SBR Sports/Bonthrone Bikes = Now in administration

Pokerface

Just thought I'd update my original post and confirm that SBR/Bonthrone Bikes is now officially in administration. If you call them or go to their website you get directed to the administrators.

If you have outstanding orders with them and they have your money - you'd best get in touch and see what you can do about getting it back!


Good luck to anyone caught out on this.

Chip \'oyler

+1

I ordered some 3T Mistrals. Didn't mention anywhere on the site about stock levels. They got back to me about payment, as my home address/delivery address had a discrepency. Not once did they mention stock levels.

A week later I chased them for the goods. "oh they're out of stock - they'll be here next week". Still didn't turn up. Chased them again. "Oh we're expecting them next week". Told them I wasn't happy and that they should have a stock indicator on the website as I wouldn't have ordered them and paid if I knew they were out of stock. "good idea" they said. I checked their site on Wednesday. They had indeed put up a stock indicator, It said the Mistrals were in stock. Bingo! I emailed them to ask when mine would turn up. "Oh they're not in stock - we're expecting them in 10 days time".

So I asked them why the fook they said they were in stock then. I'm still awaiting their answer. Problem is I have a new built TT rig sat in my LBS that only needs bars to finish. I would have got the bars from the LBS, but the importer only deals with certain shops.

A complete joke if you ask me.

Evil Laugh

Similar story here with Bothrone, won't be going back.

Pokerface

Surprising as they are a big outfit - but they just don't seem to give a damn.

galatzo

Thought Bonthrone went bust a few years back ?

maddog 2

+ 1

Ordered something recently but based on previous experience of them selling things online that they didn't have in stock I rang them up beforehand to check they had it in.

Man said yes, so I ordered it online.

Guess what - email arrived two days later saying they didn't have it,

Useless.

How can you trust an online seller who doesn't even know themsleves if they have something...?

nicensleazy

Yep, I would never buy from them again! I ordered a Parktool set. They kept my money for around two months. Kept saying they would send it and in fact, it was never in stock. Had to fight to get my money back...never again!

Monty Dog

Sounds like the same bunch of comedians are running them as the last time they went bust - clearly the concept of service has failed them. They'll probably get bought-out by Dave Hinde as they have a similar ethic.

Chip \'oyler

I rang to cancel my order earlier. I got an email saying that they'd done so. I now wait with baited breath how long it takes to get my money back. But they were pretty quick phoning me when I first ordered when there was a discrepency with my cards.

I won't be using them again

will3

Pokerface wrote:

Sent it back for a refund... and then it took FOUR weeks of phone calls and emails to get the refund processed.

.

Four weeks? They're improving then................... :roll:

CarbonCopy

Cheers for the heads up on this company.I was looking but aint no longer.

sturmey

Probably all the fault of a handful of lazy inefficient staff who'd rather be doing something else than working in a bike shop.
probably get paid a pittance so are bitter and twisted and work shy.

Marko1962

Just to add my experiences with them

Ordered a set of 3T bars early Feb, showed as in stock on the web site...

Waited 2 weeks then emailed them, got an email back saying the item was out of stock but should soon be in stock.

Replied asking for a refund and a cancellation. All agreed in return email.

Waited a week, no refund, emailed, no reply, emailed them again asking for status, no reply, a week later I emailed them again threatening to write up my experiences with them on every forum I'm a member of, no reply.

Rang them (never managed to get through on previous occasions) still couldn't get through except surprisingly enough, the shop. Spoke to man who promised to email the relavent department and they will ring me back (yea sure). A few hours later shock horror a bloke rang to ask me my details for the refund and HALLELUIA I got my money back yesterday...

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY EVEN THOUGH YOUR ITEM SHOWS AS BEING IN STOCK...

Chip \'oyler

Marko1962 wrote:

Just to add my experiences with them

Ordered a set of 3T bars early Feb, showed as in stock on the web site...

Waited 2 weeks then emailed them, got an email back saying the item was out of stock but should soon be in stock.

Replied asking for a refund and a cancellation. All agreed in return email.

Waited a week, no refund, emailed, no reply, emailed them again asking for status, no reply, a week later I emailed them again threatening to write up my experiences with them on every forum I'm a member of, no reply.

Rang them (never managed to get through on previous occasions) still couldn't get through except surprisingly enough, the shop. Spoke to man who promised to email the relavent department and they will ring me back (yea sure). A few hours later shock horror a bloke rang to ask me my details for the refund and HALLELUIA I got my money back yesterday...

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY EVEN THOUGH YOUR ITEM SHOWS AS BEING IN STOCK...

See my post above for their 'In Stock' bullshit!

cjw

Immediately contact Trading Standards as they are being investigated...

This from TS;

Further to my email dated 30th October 2009, regarding your complaint against the above trader, we have received a number of completed questionnaires from other complainants and are starting to build up a picture of the types of ways that this trader is letting people down through breaching contracts, communicating badly, processing orders inefficiently and processing refunds too slowly.

We had a meeting with our Solicitor on Monday 8th February 2010 and we are now in the process of putting together extra information for our Barrister with a view to taking this forward formally now.

Our records show that we have not had a completed questionnaire back from you. I would be grateful if you could complete and return the attached questionnaire. I can assure you that the information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence and we will only contact you for further information if the trader does not accept our offer to sign an ‘undertaking’ agreement, where we may take the trader to court.

Many thanks in anticipation for your assistance with this important matter.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Customer Support Officer
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
Trading Standards Service
T: 01628 683672
F: 01628 683560

Stuntman

poor customer service and when I wanted a part for a tacx trainer they said they'd have it in withing 15days as they had to order it... that was at the beginning of Feb. Still not in. And to make it worse, they're rude when you call, like we're interrupting them.

Airwave

Chip \'oyler wrote:

+1

Told them I wasn't happy and that they should have a stock indicator on the website as I wouldn't have ordered them and paid if I knew they were out of stock. "good idea" they said..

I think they've taken your suggestion the wrong way.May be thought they were losing custom because people did'nt know if they were in stock or not.Whereas now people will order because they think they have stock when they don't....YEE HAAA as they ride off into the sunset with a fist full of dollars.

ynyswen24

They were a bunch of cowboys more than 10 years ago when I had reason to visit the shop. Nothings cahnged then

CarbonCopy

There is a similar thread in the mtb section stating aviod this shop at all costs.

fungus_the_muffin_man

I was luckily warned off by the guys I'm going to Paris with when I was after some compression tights.

Plus the £18 delivery charge put me off to :shock:

Anonymous

Hi everyone, ive heard on the grapvine that SBR have gone Brankrupt!

i've had similar problems and i tried the guys at Cyclelife Windsor (www.cyclelifewindsor.co.uk) who are located 5 minutes from SBR and was very impressed with their customer service.

Their Road and Triathlon range is growing every week and they deal with nearly every maunfacture going. I would serously recommend these guy (and its a family run shop). Their mechanic is also amazing and my bike has never worked so well!![/url]

Pokerface

dan_mitchell85 wrote:

Hi everyone, ive heard on the grapvine that SBR have gone Brankrupt!

i've had similar problems and i tried the guys at Cyclelife Windsor (www.cyclelifewindsor.co.uk) who are located 5 minutes from SBR and was very impressed with their customer service.

Their Road and Triathlon range is growing every week and they deal with nearly every maunfacture going. I would serously recommend these guy (and its a family run shop). Their mechanic is also amazing and my bike has never worked so well!![/url]

Well - I'm not sure if I believe someone who only has 4 posts as it sounds like maybe you work for the other shop, but if it turns out SBR are indeed bankrupt then I'll retract my statement and look into the other place! :oops:


(You can see how your post might look like a shameless plug for the other shop. You wouldn't happen to be the mechanic there - would you?)


Edit - just checked the cyclelife website and lo and behold - Dan Mitchell works there. What a surprise!! http://www.cyclelifewindsor.co.uk/meet-the-team.html

Percy Vera

Could Cyclelife Windsor be SBR???

remy martin

Pokerface, good detection skills about Dan Mitchell. Certainly made me chuckle.

Anonymous

Having just checked my emails (i rarely do this) it appears that a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) has decied to post a few things on here re SBR. I can but only appoligise for his actions and i shall be closing this account so that this does not happen again, once again appoligies

Daniel Mitchell

Pokerface

dan_mitchell85 wrote:

Having just checked my emails (i rarely do this) it appears that a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) has decied to post a few things on here re SBR. I can but only appoligise for his actions and i shall be closing this account so that this does not happen again, once again appoligies

Daniel Mitchell

Yeah - I had a 'friend' like that. Every time I got busted as a kid. "Oh no Mom - I'm just holding that for a friend."

cjw

Careless of you to give your 'friend' your log on ID and password :roll:

99thmonkey

Agree totally on SBR in Windsor, bunch of lazy retards who never return calls or appear to care about customers, its like its something to do between training for them!

The only time they do care is when one of the local 'ladies who lunch' or Timothy Ponsemby Thwaite types come in asking about starting out in Triathlon and then there eyes light up as they proceed to fleece their cash on beginner packs and everything you need!

Even having formally complained and the complaint being upheld they offered nothing not even a written apology.

Spatulala

One of those posts you wish you'd read a couple of weeks earlier.

Ordered some bib shorts and mudguards from Bonthrone on 26th March. Not heard a bean yet, and now their website doesn't seem to work for me - every link i click takes me back to the home page - is it just me or is anyone else having similar trouble?

Emailed them yesterday so hopefully I'll hear back...

ketsbaia

I had a free bike fitting with the SBR guys in Windsor a couple of months ago and they were nice as pie.

Haven't bought anything from them, though.

Westerberg

dan_mitchell85 wrote:

Hi everyone, ive heard on the grapvine that SBR have gone Brankrupt!

i've had similar problems and i tried the guys at Cyclelife Windsor (www.cyclelifewindsor.co.uk) who are located 5 minutes from SBR and was very impressed with their customer service.

Their Road and Triathlon range is growing every week and they deal with nearly every maunfacture going. I would serously recommend these guy (and its a family run shop). Their mechanic is also amazing and my bike has never worked so well!![/url]

Dan, you also appear to have the same name as one of the guys who works for Cyclelife Windsor!!! What an amazing coincidence!?http://www.cyclelifewindsor.co.uk/meet-the-team.html