Assabet River Bicycles

Category:	Bicycle Store
Address:	90 Cherry St, Hudson, MA 01749, USA
Phone:	+1 978-568-0000
Site:	assabetbicycles.com
Rating:	3.5
Working:	10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 10AM–6PM 12–5PM

Location

Photos 10

Reviews 4

Jennifer Hoyt

Poor customer service, snobby owner! I brought my bike here for the first time a few days ago. My chain had come off and my bike needed an overall tune-up before a triathlon. I dropped it off on Friday and told them I needed to pick it up Saturday for the triathlon Sunday morning. They seemed nice and knowledgeable, if not a bit pricey. I got the bike Saturday afternoon after calling to make sure it was done (they didnt call me, I had to call them). I was 5.5 miles out of 14 miles through the bike leg of the triathlon when the crankarm came off my bike. I almost crashed on Rt. 20 but I managed to get off the road in time. I had to kick my crankarm back onto my bike every 100 yards or so for 9 miles of the bike leg to even get trough the race and it ended up costing me placement in my age group (I was on pace for 2nd) and it wasted my $80 entry fee and endless hours of training. I called Doug, the owner, up on Monday to explain the situation and left a message he called me back. When we spoke, I explained the situation and told him that I thought the crankarm came off as a result of negligence of the tune-up or an oversight. He said that "if it was loose, they would have seen it and tightened it". He made sure to tell me that my bike was cheaply made (retailed for $1500 and has shimano components). I was very patient and calm on the phone and said that I was looking for a refund of my $60 fee for the tune-up that I didnt feel they did. He laughed at me. The conversation ended with him telling me he had other customers and that he cant do anything for me. For a small bike shop, I thought it was a bit ridiculous to blow me off and not try to get my business in the future or at least make amends after this incident. Had they just refunded my money I probably wouldnt have posted anything negative and brushed it off as a mistake. I have completely lost my trust in their work and told the owner as much. He didnt seem to care and pretty much blew me off to attend to his "other customers". If they take this little pride in maintaining loyal customers, I dont see how they can take any pride in their work and I strongly suggest you save your cash and time for another bike shop.

Will

I originally posted the review at the bottom because my first encounter with them was very positive. However, upon my second visit, when I was ready to pin down my choice and buy it, I changed my mind. The guy that helped me was an interesting individual. His long hair looked like it hadnt been attended to since the Bush administration. Also, he had some kind of respiratory ailment and basically just let his coughs fly without any attempt to divert their trajectory. I had to take a few steps back. When the bikes I was interested in werent available, his rote answer was that it was the end of the season and "whats on the floor is all their is". He kept trying to tell me that I might want something other than what I wanted. I was looking for a straight-bar hybrid. I didnt want a downturn road-bike or one of those fat-tire cruisers. I had to keep telling him that I already knew what I wanted. At the suggestion that they order something for me he seemed to be put out by the idea. I finally just got frustrated and politely made an excuse to leave. I realize that I could have just waited for a time when the other guy was available, the one that inspired my previous comments. But I knew that I was probably going to have to encounter this guy at some point for service visits, etc. And I really just didnt want him touching something that I spent $800 on. I ended up going to Pedal Power Bike and Ski in Acton. They were very helpful, let me take many test rides over several visits until I was happy. It is obvious from the start that they are extremely knowledgeable (plus, no one coughed in my face). I got a great bike at a good price, and I will go there when its time to get my child a properly fitted ride. My previous post: "Im in the market for a bike. I went into ARB just because I was passing by. Chris spent more than half an hour explaining the different models and their components, and what he would recommend for me. You could tell he knew what he was talking about. Then he introduced me to the other guys that worked there. The other bike shop I went to made me feel like I was intruding on their time. Will definitely go back to ARB when Im ready to buy."

Kevin Daly

First of all I tend to write reviews of a positive nature to reward a business for great service. This is not the case with Assabet River Bicycles who provided unprofessional service. Scenario was to replace bike 3 tubes. Day 1 - I called shop to check service pricing and to verify they had 20" tubes in stock. Was told yes and to come by as work would performed while I waited. Day 2 - Dropped off bikes and requested 3 new tubes be installed on two bikes and was told bikes will be ready next day or they will call. I also asked that they save the old tubes, so I could use as spares. Day 3 - silence Day 4 - Store left voice-mail that bikes were ready for pickup, process took longer than expected as parts had to be ordered. Day 5 - Arrived at the store to pickup bikes and noticed that 3 new tires along with tubes were replaced. The mechanic explained that the guy on Day 1 wrote down the wrong info. He explained that he was sorry and that there was no charge for the tires. In hind sight I should have accepted that offer and just left! As this was a small business I did not want them to incur the cost of the tires so I left the bikes another day so the situation could be corrected. Day 6 - Dealt with the owner "Doug" who showed us original work order that stated "replace 3 tubes". He was completely unapologetic about the situation and even threw in a snide comment to my wife placing blame for the mix up on me. When I asked for the 3 old tubes he stated "we threw them out". To which I asked for a new spare tire and he calmly threw me a new one. I instantly noticed the spare he gave me was not the correct size for our bikes (deliberate move on his part, you decide), but decided to post this review rather than ever deal with this shop again!

Jo Daly

Horrible experience with this shop and the owner in particular. Owner Doug is quite condescending and rude. Shop does not honor quoted time estimates. I called the shop to confirm they had tubes for my foldable bikes in stock prior to vacation. Was told yes they are in stock and they could replace tubes while I waited. In fact 4 days later was when the bikes were finished. Even then my husband had to take off the front wheels on both bikes as the shop put the wheels on backwards preventing the bikes from fully folding up. The whole point of taking the bikes to the shop was so we wouldnt have to spend time working on the bikes and this shop failed miserably! Doug can be very friendly when he first meets you, but that will turn if you point out an issue with the work. He did not appreciate the fact that I mentioned the delay in completing the bikes and blamed having to pick up parts to which I mentioned he claimed the parts were in stock.