Jan 15, 2011 09:45 PM
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Fascinated by the very good presentation on the website and encouraged by my experience with the other Hercules Bicycle about 10 years back, I decided to go for a rather expensive Ryder ACT-106 in November 2009.
The experience of buying at Dadi Bicycles Pvt. Ltd., Hargovind Enclave was the worst buying experience – the staff (an old man busy on computer and a guy busy on cell phone) was least bothered about attending anybody entering the showroom.
After killing about 10 minutes browsing through various cycles parked there I decided to the guy on the phone.
“ACT-106. How much?”
On my asking about the price of the cycle parked there, the guy, still holding the call, just went near the cycle and turned a tag tied around the handle to show me the price.
“Is the price negotiable? I want to buy the cycle right now.” After looking the tag, I tried my luck with the old chap.
“No it’s BATA Price. If it’s 99 paisa we’d be returning remaining 1.” Snapped the old man.
“Okay then... make one ready.” I gave in......the other Hercules Showroom was about 20 Kms and local cycle vendors were not having the model of my choice.
“Card or Cash.....” Old man started making bill. Within 15 minutes the same cycle which was available there for the test ride was handed over to me. Nobody bothered even to check the tyre pressure.
But still this was the beginning of a very bad experience. The next day I found that the seat was damaged (its plastic core was broken from one side.) On complaining to the showroom they just mentioned that ‘poor handling by me. (I just loaded the cycle in my car.)’ was the reason for the damage.
There after right paddle broke in about ten days, then came left paddle, then rear indicator, rear mud guard and centre stand....all within a span of month. (I ride by myself and my routine is just half an hour on smooth road in the morning for about four days a week. The cycle never met an accident.)
All the parts were required to be replaced with local parts after changing the fittings that were for genuine Chinese parts as Dadi Bicycles people flatly blamed the company for not supplying the spare parts of the cycles.
After about one year more than half the cycle has been refitted with parts procured from local cycle mechanics.
I strongly feel I would have got a better deal from a four-thousand buck local bicycle rather than spending ten-thousand on a Hercules Ryder ACT-106.
