[JVN01]

Just wondering whether I’m just unlucky or whether others have had (are having) similar experience to me..

Ordered new Ribble CGR Pro Ti di2 bike back in May this year. Projected delivery then was early October due to supply chain issues which seemed reasonable in the circumstances. Due to how I wanted to finance the purchase myself I have already paid Ribble in full for the bike.

So the first delivery date early October was approaching when I received an apologetic email from Ribble advising me that due to component shortages my build was being delayed to late October. Fair enough I guess, everyone knows the bike component supply chain is screwed so I can live with that.

As late October approached I contacted Ribble via their support chat to confirm my ‘new’ delivery date shown on my live order tracking status page was still on track. Oh yes they said, everything is correct with your revised delivery date. This was the case right up to 24hours before the delivery date, at which point it suddenly jumped back to mid November… the same thing happened again a few weeks later when the promised dispatch date approached and got bumped back to 03 December…

I tried contacting Ribble customer service again to get some kind of explanation for why they no longer see fit to advise their customers when their bike orders are being delayed but was simply given some flannel about ‘supply chain issues beyond our control’ but no apology or explanation as to why my order delivery date keeps being bumped back a month or so at a time with no actual reason given or effort made to advise the customer.

So this time I waited again for 3rd December to arrive. A week before this date I contacted Ribble customer chat again who confirmed my order was still on track for 03 December dispatch… however again this week the dispatch date suddenly slipped back to 17th December just a day before the promised dispatch date of 03 December.

The bit that really pisses me off with this approach from Ribble is that they seem perfectly happy to take a significant sum in full payment up front for a new bike build and then repeatedly mislead the customer with continually slipping magical ‘dispatch dates’ (which they no longer even bother contacting the customer to advise have changed – it’s left to the customer to keep checking the fictional ‘order status’ on the website to discover the delivery dates just keep changing the day before promised dispatch).

We all know the bike supply chain is on its knees at the moment, and I can accept that my new bike build could be affected by that, but why can’t Ribble just treat their customers with some respect and admit they won’t be able to deliver when they promised, and instead give a realistic (and honest) projected delivery date? It’s just too easy to hide behind ‘supply chain uncertainties’ excuse and not actually engage in any honest dialogue with the customer.

Can’t help feeling that now they’ve taken my money they’re happy to just keep brushing me off indefinitely. Not impressed at all. Would welcome any advice as to how to get some honest communication out of Ribble?

Topic

[Jearz]

CGR Sport Tiagra. I think the

CGR Sport Tiagra. I think the delay is squarely on the groupset. The GPX build seems to be on a three month wait.

[Steve K]

Just being nosey – what bike

Just being nosey – what bike have you ordered?

[Jearz]

First time post long time
First time post long time lurker
Just sent this to Ribble

Dear Ribble Customer Services

My frustrations continue and patience is getting stretched.

I originally place my order on the 28th June 2021 with an initial estimated date of October. This has since varied from being moved out to January, bought back to the middle of October, then the beginning of December, then to February 11th, then the middle of January only to be told my order has been missed from an automated update, then February 11th again and now February 18th, i feel that I have missed a few more changes it seems in between.

I am well aware by now of the effect of the global pandemic on the supply of bike components but the wait of over 7 and a half months and counting is taking its toll and making question will I ever see my new bike? More to the frustration though is I am logging in almost daily to see what is the date it is going to change too next as I dont seemed to get notified by email. I have thought about cancelling my order a few times but the bike I have ordered it was I have set my sights on.

[Monsieur_Growl]

I’ll be staying far far away

I’ll be staying far far away from Ribble reading this thread. At least Dolan delivered my bike on time, despite their diabolical after sales team. Why does customer service seem so difficult for bike brands? Only positive experience I’ve had so far is Cotic, but their escapade won’t take a road chainset

[maxdabrit]

It’s posts like these that

It’s posts like these that have kept me from pulling the trigger on a Di2 CGR SL bike. I get that there are serious and unpredictable supply chain issues but for goodness sakes customer communication is 100 percent in your hands. 
I will continue to wait for better lead times which can only translate into a somewhat closer actual delivery date. However, I’m already looking elsewhere and maybe someone will get a canondale supersix se in store before that happens. 

[Simon E]

Just been listening to

Just been listening to Cycling Tips podcast. Argon 18 have announced a new bike but availability not before end 2022. Cannondale’s brand new Synapse may already be in the hands of reviewers but Australian dealers have no stock and don’t know when they will. Chains and cassettes are like gold dust (I presume they’re talking about fancy schmancy 11-speed chains because I’ve never had a problem getting hold of 9-speed KMC). A lot of manufacturers are hesitant about investing in building new factories in case the demand bubble bursts – or at least drops off, as some think it will. This would result in idle production lines and warehouses/shop shelves full of stock that they can’t shift. The logistics of intercontinental shipping/transport due to the pandemic and the shortage of containers are ongoing.

TLDR – it’s not just Ribble.

[JVN01]

Update Feb 22
Update Feb 22

Well after several months of delays and frustrating patchy communications I had almost given up on ever seeing my promised CGR ti bike. Then suddenly out of the blue I had an email last week informing me that my bike was on its way. Turns out it was true and it arrived via courier yesterday. The bike (as hoped) is great, well packed and adjusted and with the groupset upgraded to 12 speed di2 as promised and some complementary accessories included. The cassette ratio was not what I was expecting (probably due to availability issues) however Ribble have offered to send me the cassette of my choice. Fingers crossed they will come good on the promise however in the meantime the bike has met my expectations so it is only right to update my post on here to reflect that.
Hopefully my recent improved experience is a sign that Ribble have turned a corner and other customers will also start getting their bikes soon..
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Surreyrider]

I’ve seen all the comments on

I’ve seen all the comments on the months and I keep getting adverts from Ribble on my Facebook feed promoting all their models, especially the new aero offering. That must be really galling for all those waiting to get their much delayed order. As a result of both, I will never even consider buying from Ribble now.

[Hirsute]

I was about to write can’t

I was about to write can’t you take it to bluewater and then I read your second sentence.

That is ridiculous that they won’t be flexible over the return.

[Sussexcyclist]

Ordered a Ribble e-Bike in

Ordered a Ribble e-Bike in April last year with promised delivery of July 2021. The date just got pushed back time and time again with a series of emails and false promises of new delivery dates each time. Bike finally arrived end of November and has now stopped working (battery error code) after 250 miles of riding!

Currently waiting for them to send me a bike box to return and repair at their HQ. Annoying, they won’t allow me to return to store which is an hour from me and would be preferable to waiting in for the postman!

Absolute shower!

[bobrayner]

I always used to be a Ribble

I always used to be a Ribble fan, and cross-shopped them for my latest purchase, but ended up going with a rival. The bike shortage has affected the whole industry, and my new bike was no exception, it was delayed a couple of months – but the vendor always kept me updated. They didn’t try a series of last-minute bait-and-switch tactics.

After reading about other folk’s experiences, I’d trust Ribble a little less for future bikes, alas.

[JVN01]

Sullabici wrote:

Sullabici wrote:

Nothing to add that hasn’t already been said, but to back up previous comments…
ordered eCGR in July, delivery date Oct was bumped into Nov, then 3rd Dec. That date then went back two weeks to 17th, i.e. exactly the same dates as JVN01’s OP, with the comment that a small issue had arisen. Received email today informing me the new delivery estimate is Mar 22 – so much for the small problem. Hopefully JVN had more luck.

No luck here. In fact now my order status page doesn’t even reference any estimated dispatch date, so I dread to think what that may mean… is this the case for you, or is yours still showing an estimated dispatch date?

[JVN01]

Welsh boy wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

I ordered a new bike on Friday, was told that delivery would be about 7 days and it was delivered the following Monday. Can’t get a better than that, full marks to them 

Hasn’t got my name on it has it?!

[Welsh boy]

I ordered a new bike on

I ordered a new bike on Friday, was told that delivery would be about 7 days and it was delivered the following Monday. Can’t get a better than that, full marks to them 

[PRSboy]

There is an interesting

There is an interesting article on FT.com today focussed on a US based e-bike manufacturer to illustrate supply chain and shipping issues.  It shows how truly horrific it is trying to assemble anything at the moment when you are reliant on imported parts.

[Author]

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