Replace or Repair?

JesseD

I bought a set of wheels from a big online retailer and from the start the front wheel shuddered under braking, I have sent the wheel back to the retailer as I believe it is faulty only to receive an email from them saying they will send back to the supplier for testing which is fair enough as they have to assess the wheel, but what has angered me a little is that they have said if they determine the wheel is faulty they will repair it and not supply a new pair.

Prior to sending back I did ride the bike to see if the wheel just needed to bed in however the shuddering just got worse if anything, I did also try a friends wheel in my bike and the shuddering disappeared, I also tried my wheel in his bike and the shuddering was there still which has confirmed it is the wheel and not the set up on my bike.

Anyone know what they are legally obliged to do, if the product was faulty from new then it should be replaced not repaired, especially as the wheel is less that 3 weeks old and has done less than 300 miles from new?

onyourright

What difference would it make to you? Surely the only important thing is that the wheel works as intended?

fenix

So long as it works - repaired/replaced - it makes no difference ? Or do you want to reject the wheels completely and get a different make ?

Bobbinogs

I think this depends on whether you want to invoke your consumer rights which, afaik, covers the whole sale and not parts of it. If a product is faulty within such a short timescale then I believe you are entitled to a full refund...but you may ask yourself "Do I want to return the bike and get a full refund or is the shop actually being reasonable, after all, re-truing wheels does not make them less fit for purpose?"

Why not chat to the LBS and say something along the lines of "I have been advised that because the product I bought is faulty I can ask for my money back...but I would rather reach a deal with you..." Bit like poker really :-)

JesseD

The wheels look in perfect condition as you would expect from a new pair of wheels, they run perfectly true and are clean and have not scratches etc on them, the only issue is the shuddering on the front wheel under braking, which I would have thought would need a new rim at the very least as there must be an imbalance in the wheel or there is a issue undetectable to the eye on the braking surface.

I do not want a different make or model, I bought these as after much research they fitted my budget and needs, I would be happy with another pair as long as they are fit for purpose.

I think if the wheels had been used for a couple of months, has some wear and tear then repairing would be acceptable, however these are brand new wheels that have had this issue from the box, I think they should be replaced but wanted to know if I was being unreasonable?

homers_double

OP mentions a "big online retailer" which we can probably assume is CRC or Wiggle so the LBS option isn't an option.

JesseD

After receiving my returned wheels last Thursday and sitting on them until today, Wiggle has today come back to me and said the wheels I returned are now out of stock which has annoyed me somewhat as when the wheels were received by them they were in stock, however as they had a backlog they have now sold out and are not expecting any back in until late April which is too late for me as I have an event on the 24th which I need the wheels for!

I bought Fulcrum Racing Quattro LG 2016’s because they fitted the most of my criteria, they were the right price (£161.87 without VAT), they were stiff and well-reviewed, not overly light but weighed in at under 1800g on my scales without skewers (1720g advertised), had a wide rim and were deepish in height which I liked. I can’t afford to spend much more is anything as I am on a strict budget so am hoping someone can advise me what else is about that I should be looking at?

On their website for not a lot more are the 2016 Grey Vision Team 30 Wheelset, however I cannot find any reviews for them. Does anyone have or has anyone ridden a pair of these wheels, if so how do they compare, they look nice but I am concerned that they may flex too much and as I can’t find any reviews I am a bit lost?

If the Wiggle were to refund me then I will be waiting 5+ days for the funds to hit my account and as I have an event next weekend I wont be able to use another retailer as I probably wont get the wheels in time.

Bobbinogs

Fulcrum Racing 5 LG, £167 from Wiggle so they can send them instead?

JesseD

Bobbinogs wrote:

Fulcrum Racing 5 LG, £167 from Wiggle so they can send them instead?

Wanted a deeper wheels preferably but just looked at these and they are also out of stock in Shimano

Bobbinogs

Fair enough, PBK have them at a decent price. I figured you might have to compromise on your criteria given the impending event. Any minor increase in rim depth will be purely cosmetic but you know that already you tart :-)

step83

Guy I ride with has the vision 30s an is very happy with them id get them if you can.

JesseD

Bobbinogs wrote:

Fair enough, PBK have them at a decent price. I figured you might have to compromise on your criteria given the impending event. Any minor increase in rim depth will be purely cosmetic but you know that already you tart :-)

Ha Ha, 100% correct (then again I do match my socks with my kit which is matched with my bike etc etc)

I am a bit stuck as Wiggle will refund but it will be 5 working days + before I get the money, I then have to order and receive the wheels in time for the event which means it will be touch and go to get them in time (I live in the channel islands and post here takes longer than the UK on average even with priority postage).

Am trying to liaise with Wiggle but they have been terrible at coming back to me, usually 1 email a day so trying to sort the issues can take days, plus there is no number I can call them on. One of their CS guys said he called me to sort and even quoted my number back correctly but no missed calls?

Bit stuck really.

JesseD

Step83 wrote:

Guy I ride with has the vision 30s an is very happy with them id get them if you can.

Thanks Step83, do you happen to know if there is much flex in them etc, I am looking for a stiff wheelset that will take sprints etc without lateral movement

darkhairedlord

I had a pair of the Team vision 30's from another retailer, They were the new version with the wider 19mm internal width rim. I sent them back as the bearings were very notchy (felt notchier than rotating a freehub) and were actually a very poor cup & cone hub (not that there is anything wrong with cup and cone), very little service data online and quite heavy too (the weight was not an issue). The Team 35 looks much better iirc, best price at the time was winstanleys.

JesseD

Do you know the rim width on them?

Found a pair for £172 online which isn't bad, though i have found the fulcrums on line for £160.

Wiggle have now refunded everything so when funds clear I will pull the trigger, on what is to be decided?

darkhairedlord

the team 35's (if you get the latest ones) are 17mm inside width. (I had to email vision on this which took about a week to get an answer)
I actually opted for the fulcrum 5LG's when on a toss up between them and the quattro's, merely because I have to use them for the commute in all weathers all year round.