Cuffy/Skill - Stafford customer service thread - Stafford retailers reports.

[Gramaisc]

Jesus! but my 45 years driving and years no claims helped me.

Just done a job for a chap who's told me that he's going to pack in running a car when the current insurance runs out in May - got his motorbike licence in 1930 - no claims, convictions or points - so far..

80 years is going to be difficult to beat.

 

[henryscat]

Cuffy to Henry Burton Cycles.
Went in with bike this morning and asked if they could fit two new tyres. A job that any half decent bike shop should be able to do....
First person watched me struggle through the door with bike (it closes really quick). Explained what I was after, sharp intake of breath "oooh, don't know if we touch those bikes". (Its got hub gears- not particularly unusual). Bloke comes out from workshop, further sharp intakes of breath "nope we don't touch hubs". He then helpfully suggested Halfords (!) and with that grabbed my bike, wheeled it out onto the street, practically chucking me out the place.
So, that's one shop I won't be setting foot back in. What kind of bike shop can't deal with hub gears and suggests Halfrauds as being even half competent?!! And then basically throw you out the shop.

 

[Gramaisc]

hub gears

Is it one of those Shimano Nexus 7/8 speed hubs? I quite fancy that system. I once took a Sturmey Archer apart and had quite a few bits left over when I'd put it back together, but it worked perfectly for years afterwards..

Had a similar experience in there once - wouldn't sell me a part - I suspect because I didn't look like I knew what it really was - so I got one from Halfords.

 

[Rikki]

I can't see why a hub gear would make any difference to changing a tyre to someone who's supposed to know what there doing.

 

[Glam]

I haven't touched owt from Henry Burtons for about 20years,bloke in there did exactly the same to me! I had at the time a little shopper bike,one of the pedals snapped off and I took it there to see if it could be fixed. He took 1 look and said we don't do whatever it were and practically threw me n bike out the door. He could have said sorry no we can't repair a it and maybe suggest somewhere that could,but I were slung out. Never been back there since.

Edited for terrible spelling!

 

[gon2seed]

Should have gone to, 'Radio Rentals?' NO Back to Bikes!
Oh yeah! Didn't exist 20 years ago! Tis good though and, very reasonable, and fiendly staff!

http://www.back2bikes.org.uk/

 

[tek-monkey]

If HB can't handle hub gears I sure as chuff wouldn't want a whole bike assembling by them!

 

[wizzard]

Yeah went in there with a housemate once to fix his bike, they wouldn't touch it nor would Aztec Cycles.

 

[henryscat]

Is it one of those Shimano Nexus 7/8 speed hubs? I quite fancy that system. I once took a Sturmey Archer apart and had quite a few bits left over when I'd put it back together, but it worked perfectly for years afterwards..

Yep, Nexus 7 speed, on one of these: http://www.dawescycles.com/p-429-geneva-gents.aspx

Top marks go to Specialized shop on Eastgate Street who were brilliant and very helpful, so will be going back there.

 

[henryscat]

Since telling various people about experience at HB, have heard quite a few negative tales about them.

Would recommend Specialized though, couldn't fault their customer service.

 

[John Marwood]

Double cuffy to kaminski - two missed pick ups at the airport

Cretins

 

[proactive]

Since telling various people about experience at HB, have heard quite a few negative tales about them.

John Burton's problem is that he's not really interested in any bike he didn't sell himself. Used to to buy my bikes there years ago and nothing was too much trouble, went in about 18 months ago wanting him to do a service and replace both tyres on my Saratoga Elite and he didn't want to know.

Used Aztec instead and they were fine. Have heard many good reports about Specialized though.

 

[Markerat]

http://www.bookmysurvey.com/

Bookmysurvey Ltd,
Unit 2, Tilcon Avenue,
Baswich,
Stafford, Staffordshire, UK,
ST18 0YJ.

They told me that the work would be done in 4-7 days, that was 3 weeks ago and still waiting.

When I phone up for an explanation of what the problem is I get a different answer every time.

My friend saw all the problems I have been having and went with a firm from Manchester who completed all the work installing the solar panels in a single day to his complete satisfaction.

Book my survey = book my nightmare

 

[Toble]

The Police

For failing to respond when a taxi driver was being assaulted outside the police station on friday night.

 

[tek-monkey]

http://www.bookmysurvey.com/

Bookmysurvey Ltd,
Unit 2, Tilcon Avenue,
Baswich,
Stafford, Staffordshire, UK,
ST18 0YJ.

They told me that the work would be done in 4-7 days, that was 3 weeks ago and still waiting.

When I phone up for an explanation of what the problem is I get a different answer every time.

My friend saw all the problems I have been having and went with a firm from Manchester who completed all the work installing the solar panels in a single day to his complete satisfaction.

Book my survey = book my nightmare

How much are the panels costing, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Markerat]

http://www.bookmysurvey.com/

Bookmysurvey Ltd,
Unit 2, Tilcon Avenue,
Baswich,
Stafford, Staffordshire, UK,
ST18 0YJ.

They told me that the work would be done in 4-7 days, that was 3 weeks ago and still waiting.

When I phone up for an explanation of what the problem is I get a different answer every time.

My friend saw all the problems I have been having and went with a firm from Manchester who completed all the work installing the solar panels in a single day to his complete satisfaction.

Book my survey = book my nightmare

How much are the panels costing, if you don't mind me asking?

There was a bit of a hoo har regards a pipe sticking out the roof that prevented me from having a full array. Being that I'm a practical chap I went up with a saw and removed the pipe and fitted an aerator to remove this issue. Hopefully now they're fitting a Sunny boy 3000 HF Inverter and 14 Schott PV 235.
I can't exactly say how much its costing as I just told the MD when he just got here that I'm not truly chuffed, especially as my friend had his fit in one day complete. Given I'm still not installed its embarrassing to say the least.
The original quote was a SB2500HF + 12 Schott 235 panels at £11,000.
I was told the two extra panels will be at cost i.e. approx £550 each due to the inconvenience experienced.

One other point I would like to make is that I was told they wanted a 25% deposit originally. Yesterday they said they wanted the remainder of the balance without the work being completed which is very bloody suspicious. I just hope that this doesn't end up in court.

 

[tek-monkey]

**** that, you don't pay for a service if it aint done yet!

 

[Markerat]

**** that, you don't pay for a service if it aint done yet!

The MD just came back and told me the installers who did my friends house in a day have to come back to do some rectification to it. There are some issues with his install which aren't up to code apparently (MCS).

He also said due to my problems raised that he's now upgrading me to Schott 240 panel instead of 235. With regards to the additional price of the two panels he said £500 extra total which is cheap as chips. I'm thinking that the additional price of the panels and the upgrade might actually make me feel compensated.

If I get everything I've been promised at the price promised with the quality quoted I might actually retract what I said about the company and give them a skill not a cuffy. We'll see what happens obviously before we pop any champagne corks.

 

[db]

sky +1 skill

i phoned them to say "hi virgin have just called me to offer me one of their flash new tivo boxes and i have to say it's a hard offer to pass up, so i'd like to cancel my contract i'm afraid," (all bollards, of course)..

they passed me to "cancellations" (i.e. the retentions team), who promptly offered me a 1TB HD box and credited my account with £100 in order to stay.. i accepted, natch

they told me the box would arrive on sunday (yes, sunday - i clarified this, and apparently they deliver at weekends).. it turned up today, i installed it with ne'ry a quiver of a problem, and even got the new remote control to work with the TV (i.e. control the volume, etc.).. the EPG is so much quicker & easier to navigate than regular sky+, i would recommend it to anyone on that basis alone!

so yeah, in a nutshell i got a 1TB box and HD free for a year, all for just making a phone call.. brapples!

 

[My Name is URL]

DB, sorry to be nosey - what package do you subscribe to?

£100 credit on the minimum package (think its £18 a month now) is equivalent to 5 and a bit months free which isn't bad at all....

If you have the full shebang though, its about 2 months free which is ok but not my cup of tea....