You have to be Crazy to do business with EasyRacer
07-28-17, 06:02 AM
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Mike from Troy MI
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You have to be Crazy to do business with EasyRacer
I was told in January due to a neck injury I needed to switch from a diamond frame to a recumbent.
I performed my necessary research and thought I found the Bike I wanted, so I called EasyRacers
I talked to Denton @ EasyRacers; he was very cordial helpful and knowledgable and suggested I purchase his Gold Rush Evo XL. (Im 6'4" 270 LBS( and he had the frame in stock
This was not my first custom Bike purchased so I thought I knew what I was getting into so I provided my credit card purchased the Bike put down $1000. deposit. I asked if I could buy the bike from a local retailer since I had visited one of his dealers and felt obligated that the dealer should receive some form of payment for helping me. (I am an avid supporter of local Bike Shops) I was told that can be done. What follows is humorous, but the bottom line: If you want to buy an easy racer best of luck and be ready for nothing but head-aches.If you want to skip the rest of this rant understand I eventually I rejected the Bike that was shipped to me in June.
Here are the details:
1. Bike was ordered last week in February
2. Needed multiple emails to receive my receipt for my Credit Card
3. Order never reflected ship location to the bike shop I purchased it from (one worry I had was where wold it be shippped)
4. Late March called where is my Bike, I was told it was being heat treated and that I need to understand these are customer Bikes not off the shelf store bicycles. (HBTW Waterford Precision never needed to explain that to me) I ordered my custom bike from Waterford, and they provided me an estimated completion date
5. Sent emails and talked to Denton asking what took so long, told he had employee problems but he knew the priority of my order. (Does a customer care about employee problems (no)) Not my problem
6. Called my bike shop May 16 (I bought a bike in stock last week in Feb) for an update since I was told my bike would be shipped. My bike shop asked me if Denton called me, there was a problem
7. I called Denton, admittedly he was very apologetic but explained to me they want to build the bike and ruined two frames, appears the bikes were not heat treated and the bike had to be re-built and heat treated and basically had to be started all over.
8. He apologized and said he would provide me with a free accessory due to the inconvenience. I request the faring, Denton told me he would not make any Money on the Bike. (Personally, after 4 months should I have cared)
9 I pestered Denton weekly for an update and the ship date
10 Finally was told the Bike was shipped, I asked for the ship date and the tracking number (Yes I did not trust that the bike actual shipped)
No response on a date or tracking number, I only received the information afters placing a hold on my credit card.
11 the bike was finally received at the bike shop, I was so excited
12. I go to pick up the bike......
a. Th bike had a scratch on it (that's a bummer but not the end of the world)
b. I ordered a bike with top of the line Sram x0 components, Denton substituted x5 and x7 for X) did not contact me nor did he offer to provide a cost difference for the components. I had to tell him to take 600 dollars off the price. Once again I was told he would lose $ on the bike but he wanted a happy customer. (I think he was sincere)Oh yes, the free faring was not at the bike shop, how was this overlooked. I live 50 miles from the shop so I would have to drive 100 miles to get the late part. Geez if I had fubared an order so badly I would have made sure I got it right.What is the say pack one check twice ship ?
But the best part:
But the best part of the whole joke of a buying experience, I looked at the bicycle, I looked at website, he sent me the wrong bicycle. He shipped the gold rush replica not the Gold rush Evo. I'm sure if I talked to Denton he would have blamed it on his employees.
I gave Denton a take it or leave it offer: I would take the bike for 50% off the retail or he could have it back. He took the bike back. In the end the Bike would have cost me over $5,000.00.
SO what is the Moral of the story: after a month I had a gut feeling there was a problem, I warned Denton and I did nothing, I wanted the Bike. I read things on line and got even more concerned, but I wanted the Bike, I had more problems but let fate take me to the right direction. Finally, I threw in the towel. I am writing this to all of you folks that read this forum. Buyer beware. I still think that the frame is a very fine frame, but the rest of the process is broken. if you want to shell out a lot of $'s and can put up with bad service go ahead.
P.S. since I ordered the Bike, I had an operation and am back trying a diamond frame again, it is painful so I may still have to go to a recumbent. Does anyone have any suggestions for a bent with the quality of EasyRacer, but will provide me with the customer experience that is decent
MJF Michigan
I performed my necessary research and thought I found the Bike I wanted, so I called EasyRacers
I talked to Denton @ EasyRacers; he was very cordial helpful and knowledgable and suggested I purchase his Gold Rush Evo XL. (Im 6'4" 270 LBS( and he had the frame in stock
This was not my first custom Bike purchased so I thought I knew what I was getting into so I provided my credit card purchased the Bike put down $1000. deposit. I asked if I could buy the bike from a local retailer since I had visited one of his dealers and felt obligated that the dealer should receive some form of payment for helping me. (I am an avid supporter of local Bike Shops) I was told that can be done. What follows is humorous, but the bottom line: If you want to buy an easy racer best of luck and be ready for nothing but head-aches.If you want to skip the rest of this rant understand I eventually I rejected the Bike that was shipped to me in June.
Here are the details:
1. Bike was ordered last week in February
2. Needed multiple emails to receive my receipt for my Credit Card
3. Order never reflected ship location to the bike shop I purchased it from (one worry I had was where wold it be shippped)
4. Late March called where is my Bike, I was told it was being heat treated and that I need to understand these are customer Bikes not off the shelf store bicycles. (HBTW Waterford Precision never needed to explain that to me) I ordered my custom bike from Waterford, and they provided me an estimated completion date
5. Sent emails and talked to Denton asking what took so long, told he had employee problems but he knew the priority of my order. (Does a customer care about employee problems (no)) Not my problem
6. Called my bike shop May 16 (I bought a bike in stock last week in Feb) for an update since I was told my bike would be shipped. My bike shop asked me if Denton called me, there was a problem
7. I called Denton, admittedly he was very apologetic but explained to me they want to build the bike and ruined two frames, appears the bikes were not heat treated and the bike had to be re-built and heat treated and basically had to be started all over.
8. He apologized and said he would provide me with a free accessory due to the inconvenience. I request the faring, Denton told me he would not make any Money on the Bike. (Personally, after 4 months should I have cared)
9 I pestered Denton weekly for an update and the ship date
10 Finally was told the Bike was shipped, I asked for the ship date and the tracking number (Yes I did not trust that the bike actual shipped)
No response on a date or tracking number, I only received the information afters placing a hold on my credit card.
11 the bike was finally received at the bike shop, I was so excited
12. I go to pick up the bike......
a. Th bike had a scratch on it (that's a bummer but not the end of the world)
b. I ordered a bike with top of the line Sram x0 components, Denton substituted x5 and x7 for X) did not contact me nor did he offer to provide a cost difference for the components. I had to tell him to take 600 dollars off the price. Once again I was told he would lose $ on the bike but he wanted a happy customer. (I think he was sincere)Oh yes, the free faring was not at the bike shop, how was this overlooked. I live 50 miles from the shop so I would have to drive 100 miles to get the late part. Geez if I had fubared an order so badly I would have made sure I got it right.What is the say pack one check twice ship ?
But the best part:
But the best part of the whole joke of a buying experience, I looked at the bicycle, I looked at website, he sent me the wrong bicycle. He shipped the gold rush replica not the Gold rush Evo. I'm sure if I talked to Denton he would have blamed it on his employees.
I gave Denton a take it or leave it offer: I would take the bike for 50% off the retail or he could have it back. He took the bike back. In the end the Bike would have cost me over $5,000.00.
SO what is the Moral of the story: after a month I had a gut feeling there was a problem, I warned Denton and I did nothing, I wanted the Bike. I read things on line and got even more concerned, but I wanted the Bike, I had more problems but let fate take me to the right direction. Finally, I threw in the towel. I am writing this to all of you folks that read this forum. Buyer beware. I still think that the frame is a very fine frame, but the rest of the process is broken. if you want to shell out a lot of $'s and can put up with bad service go ahead.
P.S. since I ordered the Bike, I had an operation and am back trying a diamond frame again, it is painful so I may still have to go to a recumbent. Does anyone have any suggestions for a bent with the quality of EasyRacer, but will provide me with the customer experience that is decent
MJF Michigan
07-28-17, 06:09 AM
#2
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Wow! I'm sorry to hear about your negative experience! I can't really comment on experience with a manufacturer because I have only bought two new recumbents (one for me, one for my wife), and they were both purchased from dealers. Perhaps buy your next 'bent used, or buy from a dealer? I know that quality stocking dealers are not on every corner.
As for buying used, I have had very good results. The only recumbents I have purchased that "weren't much" also didn't cost much. And right now used inline 'bents is a buyer's market, as most new converts are going straight to trike. I have seen some very attractive prices in the last year!
As for buying used, I have had very good results. The only recumbents I have purchased that "weren't much" also didn't cost much. And right now used inline 'bents is a buyer's market, as most new converts are going straight to trike. I have seen some very attractive prices in the last year!
07-28-17, 06:17 AM
#3
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07-28-17, 06:19 AM
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LBKA (formerly punkncat)
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Sorry that you had such issues getting your new custom goodie. It really seems as if a drive over to the shop would have been prudent, early in the exchange, in order to eliminate the possibility of misunderstanding.
Running a small business of any kind can be extremely frustrating in dealing with employee issues. As a customer, you may not care about employee issues, but it is a more than valid reason to have a backup. You have no idea what the individual did for the company, and what manner of snowball was created after the fact. Was he the guy that was supposed to have properly heat treated those frames?
It only takes very little in a small shop to throw a wrench in the whole system.
For someone who claims to have been through the custom process and aware of what you were getting into, it seems more like you took it as an ordering from a magazine approach than hands on. I'd like to SEE where my 5G is going. Throwing an ultimatum at the builder after delivery probably wasn't going to work in any reality.
I would personally love if that guy happens to be a member here and have his say.....
Running a small business of any kind can be extremely frustrating in dealing with employee issues. As a customer, you may not care about employee issues, but it is a more than valid reason to have a backup. You have no idea what the individual did for the company, and what manner of snowball was created after the fact. Was he the guy that was supposed to have properly heat treated those frames?
It only takes very little in a small shop to throw a wrench in the whole system.
For someone who claims to have been through the custom process and aware of what you were getting into, it seems more like you took it as an ordering from a magazine approach than hands on. I'd like to SEE where my 5G is going. Throwing an ultimatum at the builder after delivery probably wasn't going to work in any reality.
I would personally love if that guy happens to be a member here and have his say.....
07-28-17, 08:06 AM
#5
Zircon Encrusted Tweezers
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Sorry that you had such issues getting your new custom goodie. It really seems as if a drive over to the shop would have been prudent, early in the exchange, in order to eliminate the possibility of misunderstanding.
Running a small business of any kind can be extremely frustrating in dealing with employee issues. As a customer, you may not care about employee issues, but it is a more than valid reason to have a backup. You have no idea what the individual did for the company, and what manner of snowball was created after the fact. Was he the guy that was supposed to have properly heat treated those frames?
It only takes very little in a small shop to throw a wrench in the whole system.
For someone who claims to have been through the custom process and aware of what you were getting into, it seems more like you took it as an ordering from a magazine approach than hands on. I'd like to SEE where my 5G is going. Throwing an ultimatum at the builder after delivery probably wasn't going to work in any reality.
I would personally love if that guy happens to be a member here and have his say.....
Running a small business of any kind can be extremely frustrating in dealing with employee issues. As a customer, you may not care about employee issues, but it is a more than valid reason to have a backup. You have no idea what the individual did for the company, and what manner of snowball was created after the fact. Was he the guy that was supposed to have properly heat treated those frames?
It only takes very little in a small shop to throw a wrench in the whole system.
For someone who claims to have been through the custom process and aware of what you were getting into, it seems more like you took it as an ordering from a magazine approach than hands on. I'd like to SEE where my 5G is going. Throwing an ultimatum at the builder after delivery probably wasn't going to work in any reality.
I would personally love if that guy happens to be a member here and have his say.....
The local bike shop is irrelevant. ER is in CA and that's who was f'ing up.
I hate to say it but even a casual search over at BROL would have revealed how messed up ER is these days.
The good news is that most other recumbent companies are light years ahead of ER in service and honesty. OP - if you want a bent and want to only have good quality and customer service, then they are out there.
If you really want an ER, there are lots of them out there lightly used for great deals. For example: https://annarbor.craigslist.org/bik/...174834759.html
Last edited by Steamer; 07-28-17 at 08:22 AM.
07-28-17, 10:12 AM
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P.S. since I ordered the Bike, I had an operation and am back trying a diamond frame again, it is painful so I may still have to go to a recumbent. Does anyone have any suggestions for a bent with the quality of EasyRacer, but will provide me with the customer experience that is decent
MJF Michigan
07-30-17, 08:11 AM
#9
Zircon Encrusted Tweezers
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(That's why I posted a CL for sale item from MI, which I see now has expired. FWIW, it was a nice Tour Easy for only $600. I see ERs for sale on CL all the time for 1500 and lower. I see an almost new GRR EVO with a fairing not far from where I live for only $2100. It's been tempting me for weeks.)
08-02-17, 06:52 PM
#12
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Sorry you had a bad experience. Don't any dealers handle EasyRacer products?
08-07-17, 01:30 PM
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We bought an Easy Racer for my wife about two or three years ago from a bike shop about two hours away that specializes with recumbents and trikes. He was a re-seller for Easy. Around March of this year, I was going to buy another bike from him after selling my Bachetta. Honestly I was probably going to buy an Easy for myself... my wife loves hers and I've ridden it several times.
When we get there I look around his shop... many trikes and several Rans but no Easy. After talking to him, he said he dropped their line of bikes because they were getting to hard to work with. I guess that should say something.
So I left with a Rans Alterra crank forward that had been customized with higher end components. Odd shaped bike but I'm enjoying it.
When we get there I look around his shop... many trikes and several Rans but no Easy. After talking to him, he said he dropped their line of bikes because they were getting to hard to work with. I guess that should say something.
So I left with a Rans Alterra crank forward that had been customized with higher end components. Odd shaped bike but I'm enjoying it.
12-16-17, 09:04 PM
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Hmm.. I ordered a new headset over three weeks ago for my easy sport & gave my credit card number. Still no headset at my door. Uh-oh. bk
12-18-17, 06:31 PM
#17
Senior Member
This thread is a few months old, but it bears repeating now, EasyRacers is not the company it once was, and there have been multiple reports of them taking a customer's money and not delivering a product. At this point, I would recommend staying far away. As an alternative, RANS is unveiling a new premium model, the Phoenix, which seems to be priced only slightly higher than the GRR and looks like it would give a similar ride.
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