Richards Bicycles — Local services in Worth Township

Edit: The owner, Rich, reached out to me when he read my review. He said he didn't like that I felt disrespected and refunded me for both repairs. He is a very nice man and I will be asking for him if I go back.

I took my bike in for a spoke replacement in March. I haven't really road it since it was replaced and when I went to ride it, a spoke was broke. I took it in today and ask how much it would cost to replace the wheel. Adam told me $60. I said "okay," and then he took it from my hands and went in the back without saying anything else. I hadn't said I wanted it replaced and didn't even have time to consider whether or not I wanted it replaced before it was taken from me. I figured he had gone to check something and would be back to tell me what they could do and show me the new wheel. I waited for 10-15 minutes and he returns with the wheel replaced. I had no clue he was replacing it. When he rang me up, he told me it was $75. The labor was an extra $10. If I wanted to know the price of the wheel alone, I would have asked how much a wheel costs. I asked how much it costed to "replace" the wheel, not the price of the wheel.

I then asked if I could be refunded for the previous spoke replacement and he said "it's not like it could've broke on its own". I will give him that it would not have just fallen off from sitting in the garage, but how little I have ridden it tells me that spokes where likely not tested properly when they replaced it.

There was a long line and I didn't want to waste time explaining something to him because every time I tried he kept interrupting me. I then told him that I never actually said I wanted the wheel done so he would be aware that he can't just assume a customer wants something done, but that confused him very much, so I just payed for the wheel and left.

When I got home I realized that the inner tube was over inflated and bulged on the side. Additionally, the valve was bent because it was not aligned properly in the hole. I am glad I noticed and fixed it to avoid future repairs.

I respect how quickly things are done in this shop, but it doesn't matter how fast they are when a) I never said I wanted it done b) it wasn't the price I was told it would be c) I was interrupted when I tried to explain why I was asking for a refund and d) the repair wasn't even done properly.

I used to like this shop as my father has been going there for years, but I guess the staff just aren't supposed to communicate with the costumers anymore and instead just make assumptions.

As a side note, when I took my bike in originally in March, I had a similar experience. I told Adam I had a broken spoke and he took it in the back without telling me anything. I hadn't asked for it to be fixed yet. I figured maybe it was a bad day and gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I don't have the money to keep blindly get things repaired. I need to give them some thought. Don't just assume I want it fixed by you because I am left assuming this will keep happening if I continue going...

Asked them to adjust/look at my brakes. Next day pick up. Charged $60.00 no new parts, simple adjustment. Test drove in parking lot questioned the front brakes and air in tires, was told angrily, "You didn't ask me to look at tires!" I politely questioned, "For $60.00 ????" He again angrily repeated, "I'll readjust the front brakes!" I didn't feel comfortable, I told him I have my receipt, if there's a problem I'll come back and explained that he's rude. Got home, front brakes were frozen in the "ON" position. Called store and he again - very angry said, "Bring it back now!"

I didn't go back. I cannot understand why this place gets good reviews! $60.00 for pretend brake adjustment and rude angry counter service. Take your chances - sometimes small businesses are just bad businesses...

Update: As per Richard's Bicycle response I was in fact offered a refund by email - 1st if I came back into the store and after I said, "No thank you" - they wanted my phone number.

As far as other employee's witnessing my supposed "rudeness" most of my conversation was outside the store on the front step! No other employees were outside. As far as Adam helping me - Adam looks exactly like the email picture associated with the Owner's Email Account! Turns out the owner was helping me not ADAM. Change your google picture sir ... sometimes small businesses are just bad business!

Please...

Bought two bikes here for the wife and I and that was good. I liked that they have one free tune up included. I went to have service upgrade my fork which went well, service even provided a small part that I was missing no charge to get the job done. Good on them. I had a small crash that caused some weird ghost shifting and chain skipping. I noted that when I spun the pedals in reverse the chain was not smooth, like it was catching occasionally. I figured this must be abnormal since my wife's bike didn't do this. So I took it in for the free tune up and they adjusted the deraiuler and said I was good to go. Before leaving I tested it by spinning the cranks backward like before. The same thing was happening. So I told the tech and he arrogantly said that you're not supposed to do that and this was normal. So I left somewhat disappointed expecting the same issue to persist. After first ride the issue was as I feared still there. After some research of my own I replaced the cassette and boom problem solved. Spinning cranks backward was smooth again and no more ghost shifting or chain skipping. So while the shops good overall the service techs attitude leaves something to be desired. Probably just gonna learn to fix my own stuff from now on but I'd still shop here. Just my two cents. Always good to support...