Terrible customer service. I put a bicycle in for a tuneup and it required some new parts as well…read more I received a phone call and a text stating the bike was ready. So I went to pick the bike up, was told it was good to go, paid the $500 + bill, and only after I paid did they tell me the bike was unsafe to ride.
They waited until after I paid to let me know my bike is unsafe to ride. There was a pre existing crack in the frame that I was not aware of. It is very seedy to knowingly let a customer pay for something they know to be unsafe. I tried to see if we could work out a deal to where I paid for the parts put onto the bike, or for any kind of resolution, knowing they did work on the bike. But, I was told it was not their problem. Per the owner's response:
"The crack was found after the work was completed."
Let that sink in.
I paid for a "New Bike Feel" tune up package and the first thing of that service is (per Cadence's Website) a "Full bicycle strip down & overhaul of the frame (includes bottom bracket, hubs, & headset)."
The location of the large crack was down on the bottom bracket. The second the front chain ring was pulled to service the frame and bottom bracket, the mechanic could clearly see the gouge and crack, work should have ceased on an unsafe frame, and I as the owner of the frame should have been notified in order to either approve any continued work, or to tell them not to waste their time servicing an unsafe bike I can no longer ride.
However, we are being told the crack was found AFTER the work was completed. This tells me that one of three things has occurred:
1) At best the mechanic is inept and missed a clear safety concern while he was working on the bike (what else has been missed while servicing the community's bicycles?)
2) That they did not deliver on their promise to service the frame and bottom bracket and that is why the crack was missed until after the other parts were installed on the bike. Either way, they happily and greedily took my money.
3) This was an intentional act and they weaponized ignorance for a money grab by a seedy and greedy shop owner.
Anytime I have dropped something off at a mechanic, whether it be a bicycle, my car, or even my lawnmower, the second a safety concern was found, I was notified of the matter for it to be addressed. I've even been told by mechanics that they will not work on my truck because it is too old, too worn out, and flat out too unsafe. I can respect that because it was honest and the shop was not going to let me waste my money. I paid for the work done because it was right and moved onto a new vehicle.
However, here we have a shop that will either miss something completely and claim ignorance. Or, we have a shop that willfully and intentionally wastes your money knowing that they are working on an unsafe product you should not use.
The shop claimed they called me (which is technically true), but I have a text stating the bike is ready for pickup and voicemail stating the same thing. Even when I was standing at the cash register, chatting with the sales associate, money in hand, I was not made aware of the issue.
At no time was I made aware of the safety concerns until AFTER they wasted and took my money.
One way or another, Cadence made a mistake and refused to own up to that mistake. This shop seems to only care about an issue AFTER they waste your hard earned money. I recommend everyone steers clear of Seedy Greedy Cadence Cyclery.
edit 1) including a picture of the crack that was missed until after