Planet X bikes

seany15

Hail centurions,

i want to hear stories about planet x bikes, good and bad!! My B2W is up next year, and while i need to upgrade, with another new bambino expected to land around the same time I'm looking for a bike, cash is tight enough. I want to upgrade as currently my racing bike is a 14yo steely with basic enough groupset. Don't get me wrong, i love the Paganini and it isn't like she hasn't served me well, with a win in an open race and several placings in the club league, but would like something a bit lighter and stiffer if I'm going to upgrade next year from A4.

so i know px do a full carbon with ultegra 11sp @ 1500yoyos, so that is my price point.

the reason i ask is that I've got two friends with planet x bikes, bought from the shop in athlone, and they both love the bikes and said service was great. But lately here I've seen comments regarding poor service, bad builds and even a "melting frame".

tl;dr - want new bike, planet x athlone good or bad??

Brian?

This melting frame nonsense has to be an urban legend. There is no way the resin used to bond carbon would melt in the sun.

Plastik

I've over 20,000km on an SL Pro carbon. It hasn't melted yet, and doesn't look like it's going to melt any time soon.

I bought through the shop in Athlone and had a poor experience. Wouldn't use again.

seany15

Plastik wrote: »

I've over 20,000km on an SL Pro carbon. It hasn't melted yet, and doesn't look like it's going to melt any time soon.

that's good to hear. Do you race it at all?

Plastik wrote: »

I bought through the shop in Athlone and had a poor experience. Wouldn't use again.

dare i ask for further details??

seany15

Brian? wrote: »

This melting frame nonsense has to be an urban legend. There is no way the resin used to bond carbon would melt in the sun.

i suspected that tbh. Like "my friend Michael knew a guy who's cousin's best friend's dog-walkers' bike melted"

mamax

Same as Plastik, I've a 3year old sl pro carbon and I'd be reluctant to change it any time soon, good bikes but some will knock them as they are cheaper than other bikes with the same spec.

Daroxtar

Brian? wrote: »

This melting frame nonsense has to be an urban legend. There is no way the resin used to bond carbon would melt in the sun.

No, It's if you get them wet. More disolve than melt










:pac:

Jawgap

I have an Uncle John, and while it's a great bike to ride I wouldn't be rushing back to them again. Just after I got it, three spokes on the back wheel broke.

Then the right shifter (SRAM) broke. Then one of the bottle cafe bosses sheared off. And I had to replace the headset.......all in the first year. But the last 18 months have been trouble-free.

Eamonnator

I have 2 Planet Xs.
One melted in the Sun, but it was a warm day and the bike was parked in a Sun trap. The other one dissolved in the rain, but in fairness, it was a very heavy shower.

Jawgap

Eamonnator wrote: »

I have 2 Planet Xs.
One melted in the Sun, but it was a warm day and the bike was parked in a Sun trap. The other one dissolved in the rain, but in fairness, it was a very heavy shower.

Happens to the best of them

Eamonnator

Here's a link to another thread about Planet X bikes.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057018253&page=5

Plastik

seany15 wrote: »

that's good to hear. Do you race it at all?

dare i ask for further details??

Yes it has seen plenty races and is still my race bike of choice for the club league if the weather is crap.

With regard to buying through Athlone, a few things. A stupidly long wait for the bike to come in despite them being in stock on the UK site. The bike came with a different spec to the one that I ordered - which I copped immediately and they set about taking parts off other bikes on show to rectify. Extremely difficult to get in contact with/return calls or emails once money was taken for the bike.

Nothing major, just a lot of little things that add up in the buying experience. This was back in 2011. Maybe things have changed now, I don't know who's working there these days, but I've no interest in finding out either.

seany15

Eamonnator wrote: »

Here's a link to another thread about Planet X bikes.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057018253&page=5

cheers for that. I think my mind is made up, def seems more happy than unhappy with them.

T-Maxx

I tried to buy a bike from them recently but eventually gave up. To say the service is piss poor would be an understatement.

I think the bikes are great value for money and would still buy one if:

1. The shop was closer
2. They actually carried stock or could get stock quickly from the UK
3. Had customer care
4. Website was updated

The current setup don't deserve to be in business.

BailMeOut

I ordered a Pro Carbon in Large/White with Rival from them and ended up cancelling the order as got tired waiting for delivery. They did not seem too bothered when I just gave up and told them to cancel the order in the end. That said they now may have better access to stock from UK not but I would recommend you double check first.

jober

I recently got a planet x pro carbon, ended up getting it from UK,
Guys in Athlone couldn't be bothered returning my calls or Emails all I wanted was a quote.I had blank cheque ready to go but for some reason they didn't want my money
The bike it's self I can't fault I love it

jamesd

I went to buy via the bike to work 3 yrs ago for my first road bike but they had no bike to try out for size or a small spin so i left it

AstraMonti

They melt, it's true. Mine melted down to 5.6kgs

poolboy

Bought an RT58 from Athlone earlier this year love the bike, service through the shop is casual to say the least if you're not in a hurry they'll get ther eventually and for me the bike I got for the money was worth it.

kao123

I tried to buy the RT57 in the past, Rang them and was told they had a few sizes in stock and to call in to the shop, drove from Limerick the next day, only 1 in stock, and it was being setup for a customer so I couldn't even see it!
Was told they would have them in stock in 3 days time.
Checked the UK site which had dropped the price of the RT-57 by about £300 if I remember, I called the Athlone shop to see if they will be doing the same... No was the answer.

Needless to say I took my €2000 elsewhere!
But wait there's more, about 6 weeks after this I get an email (depsite none of mine being answered) saying they now had stock of the RT-57 and would I like to proceed with my order - at the higher price too I might add !

While the bikes themselves are very good value and look damn nice, unless the staff have had some customer relations training I'd steer clear

Eamonnator

AstraMonti wrote: »

They melt, it's true. Mine melted down to 5.6kgs

My Nanolight is 6.6k, but in fairness to it, it is size XL

snailsong

Echoing what was said above...
I got an sl pro carbon in Athlone 2 years ago. The staff in Athlone didn't seem particularly bothered if they sold bikes or not. They won't return emails or co operate in any way.

The bike is fantastic though. No desire to change it.

ZiabR

With all of this talk about the shop in Athlone very poor, WHY has no one else decided to carry the Planet X bikes? I imagine if another shop could carry the stock and had good customer relations, the shop in Athlone would be forgotten about.

Daroxtar

logik wrote: »

With all of this talk about the shop in Athlone very poor, WHY has no one else decided to carry the Planet X bikes? I imagine if another shop could carry the stock and had good customer relations, the shop in Athlone would be forgotten about.

They probably have sole distribution rights for the country, which could explain their blasé attitude ; if you want the bike you have to go to them or the Internet

ZiabR

Daroxtar wrote: »

They probably have sole distribution rights for the country, which could explain their blasé attitude ; if you want the bike you have to go to them or the Internet

If Planet X knew how their "sole supplier" operated they may not think twice about taking the business off them and offering it out to tender. If you contact Planet X directly will they deal with you?

dakar

Since Athlone is such a poor buying experience, how have people found buying from the .co.uk site?

BailMeOut

Daroxtar wrote: »

They probably have sole distribution rights for the country, which could explain their blasé attitude ; if you want the bike you have to go to them or the Internet

in some defense of the Athlone folks I think they just cannot get bikes from the UK as needed.

dave_o_brien

dakar wrote: »

Since Athlone is such a poor buying experience, how have people found buying from the .co.uk site?

Only bought wheels and parts, but excellent. Was also recently in their Edinburgh shop, the staff there were sound.

ZiabR

BailMeOut wrote: »

in some defense of the Athlone folks I think they just cannot get bikes from the UK as needed.

If that is the case then say it is the case... Don't say you have stock or can get stock, take peoples money and then have them waiting 4-6 weeks to be told oh yeah we don't have stock and wont have it for awhile.

It is all about managing customers expectations. If I was told, "your bike wont be ready for 6 weeks" then fine, I have nothing to complain about. It is the lack of customer relations and contact that has people so pissed.

Eamonnator

dakar wrote: »

Since Athlone is such a poor buying experience, how have people found buying from the .co.uk site?

Fantastic.
I ordered my bike on a Tuesday. Got confirmation Email, was told, I would get another Email, telling me, when my bike would be built. Got Email on Thursday, saying my bike would be assembled that day. An hour later I got another email, asking, if I was was happy with my order, last chance to change.That evening, got another email, saying my bike was built and would be dispatched on Friday.
On the following Tuesday, my bike arrived.
As I recall, Both wheels were installed. All I had to do, was twist and tighten handlebars and install pedals.

seany15

dakar wrote: »

Since Athlone is such a poor buying experience, how have people found buying from the .co.uk site?

i would just go with that, but as I'm using b2w i think I'll need to go to the shop, not sure if they take b2w.

Chartsengrafs

Eamonnator wrote: »

Fantastic.
I ordered my bike on a Tuesday. Got confirmation Email, was told, I would get another Email, telling me, when my bike would be built. Got Email on Thursday, saying my bike would be assembled that day. An hour later I got another email, asking, if I was was happy with my order, last chance to change.That evening, got another email, saying my bike was built and would be dispatched on Friday.
On the following Tuesday, my bike arrived.
As I recall, Both wheels were installed. All I had to do, was twist and tighten handlebars and install pedals.

Mind me asking how much was the shipping?

Tibulus

I called to the shop a while back and was disappointed that they hadn't any bikes in stock to try out, again got the impression that I wasn't really wanted there.

Still going to buy a bike there all the same. Think the value and quality is too good to walk away from. The RT57 with full Ultegra and sealed bearing wheels for 1750eur or a Lapierre-Sensium-200 or Giant-Defy-Composite-2 with partial 105 and ball bearing wheels for 1600eur.

Will be more that delighted if someone here can correct me and find that spec for similar price.

Would buy from the UK Planet X if it was not for the cycle to work scheme.

mathie

Are Planet X UK Irish VAT registered?

Tibulus

mathie wrote: »

Are Planet X UK Irish VAT registered?

I doubt it very much, sent an email earlier but I would be very surprised if they were.

Know CRC are but they advertise in the Irish market and sell a decent volume of bikes here.

gripcasey

Customer service is terrible. Friend order bike using b2w scheme 6 weeks ago still waiting for bike. He is cracking up, regrets using them now.

Eamonnator

Basster wrote: »

Mind me asking how much was the shipping?

It was 24.68 Euro. It probably would have cost me as much to travel to Athlone.

ronnie3585

Is it possible to use the BTW scheme to buy direct from their .co.uk site?

Tibulus

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Is it possible to use the BTW scheme to buy direct from their .co.uk site?

No, I emailed last week.

12 element

Tibulus wrote: »

No, I emailed last week.

Isn't that up to your Employer?

dave_o_brien

12 element wrote: »

Isn't that up to your Employer?

Yes. You are not restricted by the Irish Government to buying anywhere. All answers are contained in the thread below, which is in the FAQ of the charter.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056382170#

Tibulus

12 element wrote: »

Isn't that up to your Employer?

Here is the response that I got from Planet X UK.

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately if this is the cycle to work scheme run throughout the Republic of Ireland we are unable to assist from the UK store this would need to go through our Irish store. This is due to currency and taxation differences.

We can assist with the Northern Ireland cycle to work orders.

Kind Regards
Kirsty
Planet X Cycle to Work/Customer Service

Will be getting a planet X RT57 or RT58 when I get the cash together.

Called to the shop a few weeks back to take a look, the only RT bike was a customers bike that was left in for service. Disappointed but was impressed with the product.

ronnie3585

Tibulus wrote: »

Here is the response that I got from Planet X UK.

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately if this is the cycle to work scheme run throughout the Republic of Ireland we are unable to assist from the UK store this would need to go through our Irish store. This is due to currency and taxation differences.

We can assist with the Northern Ireland cycle to work orders.

Kind Regards
Kirsty
Planet X Cycle to Work/Customer Service

Will be getting a planet X RT57 or RT58 when I get the cash together.

Called to the shop a few weeks back to take a look, the only RT bike was a customers bike that was left in for service. Disappointed but was impressed with the product.

Well balls.

I was hoping to avoid their Irish shop given the waves of negative reviews and the fact that the same bikes are more expensive here than in the UK.

Tibulus

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Well balls.

I was hoping to avoid their Irish shop given the waves of negative reviews and the fact that the same bikes are more expensive here than in the UK.

Might be worth sending an email. If they see enough interest they might start.

12 element

ronnie3585 wrote: »

Well balls.

I was hoping to avoid their Irish shop given the waves of negative reviews and the fact that the same bikes are more expensive here than in the UK.

They don't need to organise anything the only thing that may be a problem is that they need to not charge UK VAT when your Employer provides them with their own Irish VAT number.

Plastik

They might be assuming that you're using some sort of btw voucher.

ronnie3585

Tibulus wrote: »

Might be worth sending an email. If they see enough interest they might start.

I emailed Planet X UK and got exactly the same reply you got - "for currency and taxation differences we are unable to process Cycle Scheme requests for the Republic of Ireland".

To give their Irish shop the benefit of the doubt I thought I'd phone them to see if they've any RT58s in stock. I've phoned three times each day since Monday and the phone hasn't been picked up once. I do not understand how they can run a business without picking up the phone!

Tibulus

Hopefully if enough of us email the UK store they might start with the Irish scheme.

BailMeOut

Op - have you test cycled a Planet-X yet? I too was mad keen to buy one but fortunately for me the Athlone folks never responded to my calls or emails so ended up going elsewhere. I say fortunately as just recently I had an opportunity to take a buddy's new SL-Pro for a spin and I hated it! The group-set on it I liked but the ride felt flimsy compared to my bike. I know it was only one spin of about 20kms but it was definitely not the bike for me.

Tibulus

BailMeOut wrote: »

Op - the ride felt flimsy compared to my bike. .

This is simply preference and the problem with buying from the UK site without trying the bike out first and alos with the Irish store not having bikes in stock.

You wouldn't buy a car without a test drive and if you have driven a VW for 20 years changing to a Ford or Toyota may not be for you. Not saying that Ford or Toyota is a bad car you just developed a preference for VW.

I know at least 20 people with Planet X bikes and are very happy. The fact that I live 30 minutes from Athlone makes Planet X a good option for our club.

seany15

BailMeOut wrote: »

Op - have you test cycled a Planet-X yet? I too was mad keen to buy one but fortunately for me the Athlone folks never responded to my calls or emails so ended up going elsewhere. I say fortunately as just recently I had an opportunity to take a buddy's new SL-Pro for a spin and I hated it! The group-set on it I liked but the ride felt flimsy compared to my bike. I know it was only one spin of about 20kms but it was definitely not the bike for me.

I've not tried a road bike, as the bike is a 52, and I'm 6'0 tall, so i don't imagine I'd get a true idea of what the 56/58 might feel like. I've taken another friends TT out and liked the feel of it.