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Back in the summer I posted a thread about using cycle Republic for shock service and them taking nearly a month to get it sorted.
I had been given vouchers for my birthday and regrettably used them before realising they were halfruads in disguise.
I just want to update how the process went to warn other people.
The 'repair' took just over a month, with me constantly chasing. When I collected the bike I noticed they had damaged the rocker assembly during an attempt to remove the cover to access shock. Mentioned to the manager and he approached service department, who to their credit admitted responsibility. He advised that this would be resprayed at no cost to me but to take the bike so they could arrange.
I was pretty annoyed, but it was done and I couldn't change it, however I was made to pay 'cost price for repair', despite my disagreement. I was contacted a few weeks later with the option of taking the bike to a spray shop for repair or them taking it apart and take it there on my behalf. I didn't want them touching my bike again so decided to do it myself. I could claim the repair charge back from them myself.
Fast forward 6 months and still haven't got round to doing it as I had been using it and it's a pain in the ass.
However, when I used the bike for the first time the week after the repair I noticed they had cut the shapeshifter cable from the top of the gas cannister, meaning it was stuck in xc mode (not handy when at bpw) and it was cut so short I needed to get a new cable for it to work. They also hadnt even done up a the bottom shock mount bolt or rocker bolt and strangely there was a rocker washer missing totally.
Moral of the story is to avoid. I'm not even going to bother going back for the repair refund whenever I get round to it.
Post this on their social media channels?
I'm not on social media anymore and can't be arsed to join. Plus all theyre going to say is they'll repair it for free. Partly my fault for taking 6 months to get around to wanting to get it sorted but I've been reluctant to lose it when I ride it most weeks.
I found instore they were a bit crap with a problem I had with a light that only they sell (they have brought in the lights but absolutely no spares for them). I needed a new handlebar mount but they basically said in store just try eBay / approach the manufacturer (who are based in SA, not the U.K.).
I complained to their central customer services and within a couple of weeks a helpful lady there posted me out a replacement for free. Turns out she couldn’t source one from the manufacturer either but went out of her way to track down the Cycle Republic Demo car and get me a mount from there.
So, not overall impressed with Cycle Republic, but very impressed with the lady at their central customer services!
On the flipside, a wobbly wheel on the way to work was sorted by them with a hub service and a wheel re-dish (unrelated problem but sorted at same time) while I was at work for £15. I probably wouldn't take anything specialised to them though.
I'm sure they are fine for basic stuff. But a shock service basically turned in to a damaged frame, loose shock, missing hardware and a ride where with my bike stuck in xc mode. I basically spent my own time getting a new cable fitted which required a strip down of the rocker unit. If I knew how to do a shock service I may as well have done it all myself.
Also they said they were going to send the shock to tf tuned for a service but apparently they did it in store.