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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be angry with bike shop for selling me a second hand bike as new?

432 replies

YellowBellyCat · 04/07/2021 07:23

I bought an expensive bike last week from a well known National bike shop chain. Bike was reduced from £2700 to £2200 as I was told it was last year’s model. It’s a seriously well specced bike.

Turned up for a club ride yesterday and people there recognised the bike, it’s had custom bar tape put on it which makes it distinctive. Someone who works at the bike shop was there and made a comment about how the bike had won a National Grand Prix. I didn’t click at first and thought he meant that make/model. But later on other people were saying oh that’s x’s old bike. I’ve now found public posts from x on the bike shops fb page dated from 2019 with photos of her with the bike saying how she’s entered numerous races with the bike.

I tried to register it with the manufacturer yesterday on their registration scheme and can’t register it as it’s already registered.

So they’ve basically sold me a 2yo second hand bike and pretended it’s new. Don’t get me wrong…it looks in good condition, they’ve obviously cleaned it well, possibly they’ve put a new chain/cassette on 🤷‍♀️ But I wouldn’t have paid that amount of money for a second hand bike. At the end of the 2019 season another National chain were selling them new for £1900!

I’m going back to the bike shop today to attempt some serious price negotiation but not sure how far I’m going to get. If they don’t budge on price I think I will have to insist on a refund as it’s just making me angry now. A similar spec bike in this year’s models is about 4k though as the bike model has been seriously redesigned and upgraded (disc brakes from rim brakes) and I can’t afford 4k. They’re also all out of stock.

A friend was with me when I bought it and she’s as shocked as me, says she also thought it was a new bike. It was lined up with this year’s bikes.

OP posts:
Crockof · 04/07/2021 08:21

I wouldn't leave with a refund if you don't get a satisfactory discount

Jumpingintosummer · 04/07/2021 08:21

You would be best dealing with head office.

jasjas1973 · 04/07/2021 08:22

Quick bit of research shows the Langma pro 1 had a rrp of 2999 in 2019.

So, the price isn't a million miles out if they put on new consumables, bicycle manufacturer warranties aren't worth the paper they are written on, it'll be the shop that sorts out any issues, so get them to warranty it - in writing.
Frames don't wear out, so as long as the bike has all new consumables, you've got a 2 yr old "new" bike, bare in mind, it would have been raced in 2020.

The deception is another matter, totally unacceptable!
i'd be asking for an explanation & spare set of wheels c/w disks and tires plus a free service inc parts in 6 months time.

Teateaandmoretea · 04/07/2021 08:22

What’s to say it isn’t stolen?

It is seemingly a bike that is well known locally. But that crossed my mind too.

jasjas1973 · 04/07/2021 08:23

wouldn't have been races in 2020 should have said.

caughtinanet · 04/07/2021 08:25

@MyFartWillGoOn

Slightly dumbfounded by the repeated question of 'was it labelled new?'

This is a high end, fully spec'd bike from a high end retailer

If you were to purchase a custom designed dress at Harvey Nicks, would you expect it to be labelled 'new' or would you expect that the few that may be second hand (despite the shops never having sold second hand previously) to be labelled 'second hand'

Does everything you buy have a 'new' label on it?

Posters don't know the shop, lots of bike shops sell both new and second hand. I can't see how that could dumbfound you, it's a perfectly reasonable question.
SeanChailleach · 04/07/2021 08:26

I actually had a similar situation with, of all things, a picnic table. I ordered an expensive model from a company with a huge reputation. Surprised when it arrived flat packed. DH and the teenager excitedly ripped off the packaging and built it up, then said, oh, made dents in oops. Grumpy emails and phone calls didn't do it, had to threaten them with sending it back and credit card company (bank was really helpful). In the end I kept the bench and they refunded me the difference in price.
Picnic tables and bikes are both in short supply.

BikeRunSki · 04/07/2021 08:26

Frames don't wear out, so as long as the bike has all new consumables, you've got a 2 yr old "new" bike, bare in mind, it would have been raced in 2020.

Not true for carbon frames though. Carbon frames can develop small cracks they have a heavy impact. Then snap if they have another! Modern carbon frames are much less brittle than they used to be, but I’d still want a warranty.

YlangYlangYlangYlang · 04/07/2021 08:27

I'd take down that FB post from here. I have been able to find that also, along with which shop, staff member, etc from the information you gave (I'm local) - I think you've been to identifying for a public forum.

NotMeNoNo · 04/07/2021 08:27

At the very least it should have been described as ex-demo. I wonder if she had it a short while and then swapped it back into stock/ upgraded given it's registered, in which case it really is secondhand.

Teateaandmoretea · 04/07/2021 08:27

If it’s exactly that spec ask for a new saddle 😣

Most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever sat on.

warmfluffytowels · 04/07/2021 08:28

Slightly dumbfounded by the repeated question of 'was it labelled new?'

It's a perfectly reasonable question and not comparable to clothing, really.

Our local car dealership sells new and second-hand cars from the same forecourt and anything brand new is advertised as such. Then you have "ex showroom models" and then second hand.

Teateaandmoretea · 04/07/2021 08:28

The key thing here @NotMeNoNo is that it’s been registered previously. This means the OP has no warranty.

Teateaandmoretea · 04/07/2021 08:30

In relation to it being a chain - if it’s the shop I think then I thought it was a franchise arrangement. I may be wrong about that though.

Original poster
YellowBellyCat · 04/07/2021 08:32

@Teateaandmoretea

If it’s exactly that spec ask for a new saddle 😣

Most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever sat on.

Already swapped it
OP posts:
Crockof · 04/07/2021 08:33

@YlangYlangYlangYlang

I'd take down that FB post from here. I have been able to find that also, along with which shop, staff member, etc from the information you gave (I'm local) - I think you've been to identifying for a public forum.
Why?
caughtinanet · 04/07/2021 08:34

@YlangYlangYlangYlang

I'd take down that FB post from here. I have been able to find that also, along with which shop, staff member, etc from the information you gave (I'm local) - I think you've been to identifying for a public forum.
I'm still not clear on the staff member, the OP said she hasn't met the person who had the bike so it's not the person in the Facebook post.
Crockof · 04/07/2021 08:34

@NotMeNoNo

At the very least it should have been described as ex-demo. I wonder if she had it a short while and then swapped it back into stock/ upgraded given it's registered, in which case it really is secondhand.
Ex demo means sat on in the shop, maybe a quick ride around the area, not being raced on.
vivainsomnia · 04/07/2021 08:35

None of the bikes have stickers saying new. It was with all the other new bikes. They said it’s discounted because it’s last year’s model…..so that’s a lie it’s two years old
You don't know they were with new bikes, unless from this year, the others could be like yours.

If they are clever, they would have left you to believe it was new without once actually saying so or even directly implying it and that will be their defense. They will say that you should have asked.

It is very nasty business dealing and if indeed they take that attitude and refuse to consider a discount, I would indeed go to head office and then name and shame.

MaggieFS · 04/07/2021 08:35

I'm assuming the staff member in the post is the one who has been using the bike. Another staff member sold the bike to OP. Goodness knows who registered it and to whom.

NotMeNoNo · 04/07/2021 08:36

I'm with you, honest, it sounds completely dodgy.

merrymouse · 04/07/2021 08:36

If they are clever, they would have left you to believe it was new without once actually saying so or even directly implying it and that will be their defense. They will say that you should have asked.

If you look at the link posted by kerning that is not legal.

warmfluffytowels · 04/07/2021 08:37

@NotMeNoNo

At the very least it should have been described as ex-demo. I wonder if she had it a short while and then swapped it back into stock/ upgraded given it's registered, in which case it really is secondhand.
They can't claim it's ex-demo because it's not.

Ex-demo means it's been on display and people have sat on it and maybe ridden it around the car park or up and down the street, which clearly isn't the case here.

jasjas1973 · 04/07/2021 08:38

@BikeRunSki

Frames don't wear out, so as long as the bike has all new consumables, you've got a 2 yr old "new" bike, bare in mind, it would have been raced in 2020.

Not true for carbon frames though. Carbon frames can develop small cracks they have a heavy impact. Then snap if they have another! Modern carbon frames are much less brittle than they used to be, but I’d still want a warranty.

Sorry but it is true, you said "heavy impact" thats not wearing out, thats misuse. As the OP knows the bike, she'd also know if its been crashed, if it has, ask for full refund.

CF is used across many industries, inc car manufacture and it has brilliant fatigue resistance, unlike say Aluminium frames.

Agree on warranty but she won't get one now from Giant and bikes are in short supply, which is why i said get the shop to provide one.