Repairing a broken mudguard - no charge?

shamrock2004

Hi boardsies

I bought my bike back in may and ordered these fancy mud guards from the shop also, which they fitted.

Last week while cycling, the back mud guard plate (very thin sheet of metal which connects it to the back brake) snapped completely and the mud guard was basically unsupported and rattling all over the place. It's just millimeters from rubbing against the back tyre. I brought it down to the shop to get repaired and they said it's not covered under the receipt and that they only come in pairs but that they could do a job to secure it up some way.

Do mud guards normally have a 3 month life-cycle? Should I push them to repair it free of charge?

Thanks

sconhome

It's normally a little L bracket on these that is quite light. Very easy replaced or doctored using a strip of light gauge metal with a mounting hole drilled into it.

Store should do it with minimal fuss. Though if broken from a kick getting on or off the bike, that's not normal wear and tear either.

Del2005

shamrock2004 wrote: »

Hi boardsies

I bought my bike back in may and ordered these fancy mud guards from the shop also, which they fitted.

Last week while cycling, the back mud guard plate (very thin sheet of metal which connects it to the back brake) snapped completely and the mud guard was basically unsupported and rattling all over the place. It's just millimeters from rubbing against the back tyre. I brought it down to the shop to get repaired and they said it's not covered under the receipt and that they only come in pairs but that they could do a job to secure it up some way.

Do mud guards normally have a 3 month life-cycle? Should I push them to repair it free of charge?

Thanks

It depends on how much they cost. If you buy cheap ones from Dealz you don't expect them to last, but if you pay a lot for them then they should last a reasonable time. IMO 3 months for mudguards from a cycle shop is not a reasonable time, provided that they where correctly fitted and used, so the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act has 3 options Repair Replace or Refund.

The shop has the choice of what to offer but any repairs have to be permanent. Look up Citizens Information for more information and be polite when dealing with the shop, no harm in having a copy of the information from citizens information to hand in case the shop staff aren't trained correctly.

shamrock2004

Del2005 wrote: »

It depends on how much they cost. If you buy cheap ones from Dealz you don't expect them to last, but if you pay a lot for them then they should last a reasonable time. IMO 3 months for mudguards from a cycle shop is not a reasonable time, provided that they where correctly fitted and used, so the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act has 3 options Repair Replace or Refund.

The shop has the choice of what to offer but any repairs have to be permanent. Look up Citizens Information for more information and be polite when dealing with the shop, no harm in having a copy of the information from citizens information to hand in case the shop staff aren't trained correctly.

No, definitely not normal wear and tear. Total cost was €45 for both of them. Not sure if that is cheap or not for mud guards?

Type 17

Del2005 wrote: »

...IMO 3 months for mudguards from a cycle shop is not a reasonable time, provided that they where correctly fitted and used, so the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act has 3 options Repair Replace or Refund.

The shop has the choice of what to offer but any repairs have to be permanent. Look up Citizens Information for more information and be polite when dealing with the shop, no harm in having a copy of the information from citizens information to hand in case the shop staff aren't trained correctly.

This.
The Act says the goods "must be of merchantable quality & fit for purpose", and the purpose of usable-quality mudguards is to last longer than 3 months on a bike (assuming no unusual damage/usage).

€45 implies that they are of reasonable quality (once you weren't ripped off with cheap ones), so the shop should offer you a refund, repair or replacement.

Del2005

shamrock2004 wrote: »

No, definitely not normal wear and tear. Total cost was €45 for both of them. Not sure if that is cheap or not for mud guards?

€45 mudguards should outlast the bike.

shamrock2004

Thanks for this lads. Yeh i'll be prepared when I go to collect the bike after the repairs to quote my right that they be repaired free of charge as I take good care of my bike (a road bike) and there is nothing I did purposefully to compound the damage.

route66

shamrock2004 wrote: »

Hi boardsies

I bought my bike back in may and ordered these fancy mud guards from the shop also, which they fitted.

Last week while cycling, the back mud guard plate (very thin sheet of metal which connects it to the back brake) snapped completely and the mud guard was basically unsupported and rattling all over the place. It's just millimeters from rubbing against the back tyre. I brought it down to the shop to get repaired and they said it's not covered under the receipt and that they only come in pairs but that they could do a job to secure it up some way.

Do mud guards normally have a 3 month life-cycle? Should I push them to repair it free of charge?

Thanks

These brackets can break easily enough - e.g. something picked up from the road can be dragged into the gap between the tyre and the 'guard and break something. Genberally, they don't self-destruct ...

Have a look here for parts: link. Something like this might do the job.

Del2005

route66 wrote: »

These brackets can break easily enough - e.g. something picked up from the road can be dragged into the gap between the tyre and the 'guard and break something. Genberally, they don't self-destruct ...

Have a look here for parts: link. Something like this might do the job.

Not of merchantable quality if a mudguard part breaks from picking stuff up from the road. The OP bought mudguards for a road bike they shouldn't be required to purchase extra parts, especially not after 3 months and at costing €45.

arybvtcw0eolkf

I'm always dumbfounded by the number of people who don't know their consumer rights in this country.

Bring the mudguards back and demand a repair or replacement, €45 is no small change ffs.

route66

Del2005 wrote: »

Not of merchantable quality if a mudguard part breaks from picking stuff up from the road. The OP bought mudguards for a road bike they shouldn't be required to purchase extra parts, especially not after 3 months and at costing €45.

Maybe my view is based on the fact that I tend to fit this type of stuff myself on my own bikes. I broke this very type of bracket recently when fitting mudguards to my Trek Hybrid. They are easy to break if mishandled or I suppose if they are hit by something picked up on the road.

I just accepted this as my problem, my fault and sorted it myself.

shamrock2004

Hi all. An update. When I went to collect my bike, they had replaced the mud guards free of charge. Thanks all.