Simon J Kyte, 11 Gilkes Yard, Banbury, Oxon. OX16 9GF
Halfords Customer Relations Department
Apollo Bicycles
Consumer Affairs Council
Cherwell District Council Trading Standards
8th February 2021,
To whom it may concern,
PURCHASE OF APOLLO TRANSFGER BICYCLE 17 JANUARY 2021, DEFECTIVE AT PURCHASE
I PURCHASED AN Apollo Transfer bicycle from your Banbury Marley Way store on 17th January in order to get me around during the continued lockdown situation.
I had the bike assembled by your team member, Harley and purchased universal headgear, a cycle lock, mudguards and your £25 insurance fee.
Very soon I was aware of a scraping sound from the front wheel. On the evening of Tuesday 19th January I telephoned the number I found online but was clearly speaking to a call centre. The person who answered advised me to take the cycle back into the Banbury store.
I did this during my lunchbreak on Thursday 21st January. Again, Harley and his colleague were very helpful and I went away for 20 minutes whilst things were adjusted. When I returned I was told that everything had been sorted but that the problem was that the wheel was not quite straight. I mentioned then that that should not be the case with a brand new purchase.
Nevertheless, the cycle seemed better for a time until I again heard the strange scraping noise from the front wheel. On closer inspection, it became apparent that the front brake was loose and turning.
On Saturday 6th February I took the cycle back to your Banbury store. Again, I left the bike whilst it was adjusted. This time on return I wanted to discuss the matter further. Whilst your store colleagues were still helpful, I was told that this was a manufacturers’ problem and that, if I wanted to buy a new wheel it would take a month.
I don’t want to buy a new wheel. When I buy a product from a supposedly reputable trader, regardless of whether it is cheap or expensive, I expect it to be in perfect condition or else replaced. It clearly is not. Otherwise I might as well have purchased a second hand bike.
I am aware that it is not the highest specification cycle in the world and will wear – but not in three weeks given the furthest I have been has been either Broughton castle at a weekend or else Banbury Gateway Retail Park.
Can you tell me what the point of the insurance I have purchased from you actually is?
I attach a scan of my purchase receipt and details of the work that was done on setting up the cycle.
Yours faithfully,
SIMON JOHN KYTE
BEHIND THE TIMES 