Bike shop sold a bike I had paid for to someone else

Zapho

Hey everyone,

Just looking for some advice here. I recently bought a bike (paid in full) from my local bike shop but couldn't collect it when I bought it. The bike shop offered to hold onto it until I was ready to collect it (this is a service they provide).

Anyway, I went looking for the bike 6 weeks ago. I rang them in advance so that they'd have it ready when I arrived. No luck - they guy forgot to get it out of storage. Fair enough, I thought, I'll get it next week. This happened every week until, finally, last wednesday when I went in and he told me that he had "accidentally" sold the bike to someone else.

He has offered me another bike which may or may not be worth the price I paid originally (I'm no bike expert so I can't tell). But regardless, I don't want that bike. I wanted the one I paid for and to be honest I just don't trust the guy anymore.

I assume I'm entitled to a full refund here, but I just want to be sure and get some opinions. What do you think?

Forest Master

Yeah - 100% entitled to full refund - and I'd ask for a full refund too on general principle, regardless of what they offer you. Go elsewhere.
Also - make the manager aware of what happened.

Oryx

If youve paid your money, but havent been given the item you paid for, then they have not fulfilled the contract and you are entitled to a full refund. Not another bike, or a credit note, or anything else. (Unless you decide to take another offer)

Out of interest, how long did you leave it between paying and your first attempt to collect the bike?

Zapho

Forest Master wrote: »

Yeah - 100% entitled to full refund - and I'd ask for a full refund too on general principle, regardless of what they offer you. Go elsewhere.
Also - make the manager aware of what happened.

Good to know, thanks! Originally, I was going to see what else they would offer me, but I agree that on general principle, I should take my business elsewhere.

Oryx wrote: »

Out of interest, how long did you leave it between paying and your first attempt to collect the bike?

They had it for 2 weeks (saturday to saturday) before I first attempted to collect it. Bike storage wasn't just a favour for me though - Its something that they offer. They told me that many of their customers want to jump at an offer for but can't take the bike there and then so they hold them in storage indefinately.

Slasher

If the guy refuses to give a full refund, what are you going to do? Go to court? Go to the Gardai? I suppose you could go to the Small Claims Court, which is OK if you can afford to take time off work.

I would try to get another bike from him. Can he supply a bike the same as the one you purchased? Unless there was something unique about the bike, surely he can get another from the distributor. That is what you should ask for first.

failing that, as a goodwill gesture for the inconvenience he has caused to you, he should, although he is not obliged to, offer you a slightly better bike than the one you had purchased.

Sounds like he's a bit disorganised at best, or a bit of a cowboy at worst.

Good luck.

snappieT

Slasher wrote: »

I suppose you could go to the Small Claims Court, which is OK if you can afford to take time off work.

You don't have to take time off to go to SCC. It's an online application. Once the bike shop owner receives notice that he's being taken to court, he will almost certainly cave.