does all fork).

 

Sorry I misread the original post, having looked at the bike, its not the rear suspension, there is none, there is only front fork suspension. With cheap bikes like this, the forks will be pretty basic and there wont be many settings, it appears to be a Suntour NVX fork, it has a rebound setting (not recoil), this doesnt really affect the 'softness' of the fork but it adjusts how fast the fork returns to its original setting.

 

With high-end forks, you normally adjust them the same way as I mentioned above for rear shocks, (i.e with Air or by changing the spring), but i doubt whether the spring can be changed in the Suntour fork.

 

If you really want forks where you can adjust settings to get them just right you will have to fork out (I know !) more momney, this is what I have http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Fox-Racing-Shox-36-Van-180-FIT-RC2-Suspension-Fork-2014_64707.htm

 

Are you sure the fork is too soft ?, I have mine set up pretty soft and go through most of the travel (180mm) when out on a ride (admittedly, often some pretty extreme stuff). The fork may also have a pre-load setting, this squashes the spring down a bit and will make it a bit firmer.

 

So to summarize I believe Halfords are not being too unreasonably here, you did try the bike out first and prob should of spent longer, perhaps ride round the car park before you bought it. Whether they do allow a refund or exchnage depends less on soga and more on their goodwill.

 

Hang on there one minute andydd, read my first post, i said it felt fine in the shop, but when i got it home and rode it down my road the susspension seemed alot softer. therefore a change in the bike without me doing anything wrong, so its faulty. Its not I beleive the forks are too soft for me, they are too soft for me but werent in the shop

[andydd]

It's possible that the forks have developed a fault but very unlikely, suntour who make them are a decent brand, and those forks are quite simple, they consist of a simple spring, and it's not really possible for it to go softer, as I said before, more high end forks can be adjusted by changing the spring to suit riders weight and riding style. I suspect there is nothing wrong with fork and you are just not used to it. Have a google of fork suspension set up, it's normal for a fork to compress when you sit on the bike a certain amount, it's called sag, mine goes down about a 1/4 and I can push it through all the travel easily.

 

Perhaps take the bike to halfords or another bike shop and see what they think ?

[sash knighton]

I got an exchange with another but same model of bike and suspension is loads better......One thing I have learned......never go to halfords

[rebel11]

Well Done Sash.

[andydd]

Good news. They haven't got the best reputation for bikes but to be fair they are ok for spares and other bike parts but it's always best to visit a friendly local bike shop or perhaps someone like chain reaction who even supply return postage stickers for returns.

[sash knighton]

Good news. They haven't got the best reputation for bikes but to be fair they are ok for spares and other bike parts but it's always best to visit a friendly local bike shop or perhaps someone like chain reaction who even supply return postage stickers for returns.

 

I agree