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Just to share some (unfortunetly rather negative) experience with mbbearings.co.uk, and maybe be useful for others when looking for bearings. The quality control and behaviours from the seller (john@mbbearings.co.uk) are frankly shocking, and so bad that they're somewhat comical. The story is as following:
I ordered one frame bearing set from mbbearings.co.uk before xmas, and according to the item page they are "designed for extreme riding conditions.
Ideal for UK winter riding". The cost is £42.99 plus postage, so you'd expect at least half descent quality for the price.
When the bearings were received, I noticed immediately that the sealings of at least two of them looks very odd, i.e., they looks like they have been cut poorly by hands, rather than by machine, and the worst of all, there are visual gaps between the seals to the inner race. I then put them under a bright light, and I can literally see the internal balls through the gaps. When I used a small ziptie, I can reach the balls! Obviously these would be not good for the "extreme riding conditions".
I thought these may be quality control issue, so I sent an email about the leaky seals together with one other question to john@mbbearings.co.uk, for which john@mbbearings.co.uk simply ignored the question on the seals.
The bearings won't be good for anyone so I posted them back, expecting a full refund plus the postage, as it's simply quality issue. mbbearings has since refunded the bearing themselves, however, denied there was any issue with the seals and refused to refund the postage. The manner of the responses have been very poor, and basically I would only get emails with a single sentence without any further explanation. I copied the responses as following plus some comments.
- "There's no provision in Paypal to refund More than the original purchase price"
Well, the original purchase price included the postage, which you could easily refund.
- "Theres nothing wrong that I can see sent a picture to the manufacture"
What would you expect the manufacture would say for their own product?
- "That's zoomed in 25 x there's nothing wrong with them you have had a full refund and your not a bearing expert 2rs seals are low contact "
I don't suppose it's the best customer service to tell your custemor that "your not a bearing expert", plus it doesn't take an expert to see the issue here. "2rs seals" needs to be sealed first.
As it was getting nowhere by emails, I then tried to get the postage refund through paypal resolution centre, from which mbbearings.co.uk responded:
- "bearings have been inspected by myself and the manufacture and found fit for purpose there was 12 bearings in the kit it looks like you have removed the seal"
This is sadly how low it gest, so I have been accused to remove the seals, despite the photos taken by the seller showed the same issue.
The paypal case is still on going and I will update if there is anything worth updating latter on. The forum here doesn't seem to do photo attachment, otherwise it'd be good to show the actual issue on photos.
I use Wych bearings - no such issues and you have choice over which manufacturer to use.
We have used Trailvison (Blueseal) for years. Never had a problem
I use Wych bearings – no such issues and you have choice over which manufacturer to use.
Indeed, the choice of manufacturer is good way to make the quality are good.
The set I had from mbbearings.co.uk were unbranded. I was a little lazy by the time to order individual bearings, which in hindsight is what I should have done from a good manufacturer .
£42 for 12 bearings? That rings alarm bells right there. That’s really cheap, think I was £60 for the 10 I needed last time and even that was a good deal
What would you expect the manufacture would say for their own product?
Any half decent manufacturer would accept a mistake and sort it. Unfortunately you can almost guarantee he didn’t approach the manufacturer, and even if he did he’d probably be ignored as a tiny customer of some far-east monster
Any half decent manufacturer would accept a mistake and sort it. Unfortunately you can almost guarantee he didn’t approach the manufacturer, and even if he did he’d probably be ignored as a tiny customer of some far-east monster
Totally agreed, I won't have made a fuss here if it was admitted it's issue with quality control, or at least treat the customer+issue properly, but it's just the way it has been dealt with has been so bad.
Can you leave a review for him?
mashr
Free Member£42 for 12 bearings? That rings alarm bells right there. That’s really cheap
This!
Individual Enduro bearings are £10+ each so 12 bearings for £42 is definitely cheap so I’d say the quality is to be expected.
as DH rider says. My guess is cheapo bearings with the seals removed to overfill with grease
You get what you pay for by and large.
Yea, £42 for 10 bearings is cheap. I paid £80 for a set for my Reign last time, using Wych and Enduro Max.
Can you leave a review for him?
The post here is somewhat a review so people may look it up from searching.
There are several replies about the cost being cheap. However, I don't buy the augment that's what you should get for the price, as it's cheap, but not that cheap. For example, you can get a set from wiggle or CRC for that price, but you won't see the internals being exposed.
When I look up the frame bearing set, several websites offer them in a similar range. The Trailvison kindly recommended above also does one for a similar price.
For that price, I am not expecting the highest quality, or at the Enduro level. They may not last as long, or spinning as smoothly. However, they have to be at least functional, which I don't think it is not too much to ask.
Take an example, if someone pays for medium range waterproof jacket, would it be reasonable to have a big hole on it? Would you say you get what you pay for? Absolutely not.
Of course they should be functional but when its less than half the price of branded quality bearings its a risk you take that they are rubbish
What he says ^ you’ve got a double whammy of cheap and nasty parts with poor service here