I should have known better! This is not my first time having issues with Erik’s Bike Shop. The last time I had terrible customer service and issues was about 20 years ago when I got my son his first bike. So I had hoped they would improve, but they have not. So here I sit with a $3,400 bike and have only been able to ride it 11 days this year and 8 weeks in the shop.
Last year, I wanted to replace my 8-year-old e-bike (Surly Long Haul Trucker with a Bionx D-500 kit). That bike has over 10,000 miles on it with only minor repairs. I also have a Juiced Bike RipCurrent S and a RAD Mission. Being a heavier rider, I have always been cautious about the spoke strength. On June 7, 2022, I went to Erik’s Bike Shop in Eagan, where they had a sale. There, I found the Diamondback Current (https://www.diamondback.com/current-4661), which was on sale for $3,450.
Before I purchased the bike, I spoke at length with the sales staff about my concerns over my size, strength, and fear of spoke breaks. I explained that 20 years ago, I started focusing on the spoke strength as I had issues with breaks and sought a beefier wheel. In four of my last five bikes, there have been no problems with the spokes. The only issue I've had is that I built a custom wheel and have had no issues since. This wheel looked similar to the one I had problems with, and I had a rebuilt wheel completed. The salesman said, “A properly tensioned wheel will not be an issue.” I asked again, and a second time, he said it was not an issue. So, I trusted the statements and purchased the bike.
Since my Bionx was still working well, I rode the Diamondback less than 300 miles the first year. Then, in April of 2023, I started riding the Diamondback more. After about 400 miles, I noticed a spoke had broken at the hub. Since I was away on vacation, I had the spoke replaced, but could only ride 2 of my 7 planned vacation days! I came home, rode about another 100 miles, and spoke broken. That was four commutes to work on paved trails and no rough patches. So I took it to Eric’s, and over 24 days later, I got it back.
I rode it less than 150 miles (6 bike commutes) and another spoke broke. On June 20, I took it back to Erik’s, expressing my disappointment about the spokes and suggesting a stronger wheel. I was told they would call me “tomorrow” with options. On June 23 (days later), I got a call and expressed my issues and concerns, just like when I bought it. He suggested installing stronger spokes and said the bike should be ready on July 5. I told them I would hope to have it for my trip out of town starting on the 8th. I called on July 5 and was informed that the rim can handle more oversized spokes. I have also suggested a new wheel (over $225 fixed). I told them I was leaving on vacation and wanted to take the bike. He said it should be done on July 12, but not before I leave.
Frustratedly, I accepted the staff’s statements and hoped to have the bike when I returned. Since I had not heard from them, I called them on July 16 and was informed they expected to have it ready on July 24. The bike has been in the shop for over two months, and I've ridden it just 11 days this year.
My moral is not to trust Erik’s Bike Shop staff. I’m not sure how they stay in business. I have found that my bike knowledge may exceed their staff (who I think are more concerned with making a sale than listening to a customer’s concerns), and when I expressed concerns based on my knowledge, they said there was no issue.
1 comment:
Sorry to hear of your issues with Erik's, but glad to know you are still riding as much as always.
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