Sorry, just bear with me as I'm feeling a bit glum.
I've been trying to buy a turbo trainer to do some indoor cycling as I'm currently recovering from my third heart attack in 13 months (the fact that I've suddenly started getting angina again has rather heightened the feeling that this might initially be safer than outdoor cycling).
I ordered a Wahoo Snap from CRC who promptly cancelled it the next day, then I spotted an Elite Direto at a very good price with Decathlon which I ordered on 08/12/20. The delivery date was 21/12/20 but the price seemed worth the wait (Decathlon confirmed that the Direto would be dispatched on 18/12/20).
So it was with some surprise that I logged onto my account today to find that the order had been cancelled (a cancellation email did eventually come through).
Now I understand that things go wrong, it can't be helped, but I'm a bit miffed that it took Decathlon 10 days to work out that they didn't have the item I'd paid for. During this time I contacted customer service twice (the first when the Direto started showing as out of stock) about whether the order would be honoured and be with me before Christmas; both times Decathlon confirmed the order was going through and even went as far to tell me that my Direto had been requested and dispatched from their French warehouse. What's particularly galling is that during this time Wahoo started showing stock (which has gone now of course) so I could have cancelled and bought from them.
The other issue is that I've been saving up Microsoft Reward points for years and converted them into £85 of Decathlon Gift Cards specifically for this order (I could have converted them into Halfords vouchers or kept saving them for something else); they've already sent replacement cards but to be honest I can't see myself using Decathlon again (they haven't got back to me about refunding the Gift Cards as cash).
I did get in touch with Customer Service who simply state that the item was Direto was cancelled as it was out of stock and that I should get my money back in 3-5 days (the basic excuse seems to be that their stock control systems aren't very good - the Diretos are currently showing as in stock again despite cancelling mine).
I guess it's a fairly impotent rant, Decathlon don't have the Direto (and really don't seem fussed) so there you are.
I don't suppose that anyone knows anyone that has a decent turbon trainer in stock around the £600 mark (Halfords had Suitos in stock when I ordered they Direto but they're out of stock now) although I'm stuck with £85 of Decathlon gift cards (CRC have Diretos in stock but they're £170 more that Decathlon were selling them for).
That’s a not very mini mini rant.
I feel your pain, we were desperate for DUB BB's, the importers had no stock for 6 weeks, so we paid through the nose for some from Decathlon as they were showing in stock- 6 weeks later they eventually turned up.
Whereabouts are you?
I'm in Street in Somerset.
I'm probably just a bit wound up at the moment. Hopefully they'll restock in the new year and I'll be able to get something sorted.
That’s a not very mini mini rant.
I do have a propensity to waffle 🙄
i could be wrong, but as i understand it if they actually took your money for the item then they are obligated by law to supply the item you paid for at the price you paid.
i am not a lawyer and it was a long time ago that i studied contract law
Sorry I am in Tier 3 West Berks otherwise you could borrow mine...maybe someone else???
I have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine (dumb fluid trainer) that you could borrow for a few weeks. I am about 45 mins away (Keynsham)
Thanks anagallis_arvensis and Eskay it's very kind of you both. I don't drive so I'm a bit limited.
I'm currently going through another cardiac rehab. group so I'm getting my exercise and hopefully I can get something sorted early in the New Year (hopefully suppliers will be restocking) and who knows what the secondhand market might have to offer.
If the weather's not too cold I might even manage some short outdoor rides.
There's some turbo trainers on PX and they have a free p&p promo until midnight tonight on all products.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Elite/Direto-XR-OTS-Turbo-Trainer/QPTN is claiming to be in stock.
FWIW they pulled similar shit on a (yes, "only" a) seatpost I ordered - I don't mind OOS but belated notice of OOS just wastes your time. Not sure I'll order from them again either
PJay, did you see the post on here a few days ago from somebody who'd set up a notification "service" for turbos ??
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/smart-turbo-trainer-smart-bike-stock-alerts/#post-11516833
Thanks for that Scaredypants, that looks useful.
Halfords have Direto Xs in stock but they're £170 more than I paid Decathlon for the Direto (plus I'm effectively £85 down holding Decathlon Gift Cards).
Swinnertons have stock
i could be wrong, but as i understand it if they actually took your money for the item then they are obligated by law to supply the item you paid for at the price you paid.
I *think* that their credit card contracts (not laws) will state that they shouldn't take the money until the goods are despatched, which it sounds like they complied with, but their stock system was inaccurate.
Decathlon are weird, but they do have keen pricing on stuff if you're prepared to wait (and int his case, risk disappointment).
We've just got a Zumo from Halfords, that was pretty painless, and they're a fair chunk cheaper than the Direto.
I got a zumo from Halfords as well. BC discount as well.
Think some decathlon stuff is from the central warehouse in France, and seems to take ages if it is. I also ordered a direto (I think) from Decathlon, but that was cancelled straight away. I was never convinced I was gonna get it anyway...
They do have some good prices though, got a Magic Mary for £35 the other week.
Had same happen to me with Decathlon albeit for a rear derailleur, showed as instock when ordered and for several days after, 2weeks later when its was due to be shipped(as per intial emails) order cancelled as out of stock and refund issued.
Personally wouldnt order anything online with them now due to the above, but live close enough to visit a store if needed.
Dont get me started on Decathlons sizing though.
dispatched from their French warehouse. What’s particularly
gallingGauling
Their website ordering is really clunky. I asked them if it was so due them being french and thus using out of date IT systems......
Oh well, I'm not getting much joy here. In fairness the cash component of the order was returned promptly and I've be sent new Gift Cards.
I posted a 1 star Trustpilot review which they were onto in a shot and were apparently looking into store stock to see if they could find anything. I was also promised a call from the "Customer Loyalty Team" to see how they could improve things.
Needless to say the call never came and to date there's been no update or, indeed, any communication; they seem to be ignoring my requests (online & via email) for a cash refund of the Gift Cards so that I can shop elsewhere. I might be being cynical (perhaps I should give them more time) but I suspect that they're simply trying to appear helpful to mitigate a bad review.
Have the chance of a Direto-X from elsewhere but it's £170 more than the Direto (£255 if you factor in the Gift Card discount) and I'm not sure about that.
Anyone want to swap Halfords Gift Cards for Decathlon ones?
Wiggle are showing the Direto in stock at the moment.
Edit: looks like it’s not the x version
Yes, CRC have it too although it's overpriced at £769 which is the price of the Direto-X elsewhere. Decathlon has the Direto at £599 (which is why I went to them).
Hopefully the New Year will bring new stock and options (although I suppose that Brexit may bump up the prices).
Yes, CRC have it too although it’s overpriced at £769
If they have stock and the cheaper options dont . It's market value rather than over priced.
Being cheaper means less than nothing if it has no stock
Selling at a low gross margins leads to poor customer service and low stock control because I can guarantee you it isn't coming off the profit margin Can you see the link here ?
If they have stock and the cheaper options dont . It’s market value rather than over priced.
You could be right although the Direto is now discontinued and other online retailers have the current, and rather more powerful Direto-X at the same price and in stock.
The poor customer service/stock control I'm certainly finding out the hard way.
I'm struggling to justify the cost the Direto-X and effectively binning the £85 of Gift Cards (I'm not sure my nerves would cope with waiting for Decathlon to restock and ordering from them again), although my health probably justifies it.
Well it's been an interesting experience.
I was flicking through the Decathlon website yesterday morning and the Direto was showing as back in stock - so I ordered one (using my gift cards too). It arrived this morning!
It seems a bit bizarre that they couldn't put two and two together when it turned up in the warehouse (the turbo trainer manager was meant to be on the look out for one for me) but there you go.
A few hours after ordering the Customer Loyalty Team rang and gave me an £80 gift card!
I'm a bit concerned that the seal on the box was cut (perhaps it's a return or ex-display) but it seems complete (it'll be a while before I get it up and running as I haven't built the bike to use on it yet).
