Powabyke battery problems

pl1974

Pedelecer
Oct 1, 2008
109
4
Just thought I'd post my bad experience with Powabyke here.

A year or so ago I bought a Powabyke X6, I was really pleased with the bike and was immediately hooked on electric bikes. Unfortunatley the range wasn't enough for my commute to work though. So I ended up buying a Wisper. Sadly, I've never been able to sell my X6.

Anyway before I changed to the Wisper I bought my wife a Powabyke X6 LS, again she was really pelased with it and we had some great outings together last summer.

Unfortunately, the battery suddenly died about a month ago, so I contacted Powabyke who suggested I took it back to the retailer.

I contacted the retailer who asked me to bring the battery in, a little frustrating as they are 30 miles away, but I took it back. I had received no response after about 3 weeks, so I rang the shop, they then asked me to bring the bike in. Another 60 mile round trip, but I duly did this.

Anyway, tonight I received an email with the following attachment, no explanation just saying this is what has been received from Powabyke.

I'll call the shop tomorrow, but does anyone know what this means? I'm assuming its to do with the sale of Powabyke, but it just feels so wrong that the company is so similar, still selling the same products, but not fully supporting them.

I'm shocked at this, the service offerred by Frank was one of the main reasons I bought from Powabyke, but now find I'm stuck with one bike I can't sell and another with a dead battery. At least I can use my old battery on my wife's bike I suppose :(

Paul
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,563
30,851
Due to financial failure they were rescued from oblivion by being bought by another company.

It seems the new company is refusing to honour the previous company's warranty. I doubt Frank is personally happy about this, but of course there is probably little he can do as he now works for what appears to be a new subsidiary. I think they are being foolish since a policy like this will inevitably damage sales as news spreads.

That this failure happened to long established Powabyke was a surprise, but such disappearances of brands and companies have sadly been a common feature in the fledgling e-bike field.
.
 
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thunderblue

Pedelecer
Aug 4, 2009
116
1
Manchester
Praise for Alien bikes

A word of praise for Alien Bikes ... they have just replaced a battery for me under warranty. Absolutely excellent, quick service.:)
 

leathersley

Finding my (electric) wheels
Feb 2, 2010
9
0
Just thought I'd post my bad experience with Powabyke here.

A year or so ago I bought a Powabyke X6, I was really pleased with the bike and was immediately hooked on electric bikes. Unfortunatley the range wasn't enough for my commute to work though. So I ended up buying a Wisper. Sadly, I've never been able to sell my X6.

Anyway before I changed to the Wisper I bought my wife a Powabyke X6 LS, again she was really pelased with it and we had some great outings together last summer.

Unfortunately, the battery suddenly died about a month ago, so I contacted Powabyke who suggested I took it back to the retailer.

I contacted the retailer who asked me to bring the battery in, a little frustrating as they are 30 miles away, but I took it back. I had received no response after about 3 weeks, so I rang the shop, they then asked me to bring the bike in. Another 60 mile round trip, but I duly did this.

Anyway, tonight I received an email with the following attachment, no explanation just saying this is what has been received from Powabyke.

I'll call the shop tomorrow, but does anyone know what this means? I'm assuming its to do with the sale of Powabyke, but it just feels so wrong that the company is so similar, still selling the same products, but not fully supporting them.

I'm shocked at this, the service offerred by Frank was one of the main reasons I bought from Powabyke, but now find I'm stuck with one bike I can't sell and another with a dead battery. At least I can use my old battery on my wife's bike I suppose :(

Paul
Paul as your contract is with the retailer, have you looked at your rights under the sale of goods act.
 

dan

Pedelecer
Sep 30, 2009
137
-1
Just thought I'd post my bad experience with Powabyke here.

A year or so ago I bought a Powabyke X6, I was really pleased with the bike and was immediately hooked on electric bikes. Unfortunatley the range wasn't enough for my commute to work though. So I ended up buying a Wisper. Sadly, I've never been able to sell my X6.

Anyway before I changed to the Wisper I bought my wife a Powabyke X6 LS, again she was really pelased with it and we had some great outings together last summer.

Unfortunately, the battery suddenly died about a month ago, so I contacted Powabyke who suggested I took it back to the retailer.

I contacted the retailer who asked me to bring the battery in, a little frustrating as they are 30 miles away, but I took it back. I had received no response after about 3 weeks, so I rang the shop, they then asked me to bring the bike in. Another 60 mile round trip, but I duly did this.

Anyway, tonight I received an email with the following attachment, no explanation just saying this is what has been received from Powabyke.

I'll call the shop tomorrow, but does anyone know what this means? I'm assuming its to do with the sale of Powabyke, but it just feels so wrong that the company is so similar, still selling the same products, but not fully supporting them.

I'm shocked at this, the service offerred by Frank was one of the main reasons I bought from Powabyke, but now find I'm stuck with one bike I can't sell and another with a dead battery. At least I can use my old battery on my wife's bike I suppose :(

Paul

I note your link message was signed NEC....the intials of Nick Child who I assume is a director of the new Powabyke company, he was also the managinging director of the old Powabyke company.....you would think that having bought the company back, I guess for a fraction of its real worth, he would at least honour the warranty of his old company.
 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
Paul as your contract is with the retailer, have you looked at your rights under the sale of goods act.
Exactly! It is the retailer who sold you the bike who is responsible.....local CAB office for advice or consumer direct;)

Consumer Direct

they have template letters that you copy add your details and send by registered post to the retailer. talk to them first saying you wont be hoodwinked/fobbed of and that it his his responsibility under consumer law as your contract is with him.

Not sure why you cant sell it...have you tried classified on here, ebay or gumtree?
 
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pl1974

Pedelecer
Oct 1, 2008
109
4
Thanks all, I'd wondered about it being the retailers responsiblility rather than the manufacturer.

One other slight complication is that the battery was just over a year old (a few days), but I'm fairly sure I remember reading somewhere that this can still be claimed under warranty if it is deemed not to be of reasonable quality.

Anyway will have a talk to the shop this weekend and see how we go.

Thanks again.

Paul