I really wanted to like Deerfield Cyclery. I live in Deerfield and want to support local businesses (even if it costs a little more), especially small family owned businesses. However, today was my 4th experience there and 3 out of 4 have been very disappointing.
The first time I knew what I needed and so it was easy.
The second time was frustrating as the fellow helping me did not seem to know what he was talking about and I ended up coming out of there with the wrong thing ('oh well', I thought 'no big deal' and maybe I should have done more research/googling on my own).
The third time I brought in a bike that needed some work on the front wheel. The young man who took in my bike immediately said what the issue was (something about spokes needing to be adjusted). I felt good about the outcome and also had them do a few other things as long as it was there. When I picked up the bike and got it home, the issue was still there and perhaps even worse. So it seemed to me that they just did some work based on an initial assumption that they knew what the issue was but did not test it or investigate it at all. I took it back and one of the more experienced guys helped me. As it turns out, all it needed was a new tire. So I had to make two trips, I ended up having work done that was not needed, and ended up spending money that did not need to be spent. And with this, no one there ever just said something along the lines of sorry for the hassle, etc.
A few days ago I dropped off two bikes to have various issues addresses, a tune up, etc. Today I went to pick up one that needed two new tires. When paying, the cost was about $33 more than what the guy estimated when I dropped it off (he had said ~$80-85 but the cost ended up being $116). Next, as I took it out of the store I noticed that the front speedometer was completely loose and hanging upside down, as well as that the rear light was at a 90-degree angle of where it should be.
I would have expected the bike to come back in better (if not the same, as far as not creating any new issues or stuff for me to have to do) or equal condition as when I left it there. I brought the bike back in, asked for Greg (the owner), and explained to him the issue with this bike and the one I took there for work in the fall (2016), expressing frustration that this is now two bike repairs in a row that are not right/complete.
Greg's response seemed to be suggesting that those were existing issues when I brought it in. They were not. However, if they were I just hoped/expected that they might take the 2 minutes to adjust those issues as part of being a good business.
Greg said he would fix these two minor issues on the spot - and he did. But I also asked for my other bike back before they worked on it as I was not willing to have this happen to a third bike. And just like last time, Greg did not say anything along the lines of sorry for the hassle, etc.
I was not looking for some sort of a huge, profuse, or dramatic apology but I did think that he might comment somewhat about this now being second time this has happened. Instead, he said nothing.
With a 75% failure rate, it is time to find a new bike store... read more