Repairs to mail order bicycle

anniegirl

Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2013
78
7
Lancashire
Thought I would post these comments for anyone who may have reservations about ordering an electric bicycle from a supplier miles away from home.

I purchased my first electric bicycle back in March 2013.....a Woosh Sirocco Sport. I live approx 250 miles (a very rough guess!) from Woosh in Southend. I love the bicycle, but there have been a couple of problems with the bicycle. The first repair that I did for the problem with the magnetic disc (see my previous postings) appears to still be ok.

Unfortunately, the bike developed an electrical problem. A new LED panel was posted out to me straight away. Initially the electrics seemed ok with the new panel, but shortly afterwards the electrics started cutting out, and then stopped working completely.

Andy at Woosh said the bike would have to be returned to them for repair. Hatti was so very helpful and arranged everything. The fault was very quickly repaired......in fact the very same day the bike arrived at their shop. Excellent repair service.

Hatti again, was so very helpful and accommodating when I was arranging for the bike to be returned to me.

Wow I thought, such great service, and if ever anything else goes wrong with the electrics, I know that the problem will be sorted. Fingers, toes etc., all crossed, so hopefully nothing else will go wrong.

The bike was returned on the agreed date........great.

However, I do have a few slight gripes with how the bike was packaged for it's return to myself:
1. The battery keys were left in the battery, one key now slightly bent. I was told to make sure the keys were securely fastened to the frame when I returned the bike!
2. No packaging at all around the battery. I sent completely wrapped in bubble wrap, the same as when the bike was delivered new.
3. The battery housing was very loose.
4. One fork was through the bottom of the box because there was nothing wrapped around this fork. I sent with both forks padded in bubble wrap, and padded under the forks to protect them.
5. Chain guard very loose and not sure when I ride the bike whether it will interfer with the chain. Again no protection when returned to me.......I sent wrapped in bubble wrap.
6. Scratches to frame, that were not there before. I wrapped bubble wrap on all parts of the frame and handlebars etc. Some of the bubblewrap had been removed and the scratches are on the unprotected bits.

Yes, I do appreciate that there is not always time to do things. I always try take care of my possessions to the best of my ability, and it is very disappointing to have my bicycle returned to me like that.

Oh and the tyre was flat. I mentioned to Hatti that the tyre appeared to have a very slow puncture, and if I gave her my card details to pay, could they fit a Swalbe puncture proof tyre on the wheel, whilst the bike was in for repair. Sorry we don't have any, but we can repair the puncture for you......was the reply. I was willing to pay whatever it cost, but perhaps they had no time?

So Woosh extremely excellent in some ways, but fall down in other areas. Fingers crossed for tomorrow morning that the electrics work ok........I am hoping that I will be fit enough after my recent surgery, to go for a ride and test the bike out.
 

jackhandy

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 20, 2012
1,820
323
the Cornish Alps
Oh, how I emathise (is that the right word?) With your problem...

Living in Cornwall, I am also at the mercy of Couriers to be able to get my hands (backside) on ebikes: To many sellers, anywhere past Bristol is "Here be Dragons" country. This also makes me totally dependent on email for swift, accurate contact, so I don't deal with anyone, and I mean anyone, who doesn't reply honestly & swiftly to email.

It's good that t he various sellers are busy, but the Elf 'n Safety cadre's favourite quote, "Nothing is so urgent that we can't do it safely" could well be ammended to "Properly".
 

oigoi

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 14, 2011
467
7
Sounds to me like Woosh have given you good customer service but you have been let down by 1) the person who packed the bike and 2) the courier for being rough with it.
Sometimes finding people who will do a job properly is not easy, even when you pay them well sometimes people still cut corners. Hopefully Woosh can learn from this about the need to pack bikes in a "courier proof" way.
I myself have bought other expensive pieces of equipment like solar panels that have been lightly wrapped and would have been okay if the courier had been careful, but a lot of couriers are under considerable time pressures to get the job done quickly and keep their costs down, and so being careful goes out the window!
 

billadie

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2010
295
48
Tewkesbury
"I myself have bought other expensive pieces of equipment like solar panels that have been lightly wrapped and would have been okay if the courier had been careful, but a lot of couriers are under considerable time pressures to get the job done quickly and keep their costs down, and so being careful goes out the window!"

a couple of years ago, i sent a very well wrapped laptop to a school after repair. Courier arrived just before 9 the next morning. As school had just started the main gate was shut but not locked. several parents and caretaker still in playground. In full sight of these, courier throws laptop over 6ft fence.

Must have thought Fragili was a place in Wales.
 

mountainsport

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 6, 2012
1,419
298
Oh, how I emathise (is that the right word?) With your problem...

Living in Cornwall, I am also at the mercy of Couriers to be able to get my hands (backside) on ebikes: To many sellers, anywhere past Bristol is "Here be Dragons" country. This also makes me totally dependent on email for swift, accurate contact, so I don't deal with anyone, and I mean anyone, who doesn't reply honestly & swiftly to email.

It's good that t he various sellers are busy, but the Elf 'n Safety cadre's favourite quote, "Nothing is so urgent that we can't do it safely" could well be ammended to "Properly".
Sorry jackhandy , maybe my choice of word I used was not appropriate at the, does "ordeal" sound a bit better? :eek:

MS.
 

anniegirl

Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2013
78
7
Lancashire
Woosh have been in contact with me today. Hatti really does go out of her way to ensure customers are happy. Both Hatti and Andy have been so very helpful, many thanks indeed to both of them.

I believe that some of the courier drivers are great, so perhaps we should not tar them all with the same brush.

Went out cycling yesterday and today, and the bike is now working like a dream :) I'm now going to make the most of the weather whilst I can.