Boardman FS Pro Cracked Frame

olddave49

Help, I've got a 2011/12, previous model, FS Pro size large with a huge crack between the top of the suspension welds on the seat tube. The bike is 20 months old but has only been used the last 6 months at weekends as I was a bit slow getting started. I'm 59, 70kg and really enjoy exploring my local countryside. I don't do jumps or tricks and I feel really let down. The frame is a right off but Halfords say they can replace it if I can provide any evidence that I bought it in the last 2 years, even if it's only a bank statement. Unfortunately I binned the receipt after a year and paid in cash so I'm a bit buggered. This was not a cheap bike, it was highly recommended at the time and I've certainly learnt a whole new way of enjoying myself and getting fit and I'd like to carry on and do much more. Only thing is I can't afford to buy a new frame. If anyone out there has any suitable paperwork they could post or scan and email me that I could show Halfords I'd be more than happy to compensate you for your time and trouble.
(dave_rogers@ntlworld.com)

zulu12

I wouldnt use copied paperwork, could cause all sorts of problems if they rumble you. This is the second Boardman I have heard of with a structural problem in 24hrs. Sounds like team numpty are giving you the run around.They should be able to track the frame number, if not ask them for Boardmans contact details and take it up with Boardman directly. If they fob you off, which they probably will then ask to speak to the store manager. Good luck

rsh1960

Did you pay for the Bike on a credit or Debit card, should still be able to get the record of the transaction from the bank.

mattv

Most manufacturers are the same, they need an original receipt to honour a warranty. HOWEVER halfords does have every transaction made in the last 5 years stored on its computers, so if you ask the right member of staff in a friendly way at the store you bought it from, they can print you a copy. Do it ASAP, the warranty is only 2 years and they will want to worm their way out of it if at all possible. They tried when my road pro was glued together crooked, took them 3 months, 8 phone calls and 3 frames to get one that was straight. Boardman are cheap for a reason.

stuisnew

Mattv sounds like he had come up with some good info for you so try what he suggests.

To be fair to Halfords they are happy to replace, perfectly entitled to ask for proof of purchase, just a shame you paid cash as you need that receipt. From their perspective though they are preventing someone picking up a cracked frame from eBay for £20 and then claiming a shiney new frame. Doesn't help you but they are being reasonable.

Good luck, hope it works out and you're soon riding again.

rockmonkeysc

I paid cash for my Boardman road bike. Halfords took all my details along with the frame number. On the bottom of the form it says they keep my details for five years.

oxocube1

olddave49 wrote:

Help, I've got a 2011/12, previous model, FS Pro size large with a huge crack between the top of the suspension welds on the seat tube. The bike is 20 months old but has only been used the last 6 months at weekends as I was a bit slow getting started. I'm 59, 70kg and really enjoy exploring my local countryside. I don't do jumps or tricks and I feel really let down. The frame is a right off but Halfords say they can replace it if I can provide any evidence that I bought it in the last 2 years, even if it's only a bank statement. Unfortunately I binned the receipt after a year and paid in cash so I'm a bit buggered. This was not a cheap bike, it was highly recommended at the time and I've certainly learnt a whole new way of enjoying myself and getting fit and I'd like to carry on and do much more. Only thing is I can't afford to buy a new frame. If anyone out there has any suitable paperwork they could post or scan and email me that I could show Halfords I'd be more than happy to compensate you for your time and trouble.
(dave_rogers@ntlworld.com)

I've had similar issues a couple of times in both stores I've worked in but every time they have been paid by card so it was much easier to get receipt copy. Did you reserve the bike when you bought it? If so you can go back to original store you bought it from and provide your surname and postcode. Your reservation should still be on the system and they will be able to see that you bought the bike. It really would be that simple.

However, if you didn't reserve the bike first, and just made a straight cash payment it's going to be pretty much impossible to prove that you bought the bike. Even if they could find your receipt on the system, it could have been anyone who bought the same bike at that time due to no name and card to match to you on the receipt.

It could help if you know the month and year that you bought the bike (October/November 2011 by the sounds of it?) as the article number can be searched on the store's 'Electronic Journal'. From there we can search a week at a time all the transactions that went through the till. Again though even if found, there is no way to match you to the receipt so it is unlikely that you will be able to do anything.

If I personally was the one behind the till, I would attempt all of the above but if not successful, would not be able to issue you a warranty frame. Even if I found the receipt on the system, unless it had your name on it, I would not issue a replacement. As has already been said, for all I know you bought the frame like that and are trying to get a new one under warranty. We have a surprising number of people attempting that sort of thing every week, most commonly with people who think warranties are transferrable between owners, which they are not. I am certainly not saying you are one of these people, just providing you an insight to what it could look like from behind the till.

Good luck with it! And you never know, if successful you may end up with one of the 2014 Boardmans coming out in 3 weeks time!

Kowalski675

RockmonkeySC wrote:

I paid cash for my Boardman road bike. Halfords took all my details along with the frame number. On the bottom of the form it says they keep my details for five years.

When I bought my Team FS recently I asked about whether I needed to register the frame number for warranty purposes, but was told that Halfords keep no record of frame numbers.

Can't blame Halfords for insisting on proof of purchase, you could've bought the bike thord hand off Ebay, for all they know. Standard practice for any retail organisation - no proof of purchase, no exchange.

heez29

They do keep it on the second copy of the PDI form but they're only kept for one year IIRC.

As above your best bet would be either an Order enquiry, as in if you ordered/reserved it they'll still be able to find it. Failing that they could search for the receipt but exact day is needed. Having not searched back more than 6 months myself and having heard we only keep records for up to a year you may be out of luck. All this would have to be at the exact store you purchased it from as well. Never mentioned it in OP but may as well mention it.

Kowalski675

heez29 wrote:

They do keep it on the second copy of the PDI form

Not on mine, but that's hardly surprising, given how useless the rest of the PDI was...

olddave49

Guys, I'm overwhelmed by the responses. I can't say how much I appreciate the time and trouble you have all taken. This is the sort of community I would be proud to be part of. I don't hold out much hope of resolving this through Halfords and though I think Boardman made a pup this time I think I'll just have to look for a second hand frame. I do like the bike and how it rides and so I'll just have to bite the bullet. At least I know I'll get something worthwhile out of it in the end. Cheers guys and many thanks.