Bikeshop broke my bike while trying to repair it.

Usjes

Hi,

Anyone know what my rights are regarding a bike shop breaking my bike in an attempt to fix it? I left my bike in to have the front bracket replaced (the big cog at the front that the chain goes around), as the bearings were gone. They quoted €45. I got a voicemail that said in the process of trying to replace the bracket they broke some other part of the bike. They said they would try to repair it but that such repairs are usually not successful so I'd be better off buying a new bike, so I'm guessing the broken part is pretty fundamental probably the frame. So does anyone know what my rights are here? Do I have to accept their effort at 'repairing' their own damage, might I even have to pay them extra for this repair work? If it is unrepairable do they owe me a new bike?? The bike itself was only 18months old an cost €270.

Thanks,

Usjes.

Fallen Buckshot

If they are a longstanding reputable bike shop and they cant repair the damage they caused trying to fix the bike ..yes they essentially owe you a replacement...most shops i would say are bonded/insured in case this happens.

funkyjebus

yes. they owe you.
also they cannot insure against defective workmanship. it will be ther own cost to bare. but the point being that you would not be in your current situation if not for their negligence and they at the very least should indemnify you to the point you where at before you brought it to them

Usjes

Apparently, I 'misunderstood' and they didn't break it but rather it 'fell apart' as they were trying to fix it. I find this kind of hard to believe as its a relatively new bike and I was cycling it only yesterday, but if they stick to this version of events does this mean they owe me nothing and may charge me for their labour ?
Looking at it objectively this is quite a gray area, how do you draw the line between something which is so badly gone that it cant be fixed and something which they break accidentally in the process of trying to replace something ? Or should they have warned me in advance that it might be too far gone to simply replace the part?

NUTLEY BOY

funkyjebus wrote: »

also they cannot insure against defective workmanship. it will be ther own cost to bare.

Why not ?

RangeR

Usjes wrote: »

Apparently, I 'misunderstood' and they didn't break it but rather it 'fell apart' as they were trying to fix it. I find this kind of hard to believe as its a relatively new bike and I was cycling it only yesterday, but if they stick to this version of events does this mean they owe me nothing and may charge me for their labour ?
Looking at it objectively this is quite a gray area, how do you draw the line between something which is so badly gone that it cant be fixed and something which they break accidentally in the process of trying to replace something ? Or should they have warned me in advance that it might be too far gone to simply replace the part?

You need to talk to the shop and identify exactly what broke and how bad. You making a visual inspection would probably be best.

Shop has a duty of care to protect your property on their premises.

Last stop shop would be Small Claims Court but only as a last resort. This will cost you a princely sum of approx €15. you can even do it online.