[Closed] Waiting for a bike frame to arrive (RANT)

About 6 weeks ago

I'd just let them know. Chances are (with the dearth of bikes) they'll be able to sell it anyway.

Have you tried emailing the CEO?

So you have the frame you want (from wiggle/CRC), and are ranting that your LBS is taking ages to ship you the same frame, and are wondering if you should cancel it?

a few questions:

doesn't the evil empire own ragley?

why would they supply a bike shop before flogging direct through thier own mechanisms?

why are you surprised?

You’re starting to get sick of one bike not arriving, and you’ve heard ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

The shop has most likely long since become sick of waiting for a few hundred bikes to arrive and have heard very little, or in some cases absolutely nothing.

Just tell them if you don’t want it, or wait if you do... They’ll understand you’re fed up waiting, and if you don’t want it then it’s one less customer for them to feel frustrated on behalf of. They’ll sell it to somebody else very easily.

We’re not in the cycle trade but facing the same issues on supply. So frustrating and feel really sorry for the customers who know, for the most part, that we’re doing our best even though it it’s nearly impossible to believe that we can’t get an update from the manufacturer.

Under the current circumstances, I would not kick off at any point with my LBS.

I would however phone them up and chat it through.

What would kicking off at a bike shop achieve, they don’t control covid, Brexit or the Suez Canal.

If you don’t want it, give them a bell and be polite.

Ordered a bike last June. Frame finally built 2/2/21 (they mark them all), delivered in March.

Welcome to post Covid cycling.

Echoing others above, we see plenty of bikes being cancelled due to the shifting sands of lead times. I'd far rather maintain a good customer relationship and let them get something sooner elsewhere than have the ongoing souring of a relationship.

I would speak to the shop very nicely and say you have managed to source a bike elsewhere

No ranting, no problems

I'll have been Waiting a year and counting for my frame, I've had all brand new kit for it sat on a shelf in my garage for nearly as long.

I absolutely will not be shouting at a poor bike shop employee.

I was just ranting/venting my frustration at the situation we are all forced to live in.
(I dont have anyone else to rant to, sorry)

And I'm slightly disappointed in myself, as I set off trying to "buy local" and not use a big online shop. And all it took was one email, and I scurried back like a junkie needing a fix.

i feel your frustrations, as i am waiting on a Ragley (that ragley said should ship w/c 22nd march). I spoke to the bike shop a couple of weeks ago and they are equally as frustrated as all the customers they have waiting. Then to see CRC having stock is an extra kick whilst youre down!

I am also 4 months in waiting on a replacement norco optic frame (under warranty).

It got to the point that i didnt want to be without a bike any longer, so bought a specialized status. So at least i have something to ride (and it turns out its a very fun bike).

But yeah.... the whole situation sucks donkey balls.

Bigalid:

I ordered a 2021 Ragley Mmmbop frame from my local bike shop, at the end of January,
The guy at the shop gave me a tale of woe, about the last time they ordered anything from Ragley they only got 20% of what they ordered.

My son has been waiting since January for his Mmmbop, totally out of order how Chainreaction has dealt with the whole affair to be honest. Anyway my feeling it to vote with your feet and buy a Bird or something else. I know there is supply issues, it's the communication that is crappy in this respect.

JeZ

I was waiting for stock of a Large Marley frame in green, missed them last time CRC had stock, got stock alerts for many suppliers, 1 popped up on ebay yesterday in Manchester, £30 over RRP but I bought it to end the waiting and am collecting today, normally wouldn't pay over RRP but I want a bike for spring/summer and not be waiting on stock lottery.

I don't use any shop that doesn't send me daily chocs and flowers in the event of a delay.

The guy at the shop gave me a tale of woe, about the last time they ordered anything from Ragley they only got 20% of what they ordered.

So he warned you up front, you still ordered it, and his waning came true...

You've got a frame now anyway, I'd just crack on and build it up. Either cancel the overdue one, or accept it when it arrives.
Entirely up to you.

they will sell the frame within 15 seconds of it coming into the shop anyway.

May 17th according to their quite public Facebook info
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I ordered an Orbea Oiz via my LBS October 2020, was due to arrive last month. In Feb I was told it'd be May. Yesterday I was told it'd be June. I'm SO ANNOYED 'cause I won't have it for xc racing.

Oh, hang on, I'm not at all annoyed 'cause

a) there won't be any xc racing for ages
b) I'm lucky enough to have other bikes that allow me get out in the hills
c) The weather is brilliant
d) I've still got a new bike to look forward to 🙂

I would speak to the shop very nicely

Very very very nicely. With lots of 'if it's not too much trouble', 'and sorry to bother you, must be busy eh ? ' thrown in for good measure.

Just to reiterate.

I am not getting pissy with the bike shop, they are getting screwed over just as badly as everyone else, or more so.

I am annoyed at Ragley/Hotlines/CRC-Wiggle at the way they have exasperated the already shitty situation bike shops are in.

And yes I know they are going to prioritize their own direct sales customers over other people,

I wasnt really expecting anybody to have an epiphany and come up with the solution to the current bike shortage, or cure world hunger.

I just wanted to shout into the void and clear my head a bit.

Thank you for all your replies, and yes I am a whiny self important git, and should just crack on and ride the bike I've got.

Peace and love
Al

yes I am a whiny self important git

Don't worry, you are not alone on here. 😀

This is not an isolated issue, I think a lot of bike shops are firefighting the supply chain mess that we are currently in. They may not be the most pro active at communicating as they probably have many customers in the same boat, Pun entirely intended.

I ordered a new bike for my lad in July last year. It arrived end of Feb after 3 promised colour options, it still arrived a different colour to what was ordered. I had to drive the communication with the bike shop initially but they came good in the end and a good relationship was maintained throughout, chased the importer too only to get the same story. Fortunately my lad didn't know it was coming until it arrived. When it did arrive we couldn't give a monkeys about the delay and just got riding. All in, I would use the same bike shop tomorrow as they came good in the end and even put a care package in the box to sweeten the deal.

They are probably as frustrated as you are and might well be spending a lot of their time playing wack a mole with annoyed customers.

Without sounding critical, you'd be daft put money down on a Ragley/Vitus/Nukeproof with a LBS.

Hotlines/CRC/Wiggle will be favouring direct sales for the foreseeable, just sign up for stock alerts for any and all possible things you'd consider and be ready to move fast* if it comes into stock.

*Like within minutes.

I signed up for stock alerts on a Ragley frame that I was considering for my son and they were gone within an hour.  Thankfully I had already sorted out a frame!