Ribble and Cycling Weekly - do they care about us ?

Miguel Intherain

Anyone had a similar experience to me at Ribble ? Drove 170 miles there, credit card at the ready, to be fitted for a TT Aero. Before getting on the fitting rig, I asked to use the loo, but was refused - because of an alleged "health and safety risk". They knew how far I'd travelled, but when I asked to see the general manager to question why something I have done several times a day for more than 40 years should suddenly be deemed dangerous, I was told he didn't want to speak to me. So my money will now be going elsewhere. Curiously, my letter on the subect to Cycling Weekly wasn't published...yes, that's right...the same Cycling Weekly which has Ribble as one of its regular advertisers.

ddraver

As a guess, I'd say CW would nt publish any letters like that for fear of libel (or similar) action from the shops. I would guess they'd do it for any shop, especially when they have lots of nice and safe "are nt you great" letters instead!

Good point about the health and safety risk though - loads of crap (mwah ha!) - It s getting rarer and rarer to hear any good Ribble customer service stories, My mate had a horrendous time with a mail order bike-they never seemed to have any idea what was going on!

Tollers

I ordered a nero rc build from ribble on 16th sept. I received the dispatch email today.

Service has been slow but fair. I'd been told that delivery should have been last week, but can't complain too much. I'll update if there is any problems to come, but i'm thinking postively.

Tollers

justresting

Maybe the state of the toilets is a health issue?

matty boy 80

I recieved my Ribble Sportive a week ago it was despatched on time but the royal mail delayed Delivery .Having ridden it bar a few small tweaks it is a wonderful machine and worth the 4 week build time

gattocattivo

I ordered a winter bike off them a week ago and haven't heard anything from them yet - how long do you think I'll have to wait?

giant_man

It's got nothing to do with the magazine in question that's why. Why are the publishers being held in contention when one of their advertisers doesn't fulfill their part of a purchase?

It's between you and the company. Period.

Caligari_uk

I can't speak for RIbble - but I know that most shops are not allowed to let their customers use the toilets.

Staff have to sign off 'Health and Safety' checklists, so that the company can't get sued if they hurt themselves by doing something stupid (falling down stairs etc) in the back rooms / areas off limits to customers.

top_bhoy

Caligari_uk wrote:

I can't speak for RIbble - but I know that most shops are not allowed to let their customers use the toilets.

Staff have to sign off 'Health and Safety' checklists, so that the company can't get sued if they hurt themselves by doing something stupid (falling down stairs etc) in the back rooms / areas off limits to customers.

I was going to write something similar but I didn't think it would satisfy the OP. I think I'd have asked the shop the whereabouts of the nearest toilet and came back in 10 minutes - or nipped round the side .

Percy Vera

Is it not illegal to stop someone using your toilet if they want to do a number 2?

kingrollo

to me its a % shot using ribble. They do very nice bikes, quite a lot cheaper than anywhere else - the calculation you have to make is the risk of things going wrong versus the cost of going elsewhere.

If your saving £100's then IMO its a risk worth taking - if your saving £50 - then maybe not

hammerite

I've worked in a couple of shops, and some of the toilets are in a right state, so they may just have been embarassed and used the H&S card. Or the toilet might lead through some areas that public really shouldn't have access to, you could be a thief (I'm not saying the OP is, but it's a consideration Ribble would have to make), or the toilet could be part used as a make shift store room that staff just put up with!

maddog 2

if I'd driven 170 miles to buy something I would have found an alley, or gone to the pub next door, or nipped to McDonalds.

Sure Ribble is inconsistent. We all know that. But to blame it on your bladder is a bit soft.

Speed_King

I work for the co-op and we frequently have parents of young kiddies asking to use the facilities and we have to say no as it is company policey. Even staff who work in the shop are not allowed "out the back " to chat to collueges or use the loo on days off !!!

All retail stores are the same guys it aint just Ribble, but i agree i would have gone and found a pub or a tesco or something nearby and used that instead?
Also it is a policey because alot of retail outlets have their toliets around the area of the stockroom or loading areas so it is also an issue of theft/and company responsibility for their stock!

kingrollo

Perhaps they should rename 'dribble' ?

avoidingmyphd

speed king - when we come into the coop, we know deep down that whether your rule is reasonable or not it wasn't made by any human being who we can discuss it with, and appeal to their better nature to make an exception. we just have to live with it, and take all the many advantages that are the flipside of the massive nature of your employer.

when we go to ribble, we know full well that the rule, reasonable or not, was made by someone who is actually there in the building, and who is humanly capable of discussing it and making an exception. that kind of thing should be one of the advantages of the small, local nature of ribble.

the difference is important. when you deny the toddlers access to your toilet, it is because you have been told to by someone with authority to tell you what to do. Noone can really criticise you for that. But Miguel intherain was denied access to the toilet because someone who had to the power to say yes simply didn't want him to use it. Why should he buy a bike off that person?

daveclow

Miguel Intherain wrote:

Anyone had a similar experience to me at Ribble ? Drove 170 miles there, credit card at the ready, to be fitted for a TT Aero. Before getting on the fitting rig, I asked to use the loo, but was refused - because of an alleged "health and safety risk". They knew how far I'd travelled, but when I asked to see the general manager to question why something I have done several times a day for more than 40 years should suddenly be deemed dangerous, I was told he didn't want to speak to me. So my money will now be going elsewhere. Curiously, my letter on the subect to Cycling Weekly wasn't published...yes, that's right...the same Cycling Weekly which has Ribble as one of its regular advertisers.

CW wouldnt publish a letter like that about one of their major advertisers. unfortunately (for the reader) thats how mags work!

Percy Vera

CW probably get 100's of letters every week - why would they print 1 letter from a guy who needed a piss in a shop? I am sure they had more interesting letters to publish that relate to cycling.

Percy Vera

That's funny, I wrote p*ss in full and it changed it to wee-wee

verylonglegs

Fatbirds let me use their loo without any fuss, guess its down to the discretion of the shop staff/owner.

STEFANOS4784

Well i work in retail and (other than the places that serve food to be eaten on the establishment) and my currrent job where we get quite alot of families with young kids in(special facilities for them), i've always been told customers are not aloud to use the loo. Customers may not be insured to go through the back rooms which lead to the toilets and if something were to happen then insurance wouldn't cover it. Its stupid but you never know who's the type of git to try and sue for falling over or whatever. My 2 penneth worth

STEFANOS4784

Seems a bit odd that the manager wouldn't talk to you then, obviously don't want your business. Forget it. I,for 1, would never order from them after what i've read on here. It seems like they feel that they're to good to be concerned, f?£$ them.

Percy Vera

Yeah the bit about the manager not even wanting to talk to you would be enough to make me walk.

Pross

Can see their issues but they still could have handled it better maybe with "I'm sorry but we can't let you use ours due to OTT H&S policy but there's one just down the street. I can show you the way if you'd like". That wouldn't be too onerous for someone about to spend over £1k and who has travelled a long way, it's just good customer service but unfortunately that isn't a UK strong point.

maddog 2

Wheelbase has a shower, with shower gel provided!

Percy Vera

maddog 2 wrote:

Wheelbase has a shower, with shower gel provided!

So what are you saying?
Go to WB and p*ss in their shower!!

Gazzetta67

Ribble are prob the shittiest bike shop out. Customer service ZERO
No E-mail reply = ZERO
Never answer the phone = ZERO

My Last and only time in their shop, I was going to Knock the guys head off for being short with me....many years ago - I would urge others to take their money elsewere.

cougie

If you want customer service - go to a LBS. If you want well priced kit - go to ribble and be prepared for the service to not be top notch. Simples !

JohnnyAllez

I was in there Saturady morning, got good courteous service off the lad behind the counter, another bloke came through from the warehouse and said "mornin`" to me.

Know what you mean about the fone problem though, they had an advert displayed for a job if anyone fancies working there

gattocattivo

I've had reply to my e-mail saying my bike should be ready next week, so it seems they do get back to you in the end. Happy days.

kilo

gattocattivo wrote:

I ordered a winter bike off them a week ago and haven't heard anything from them yet - how long do you think I'll have to wait?

I have had no problem ordering lots of bits and a tt frame from Ribble, all arived promptly and were very good value. However my wife had a expensive handbuilt road bike made earlier this year from a respected UK builder and the six weeks stretched and stretched to nearly three months and the specified forks never turned up so it's not just Ribble who let people down.