Terrible service

I came into Bridge Cycle’s for assistance. Cycled my new bike to the shop and was ready to get myself kitted out. All the blogging sites and research that I did always boiled down to getting yourself acquainted with your local bike shop because the people there can seriously help, guide and advise you with what’s needed with your bike to perform well on the trails.

I went into Bridge Cycles in the first week of July 2020 with expectations to speak to an enthusiastic sales person who can guide me and assist with my chain that needed to be looked at before I went on a Jonkershoek adventure. Well, that expectation was immediately shot out of my mind when I walked into the shop.

Bridge Cycles had one customer inside. The customer was already being helped by a sales representative. I stood in the shop, waiting and smiling… ready to engage with someone. But nobody seemed interested in approaching me, until a lady (May be more senior) asked one of the guys to come see if I needed assistance – fairly obvious as I am standing around with my bike.

The guy begrudgingly came to assist me, but it was more of an effort to get me out of the store.

I asked for help with my chain, his response was: When do you need help? NOW. Because I cannot help you. I asked if I could book my bike in, then. So someone can help me.

And he said the he will need to see, when there is availability but definitely he cannot help me now.

Honestly trying very hard to get me out of the shop.

I asked for a chain link that would fit for my bike, he sold me the wrong one and I left with it. Since then I have been to Specialized Freewheel Cycology and they have been so amazing on each visit. They my local bike shop now and I have done so much business with them, bought my Helmet R2200, Shoes R3000 and Cleats – my shopping for kit has not stopped, but it amazes me that Bridge Cycles in tough times are not interested in customer retention or assisting the new guy.

It is a real let down, because word of mouth is a very very bad/good tool for business, depending on how you run your ship. I have had multiple people complain to me about the same issues they found at Bridge Cycles. (including my father when he made enquiries in May)