Hello e-bike enthusiasts,
Last year I educated myself on this forum about e-bikes and decided to buy one.
It might be too long to read, but I need to get this off my chest too, so excuse me. The real question is in the last part, in bold font, so you can skip to that if you wish. English is not my native language, so apologies for the mistakes.
Without getting too personal, I have health problems because of something recent which I don’t want anyone in my family or friends to know, so not to burden them with it. The only option left for transportation (work and social) was the electric bike…being relatively affordable, very mobile, with less own effort, ‘normal’ appearance (so I could say I decided to go Eco, hiding the real reason), and so forth.
Early July I bought a showroom/demo model (so used but only by people to test at the store, about 1 year old) from a Dutch dealer and they promised me it would be in good condition and the battery was OK, would last a long time and they would give it a full check like they are regulated by law to do so.
Unfortunately, it was anything but in good condition (brakes didn’t work properly which almost got me into an accident the first corner, lights didn’t work, bell was broken, pedals didn’t fit, seat bolts and other bolts would not stay in place, so needed replacement, and so forth).
All those I got repaired in a nearby store at own cost (152 euros). The Dutch company I bought it from didn’t respond to my emails and phone calls because they were on vacation coincidentally, so I decided to get it repaired because I needed it. But when they returned from vacation, no response either, unless I kept calling. No word from them about the malfunctions and their false advertising when I mentioned them.
The biggest problem now: it was promised the battery would last 50 kms. It didn’t last more than 9 kms when fully charged. The first time I discovered this was when I was on my way to work, 14 kilometers far. So the last 5 kilometers I had to peddle stronger than on any bike I ever did in my life (and add my health problems to that). I then had to take the day off because I was exhausted and went back home with a taxi that could carry me and my bike (all at own expenses).
Finally after a few weeks of calling and emailing I got someone on the phone, who said they would call me back. Weeks passed, with me emailing in the meantime…nothing. Then I call again…’yes sir, I will call you back’. After 2 months of this (yes….) they informed me they would get me a new battery in a few weeks.
Now almost 5 months later, after again many calls and emails which they never responded to (except the occasional ‘I will call you back tomorrow’..with no call to back it up), they sent me a battery which cannot be charged with the charger I have, for some reason. The battery looks the same but it’s a more compact and lighter version.
Now they ask me to send it back again to check if the battery is OK (which they could have checked before sending, package was open) and stall a few more weeks and I have had it basically. I need the bike to work properly right now, nay, 4 months ago. On top of this I am in the process of moving. My health in the meantime is a bit worse.
For 4 months I pay a colleague to pick me up/drop me off between home and work. Because of this I have been damaged financially, mentally and socially. I can’t tell family or friends to do this, because then I would have to explain them my health problems which, again, I do not want to burden them with. The dealer and manufacturer did not show any sign they cared about this in any way shape or form, after mentioning this…not to get sympathy, but so they understood why I needed it and why I needed it fast. I just asked for an electric bike I paid for that worked, nothing more.
In fact, they treat me like a criminal who stole their bike and new battery. I do not expect anything good from them. The manufacturer is defending the dealer who gave me a faulty bike on false pretensions. And they refuse to take responsibility for their product and their ridiculous customer service, which is non-existent and anti-customer.
Name and shame: the dealer is E-Bike Centrum in Pannerden, the Netherlands and the manufacturer is Noveco BV in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands whom manufacture/import bikes called Ecotrade.
Nice bike, after you repair it for 152 euros yourself at delivery, do not need pedelec support after 9 kms and like to be treated like a criminal if you dare to mention the malfunctions on it, waiting for almost 5 months for nothing.
Now the question I had was, when I link the new battery (NiMH, Ecotrade) to the charger, the light on the charger blinks red/light constantly. I let it stay like that for 2 days and it didn’t change, didn’t charge it….after installing it on the bike; I don’t get further than 100 meters.
On the old battery the light on the charger would go red when linked and when charged fully, green. No blinking red/green. What can be the problem? Do I need a new charger for the new battery (which is more compact and lighter than the old battery, although same appearance and same input)? Or do I have to do something to the new battery? Even to this simple question, I cannot get an answer from the dealer and manufacturer, so I hope someone here has an answer.
Thanks for reading, regards.
Last year I educated myself on this forum about e-bikes and decided to buy one.
It might be too long to read, but I need to get this off my chest too, so excuse me. The real question is in the last part, in bold font, so you can skip to that if you wish. English is not my native language, so apologies for the mistakes.
Without getting too personal, I have health problems because of something recent which I don’t want anyone in my family or friends to know, so not to burden them with it. The only option left for transportation (work and social) was the electric bike…being relatively affordable, very mobile, with less own effort, ‘normal’ appearance (so I could say I decided to go Eco, hiding the real reason), and so forth.
Early July I bought a showroom/demo model (so used but only by people to test at the store, about 1 year old) from a Dutch dealer and they promised me it would be in good condition and the battery was OK, would last a long time and they would give it a full check like they are regulated by law to do so.
Unfortunately, it was anything but in good condition (brakes didn’t work properly which almost got me into an accident the first corner, lights didn’t work, bell was broken, pedals didn’t fit, seat bolts and other bolts would not stay in place, so needed replacement, and so forth).
All those I got repaired in a nearby store at own cost (152 euros). The Dutch company I bought it from didn’t respond to my emails and phone calls because they were on vacation coincidentally, so I decided to get it repaired because I needed it. But when they returned from vacation, no response either, unless I kept calling. No word from them about the malfunctions and their false advertising when I mentioned them.
The biggest problem now: it was promised the battery would last 50 kms. It didn’t last more than 9 kms when fully charged. The first time I discovered this was when I was on my way to work, 14 kilometers far. So the last 5 kilometers I had to peddle stronger than on any bike I ever did in my life (and add my health problems to that). I then had to take the day off because I was exhausted and went back home with a taxi that could carry me and my bike (all at own expenses).
Finally after a few weeks of calling and emailing I got someone on the phone, who said they would call me back. Weeks passed, with me emailing in the meantime…nothing. Then I call again…’yes sir, I will call you back’. After 2 months of this (yes….) they informed me they would get me a new battery in a few weeks.
Now almost 5 months later, after again many calls and emails which they never responded to (except the occasional ‘I will call you back tomorrow’..with no call to back it up), they sent me a battery which cannot be charged with the charger I have, for some reason. The battery looks the same but it’s a more compact and lighter version.
Now they ask me to send it back again to check if the battery is OK (which they could have checked before sending, package was open) and stall a few more weeks and I have had it basically. I need the bike to work properly right now, nay, 4 months ago. On top of this I am in the process of moving. My health in the meantime is a bit worse.
For 4 months I pay a colleague to pick me up/drop me off between home and work. Because of this I have been damaged financially, mentally and socially. I can’t tell family or friends to do this, because then I would have to explain them my health problems which, again, I do not want to burden them with. The dealer and manufacturer did not show any sign they cared about this in any way shape or form, after mentioning this…not to get sympathy, but so they understood why I needed it and why I needed it fast. I just asked for an electric bike I paid for that worked, nothing more.
In fact, they treat me like a criminal who stole their bike and new battery. I do not expect anything good from them. The manufacturer is defending the dealer who gave me a faulty bike on false pretensions. And they refuse to take responsibility for their product and their ridiculous customer service, which is non-existent and anti-customer.
Name and shame: the dealer is E-Bike Centrum in Pannerden, the Netherlands and the manufacturer is Noveco BV in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands whom manufacture/import bikes called Ecotrade.
Nice bike, after you repair it for 152 euros yourself at delivery, do not need pedelec support after 9 kms and like to be treated like a criminal if you dare to mention the malfunctions on it, waiting for almost 5 months for nothing.
Now the question I had was, when I link the new battery (NiMH, Ecotrade) to the charger, the light on the charger blinks red/light constantly. I let it stay like that for 2 days and it didn’t change, didn’t charge it….after installing it on the bike; I don’t get further than 100 meters.
On the old battery the light on the charger would go red when linked and when charged fully, green. No blinking red/green. What can be the problem? Do I need a new charger for the new battery (which is more compact and lighter than the old battery, although same appearance and same input)? Or do I have to do something to the new battery? Even to this simple question, I cannot get an answer from the dealer and manufacturer, so I hope someone here has an answer.
Thanks for reading, regards.
) 
