Online Purchase Warranty Service

[erider_61]

Have read a lot on this forum about how you are on your own with regards to online purchases. Especially when it comes to replacement parts and warranty service.

Had an issue with my PAS no longer working on my Voltbike Bravo. Throttle still worked tho.

Chris at Voltbike quickly responded to my email and a week later I had the new part and bike was up and running.

We all hear the horror stories of online purchases on this forum, so I thought I would take a moment to post my positive experience. Part was covered under warranty and I paid $10 shipping.

Still loving my Voltbike Bravo....

 

[rich c]

Why would you have to pay shipping? I don't understand that on a warranty part. When my electrictrike tadpole trike had a bad PAS sensor, it was a totally free warranty part.

 

[erider_61]

Why would you have to pay shipping? I don't understand that on a warranty part. When my electrictrike tadpole trike had a bad PAS sensor, it was a totally free warranty part.

On other non ebike purchases, have always had to pay shipping for parts on warranty claims. So this did not seem odd to me.

 

[erider_61]

But now I am curious....has anyone else paid shipping charges when making a warranty claim on their ebikes???

 

[Nova Haibike]

But now I am curious....has anyone else paid shipping charges when making a warranty claim on their ebikes???

I made a warranty claim on my Haibike, which I purchased online. The new part (wheels, so not a small or light box), were sent to me free of charge.

FWIW, it is not unusual to have to have to pay something with regards to warranty issues. If you buy a bike in a shop, the warranty covers the parts, but not the labor to install it. If such work is done for free, the shop is absorbing that cost, not the manufacturer.

 

[tomjasz]

$10 shipping Is grossly overpriced. We ship parts First Class delivery confirmation for $2-$3.00.
Typically we ship warranty parts at no cost to the customer.

I buy 12 pole split disc type for $10 delivered. I‘d guess that Voltbike pays $5 - $7 if that much in quantity. Retail with Higo connector is about $15.

 

[GypsyTreker]

There is no small package First Class Tracked for $2-3 dollars. The cheapest I can get ( I will do mail duty for my wife's biz sometimes) is for a 1oz item, in a small (3x5) bubble pack envelope, for $3.80 Zone 1. Here are the latest rates

 

[erider_61]

There is no small package First Class Tracked for $2-3 dollars. The cheapest I can get ( I will do mail duty for my wife's biz sometimes) is for a 1oz item, in a small (3x5) bubble pack envelope, for $3.80 Zone 1. Here are the latest rates

View attachment 46115

I also do shipping at my biz and there is no way to ship anything from BC to ONTARIO for $2-$3.

 

[tomjasz]

I also do shipping at my biz and there is no way to ship anything from BC to ONTARIO for $2-$3.

See posted quotes. I'm not Canadian.

 

[GypsyTreker]

See posted quotes. I'm not Canadian.

I stand corrected...big time. Is Pay Pal just the method of payment or is it a value added service I'm not aware of? My wife has a biz account with PP but not with the USPS.

 

[tomjasz]

I stand corrected...big time. Is Pay Pal just the method of payment or is it a value added service I'm not aware of? My wife has a biz account with PP but not with the USPS.

They have a shipping page. I use both, but a USPS account does not have a First Class package availability.

 

[trainman]

In many cases shipping charges are charged by the shipper to pay for his/her labor and packing to what he feels he/she needs to recover some loss on the order. Warranty repairs are not totally free, but you have the option to take it back to the seller and there you can probably get it done with no charge to you, the buyer.

 

[tomjasz]

In many cases shipping charges are charged by the shipper to pay for his/her labor and packing to what he feels he/she needs to recover some loss on the order. Warranty repairs are not totally free, but you have the option to take it back to the seller and there you can probably get it done with no charge to you, the buyer.

I despise inflated shipping. Charge for the product, not hide upcharges in the shipping.

 

[BlackHand]

The PayPal rate is the discounted commercial first class rate paid by PayPal and then passed on to you. And, yes, pretty much any shipping charge will seem inflated compared to the commercial rate from an agency that loses $billions/year.

In any case, we're pretty far down a rabbit hole here.

 

[smorgasbord]

At least one online bike seller not only pays for shipping warranty parts to you, they'll even pay for a local shop to install them for you: Evelo.

 

[tomjasz]

The PayPal rate is the discounted commercial first class rate paid by PayPal and then passed on to you. And, yes, pretty much any shipping charge will seem inflated compared to the commercial rate from an agency that loses $billions/year.

In any case, we're pretty far down a rabbit hole here.

Sounds like a current POTUS run business. "The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations."

 

[erider_61]

All I care about is my PAS system is working again, not the $10 shipping charge. The original intent of this post was to point out that an online purchase and subsequent need of parts/warranty was met with a quick response. Customer service is what it's all about these days and Voltbike is a company that you can trust to take care of your after sales issues.

 

[sc00ter]

I cant believe someone complained about a $10 shipping charge, "I could have shipped it for $2-$3". When I took my ebike in to get it looked at when it was trowing error codes, it was still under warranty. I offered to drop it off and come back days later for it when they get around to it but the mechanic put it on the rack right away. Asked me to give him some time, so I went to the mall for awhile. Two hours later, it was fixed. No charge as it was warrantied. So, because the mechanic was so helpful, I bought him lunch. If the motorcycle shop knocks-out my carry in wheel tire change on the spot while I wait, I buy the tire guy lunch. Ship a part to my house in a fast manner to resolve a problem, I dont mind a shipping charge. As long as someone doesnt ebay me, and try charging $25 shipping for a Hot Wheels car, its just a added cost of doing business. Voltbike seems to be doing good with its customers.

 

[tomjasz]

I cant believe someone complained about a $10 shipping charge, "I could have shipped it for $2-$3". When I took my ebike in to get it looked at when it was trowing error codes, it was still under warranty. I offered to drop it off and come back days later for it when they get around to it but the mechanic put it on the rack right away. Asked me to give him some time, so I went to the mall for awhile. Two hours later, it was fixed. No charge as it was warrantied. So, because the mechanic was so helpful, I bought him lunch. If the motorcycle shop knocks-out my carry in wheel tire change on the spot while I wait, I buy the tire guy lunch. Ship a part to my house in a fast manner to resolve a problem, I dont mind a shipping charge. As long as someone doesnt ebay me, and try charging $25 shipping for a Hot Wheels car, its just a added cost of doing business. Voltbike seems to be doing good with its customers.

Not sure what your point is, given we talked about shipping and you discus in person warranty fixes. Paying $10 to ship a replacement part under warranty shipping that actually cost the reseller $3 is disingenuous.

 

[BlackHand]

I think he's saying good service has value and $10 is not unreasonable for peace of mind and to get back on the road.

Given that we have no idea what service was used or what packaging the unknown part needed I don't see how you can still assume it only cost $3 to get to the customer even if you value the materials and vendor's time as $0.

erider_61, I'm glad they got you up and running quickly and you're happy with the service.