The Scandal of the Budget bike lock Market (long and ranty)
Discussion
Following this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=993478&mid=53738
I got ranty and sent a letter to the lock maker.
Ok, accepting that there may be in place a scale as I suggested, how come I can purchase the lock in question from a central London bike shop, if its only suitable for the country (essentially, anywhere it isnt likely to be stolen anyway)? And how come no one at the shop says "Assuming youre not an ex thief or a bike security and theft expert, can I ask what you hope to use that lock for, in the interests of ensuring it suits your needs?"
To me it sounds like "Only buy this lock for use in areas where no one would attempt to steal it". Because even a half-arsed attempt to get through it, organised and executed in Gussage All Saints on a day-trip by the local infirm folk, is liable to be a runaway success. Which still makes it a rip-off.
Still angry.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=993478&mid=53738
I got ranty and sent a letter to the lock maker.
Ranty Reardy Mister said:
Dear Sir/Madam,
About two weeks ago, I bought one of your Abus Blaster 850 coil locks (new). I’m quite sure you have received letters like this one before that start in much the same way and have some idea of what will follow. But I will not sit idly by filled with impotent rage while other people are parted with their money in exchange for a product that is so glaringly unfit for purpose.
The main points of my particular situation are as follows:
• It was 4pm on a very busy central London street on a week day
• Directly in front of the glass-fronted bike shop I was in
• I was in the store for no more than fifteen minutes, during ten
of which I was stood opposite where the bike was locked up
• My bike was stolen whilst locked up with the Abus Blaster 850
My reasoning for buying this particular lock was that it was small and light enough to carry easily in my ruck-sack on my commute. I am aware they are at the lower end of the security scale, but I felt that if I only leave my bike for short periods in busy areas, surely something like this would stop the opportunist? How wrong I was. In fact the Police Officer on the beat I reported it to informed me that instead of deterring the opportunist, if on an expensive enough bike, this is the exact kind of lock they are looking for, as they are so straightforward to get through.
The fact that it was stolen so quickly and easily in such a busy area makes it absolutely undeniable that this lock is not fit for purpose and unsuitable to be sold as any sort of theft deterrent. My bike was no more secure than if I had secured it using cable ties.
Again I am certain that this is not news to you. There is a market for cheap bike locks (a phrase I can barely bring myself to utter, as it implies a basic level of security which is simply not present) and as a business enterprise, you are going to make a product to meet that market.
I don’t even mind you selling these items. However I am adamant that they should be sold with some realistic indication of exactly what sort of security they offer. And I don’t mean some cleverly marketed scale of their level of awesomeness. I propose a scale across 5 levels that gives an indication of how long that particular lock will stand up to attack from a selection of particular tools. To the consumer, this would make absolute sense and allow us to make a purchase based on proper information versus our particular needs. Of course I know this is not something any budget lock maker (wince) will actually implement, because it would mean advertising the bare-faced truth that in return for your £30, you get no more than 3 seconds of “security” against a particularly small and easily concealed pair of croppers or snips. It would be more accurate to describe that level of security as a simple inconvenience. As we can both agree that this would almost completely halt the sale of this type of lock, the conclusion we have to draw is that these products are improperly and misleadingly marketed and as they are currently sold, completely unfit for the purpose of which they are intended.
To clarify the section of Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading regulations that I feel are being flouted here, please see the following quote from the Trading Standards Website:
“The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations ban traders in all sectors from using unfair commercial practices towards consumers. They set out broad rules outlining when commercial practices are unfair. These fall into four main categories:
A general ban on conduct below a level which may be expected towards
consumers (honest market practice/good faith). This is intended to
act as a “safety net” protection for all consumers.
Misleading practices, like false or deceptive messages, or leaving
out important information.
Aggressive sales techniques that use harassment, coercion or undue
influence.
For a practice to be unfair under these rules, they must harm, or be likely to harm, the economic interests of the average consumer. For example, when a shopper makes a purchasing decision he or she would not have made had he or she been given accurate information or not put under unfair pressure to do so.”
I have put in bold the piece that refers to my situation and likely that of many others. Had I accurate information on how little protection your lock offers, I would not have purchased it because I would be aware it was not suitable for my needs and therefore I would not find myself having to replace my bike.
I have sent a copy of this letter to two UK Bicycle publications, Which and to Trading Standards, who should be looking into this matter as one of the most brazen and unchecked examples of product misrepresentation, in the cycle industry.
I have attached photos of the bicycle, the location of the theft and condition of the lock afterwards. I look forward to your response detailing how you will adjust your marketing to more accurately reflect the level of protection actually offered by some of your products.
Yours faithfully,
RM
Well in response I have just received the folowing:About two weeks ago, I bought one of your Abus Blaster 850 coil locks (new). I’m quite sure you have received letters like this one before that start in much the same way and have some idea of what will follow. But I will not sit idly by filled with impotent rage while other people are parted with their money in exchange for a product that is so glaringly unfit for purpose.
The main points of my particular situation are as follows:
• It was 4pm on a very busy central London street on a week day
• Directly in front of the glass-fronted bike shop I was in
• I was in the store for no more than fifteen minutes, during ten
of which I was stood opposite where the bike was locked up
• My bike was stolen whilst locked up with the Abus Blaster 850
My reasoning for buying this particular lock was that it was small and light enough to carry easily in my ruck-sack on my commute. I am aware they are at the lower end of the security scale, but I felt that if I only leave my bike for short periods in busy areas, surely something like this would stop the opportunist? How wrong I was. In fact the Police Officer on the beat I reported it to informed me that instead of deterring the opportunist, if on an expensive enough bike, this is the exact kind of lock they are looking for, as they are so straightforward to get through.
The fact that it was stolen so quickly and easily in such a busy area makes it absolutely undeniable that this lock is not fit for purpose and unsuitable to be sold as any sort of theft deterrent. My bike was no more secure than if I had secured it using cable ties.
Again I am certain that this is not news to you. There is a market for cheap bike locks (a phrase I can barely bring myself to utter, as it implies a basic level of security which is simply not present) and as a business enterprise, you are going to make a product to meet that market.
I don’t even mind you selling these items. However I am adamant that they should be sold with some realistic indication of exactly what sort of security they offer. And I don’t mean some cleverly marketed scale of their level of awesomeness. I propose a scale across 5 levels that gives an indication of how long that particular lock will stand up to attack from a selection of particular tools. To the consumer, this would make absolute sense and allow us to make a purchase based on proper information versus our particular needs. Of course I know this is not something any budget lock maker (wince) will actually implement, because it would mean advertising the bare-faced truth that in return for your £30, you get no more than 3 seconds of “security” against a particularly small and easily concealed pair of croppers or snips. It would be more accurate to describe that level of security as a simple inconvenience. As we can both agree that this would almost completely halt the sale of this type of lock, the conclusion we have to draw is that these products are improperly and misleadingly marketed and as they are currently sold, completely unfit for the purpose of which they are intended.
To clarify the section of Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading regulations that I feel are being flouted here, please see the following quote from the Trading Standards Website:
“The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations ban traders in all sectors from using unfair commercial practices towards consumers. They set out broad rules outlining when commercial practices are unfair. These fall into four main categories:
A general ban on conduct below a level which may be expected towards
consumers (honest market practice/good faith). This is intended to
act as a “safety net” protection for all consumers.
Misleading practices, like false or deceptive messages, or leaving
out important information.
Aggressive sales techniques that use harassment, coercion or undue
influence.
For a practice to be unfair under these rules, they must harm, or be likely to harm, the economic interests of the average consumer. For example, when a shopper makes a purchasing decision he or she would not have made had he or she been given accurate information or not put under unfair pressure to do so.”
I have put in bold the piece that refers to my situation and likely that of many others. Had I accurate information on how little protection your lock offers, I would not have purchased it because I would be aware it was not suitable for my needs and therefore I would not find myself having to replace my bike.
I have sent a copy of this letter to two UK Bicycle publications, Which and to Trading Standards, who should be looking into this matter as one of the most brazen and unchecked examples of product misrepresentation, in the cycle industry.
I have attached photos of the bicycle, the location of the theft and condition of the lock afterwards. I look forward to your response detailing how you will adjust your marketing to more accurately reflect the level of protection actually offered by some of your products.
Yours faithfully,
RM
German Bike Lock guy said:
Dear Reardy Mister,
We confirm the receipt of your email dated the 10th of May 2011.
We are sorry to hear that your bicycle got stolen.
The Blaster 850 coil cable lock which you used has a security level 7 out of 25. It does not have any Sold Secure rating at all and the product was designed for low risk of theft areas (country side) or for locking up components of the bicycle. Our Security Level System goes from 1 up to 25.
Cable locks only have a level system from 1 - 7. U Locks start at 6 and go up to level 25. On our POP we define the levels 1-7 being immobilisers or anti-accessory-theft locks.
There are 3 ratings of Sold Secure to which also the police forces and insurance institutes and bicycles retailers refer to: Sold Secure Bronze, Silver and Gold. A lock which has a Sold Secure Bronze rating needs to withstand brutal attacks of opportunist thieves with various sets of entry level tools. Sold Secure Silver rated locks need to withstand attacks from more sophisticated thieves with more professional sets of tools. Finally Sold Secure Gold rated locks need to withstand attacks with very professional tools from professional thieves.
The 850 Blaster had no Sold Secure rating. And also the ABUS Security level rating is exactly were it needs to be - entry level of security. Please keep in mind that we do have even thinner cable locks at levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Many thieves in the UK only have very entry level tools for stealing bicycles such as small hacksaws, cable cutters, hammers, crow bars,... .
Your lock seems to be stolen with a better pair of bolt cutters. And in fact the coil cable lock 850 was a much better anti theft solution than cable ties.
With regards to Trading Standards, we have put the lock in question into the entry level section of our range and security level rating with its level system.
For commuting and parking inside central London or any other metropolitan or urban area you unfortunately have chosen a completely wrong lock to lock up your bicycle. You mentioned the bicycle was locked up for appr. 15 minutes. On the best rating, Sold Secure is testing only 5 minutes with professional equipment and knowledge. So even the best lock could have been destroyed with the right tools within these 15 minutes.
London is one of the biggest cities for bicycle theft. Stores in London would never recommend the use of a coil cable lock for consumers commuting in London. .
Please be so kind and let us know which store you went to and what product the store recommended you to use.
We appreciate your comments and suggestions a lot and remain with best regards,
AR
Area Sales & Marketing-Manager - Mobile Security
What they are basically saying is: Because you didnt find out all the info contained in this email yourself before you bought a lock, its actually entirely your own fault for buying the wrong product.We confirm the receipt of your email dated the 10th of May 2011.
We are sorry to hear that your bicycle got stolen.
The Blaster 850 coil cable lock which you used has a security level 7 out of 25. It does not have any Sold Secure rating at all and the product was designed for low risk of theft areas (country side) or for locking up components of the bicycle. Our Security Level System goes from 1 up to 25.
Cable locks only have a level system from 1 - 7. U Locks start at 6 and go up to level 25. On our POP we define the levels 1-7 being immobilisers or anti-accessory-theft locks.
There are 3 ratings of Sold Secure to which also the police forces and insurance institutes and bicycles retailers refer to: Sold Secure Bronze, Silver and Gold. A lock which has a Sold Secure Bronze rating needs to withstand brutal attacks of opportunist thieves with various sets of entry level tools. Sold Secure Silver rated locks need to withstand attacks from more sophisticated thieves with more professional sets of tools. Finally Sold Secure Gold rated locks need to withstand attacks with very professional tools from professional thieves.
The 850 Blaster had no Sold Secure rating. And also the ABUS Security level rating is exactly were it needs to be - entry level of security. Please keep in mind that we do have even thinner cable locks at levels 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Many thieves in the UK only have very entry level tools for stealing bicycles such as small hacksaws, cable cutters, hammers, crow bars,... .
Your lock seems to be stolen with a better pair of bolt cutters. And in fact the coil cable lock 850 was a much better anti theft solution than cable ties.
With regards to Trading Standards, we have put the lock in question into the entry level section of our range and security level rating with its level system.
For commuting and parking inside central London or any other metropolitan or urban area you unfortunately have chosen a completely wrong lock to lock up your bicycle. You mentioned the bicycle was locked up for appr. 15 minutes. On the best rating, Sold Secure is testing only 5 minutes with professional equipment and knowledge. So even the best lock could have been destroyed with the right tools within these 15 minutes.
London is one of the biggest cities for bicycle theft. Stores in London would never recommend the use of a coil cable lock for consumers commuting in London. .
Please be so kind and let us know which store you went to and what product the store recommended you to use.
We appreciate your comments and suggestions a lot and remain with best regards,
AR
Area Sales & Marketing-Manager - Mobile Security
Ok, accepting that there may be in place a scale as I suggested, how come I can purchase the lock in question from a central London bike shop, if its only suitable for the country (essentially, anywhere it isnt likely to be stolen anyway)? And how come no one at the shop says "Assuming youre not an ex thief or a bike security and theft expert, can I ask what you hope to use that lock for, in the interests of ensuring it suits your needs?"
To me it sounds like "Only buy this lock for use in areas where no one would attempt to steal it". Because even a half-arsed attempt to get through it, organised and executed in Gussage All Saints on a day-trip by the local infirm folk, is liable to be a runaway success. Which still makes it a rip-off.
Still angry.
Gosh, I wonder why bike shops are happy to sell £500 bikes alongside £10 locks?
/cynic.
I feel your pain. I see people do this all the time. God bless her, my neice has just got a spangly new bike, and the inlaws have bought her a combination chain to go with it. She gave it to me to hold, I handed it back to her 30 seconds later unlocked. Neat trick, but I think even at 10 she got the point.
A bike shop sells the things it can sell. No matter how hard you try, as a sales person you cannot tell some customers that they need to spend more on a product. They want the cheapest. A lock is a lock is a lock, they want the £10 one not the £30 or even the £60 one.
Sadly, it's down to the individual to make that spending choice (or to take good advice if it is offered). In London, you need the best lock you can afford, end of story. The bike shop should have tried to tell you this, but I bet they've given up after being shouted at a few times for ebing rip-off merchants trying to charge people £50 for a lock when there's a £10 one right next to it on the shelf.
/cynic.
I feel your pain. I see people do this all the time. God bless her, my neice has just got a spangly new bike, and the inlaws have bought her a combination chain to go with it. She gave it to me to hold, I handed it back to her 30 seconds later unlocked. Neat trick, but I think even at 10 she got the point.
A bike shop sells the things it can sell. No matter how hard you try, as a sales person you cannot tell some customers that they need to spend more on a product. They want the cheapest. A lock is a lock is a lock, they want the £10 one not the £30 or even the £60 one.
Sadly, it's down to the individual to make that spending choice (or to take good advice if it is offered). In London, you need the best lock you can afford, end of story. The bike shop should have tried to tell you this, but I bet they've given up after being shouted at a few times for ebing rip-off merchants trying to charge people £50 for a lock when there's a £10 one right next to it on the shelf.
Reardy Mister said:
And I don’t mean some cleverly marketed scale of their level of awesomeness. I propose a scale across 5 levels that gives an indication of how long that particular lock will stand up to attack from a selection of particular tools. To the consumer, this would make absolute sense and allow us to make a purchase based on proper information versus our particular needs.
As Abus say, there's Sold Secure, which has been around for nearly 20 years and who independently test this sort of stuff. They keep it even simpler with three grades. Of course, to get one of those grades the lock needs to meet that minimum standard. Yours presumably didn't.You wanted a lock that was "small and light" (and presumably cheap too). Surely it's common sense that a thin cable lock won't stand up to much? As Abus ask, what was the advice of the dealer you bought it from? If you didn't seek advice, did you not compare against beefier (and pricier) models, many of which would have had the Sold Secure rating?
Hard to see where Abus have gone wrong here. I can understand the frustration of having a bike stolen, but I wouldn't be looking to blame the manufacturer because I was too cheap or poorly-informed to choose a suitable lock.
I am afraid I could not disagree with you more.
May be you are young and have been brought up knowing nothing other than the 'nanny state' but if you don't check the goods you buy are suitable for your needs, you have only yourself to blame.
Wingeing on about shops in London allowing you to buy this lock (so it must be their fault) etc kind of implies that you should not be allowed out of the house unless someone is holding your hand.
I'm sorry your bike got nicked but hopefully now you will understand the importance of checking the suitability of the items that protect your prized possessions.
May be you are young and have been brought up knowing nothing other than the 'nanny state' but if you don't check the goods you buy are suitable for your needs, you have only yourself to blame.
Wingeing on about shops in London allowing you to buy this lock (so it must be their fault) etc kind of implies that you should not be allowed out of the house unless someone is holding your hand.
I'm sorry your bike got nicked but hopefully now you will understand the importance of checking the suitability of the items that protect your prized possessions.
Raven Flyer said:
I am afraid I could not disagree with you more.
May be you are young and have been brought up knowing nothing other than the 'nanny state' but if you don't check the goods you buy are suitable for your needs, you have only yourself to blame.
Wingeing on about shops in London allowing you to buy this lock (so it must be their fault) etc kind of implies that you should not be allowed out of the house unless someone is holding your hand.
I'm sorry your bike got nicked but hopefully now you will understand the importance of checking the suitability of the items that protect your prized possessions.
To some extent, youre absolutely right. I assumed I knew enough about it to just go ahead and buy something without researching it.May be you are young and have been brought up knowing nothing other than the 'nanny state' but if you don't check the goods you buy are suitable for your needs, you have only yourself to blame.
Wingeing on about shops in London allowing you to buy this lock (so it must be their fault) etc kind of implies that you should not be allowed out of the house unless someone is holding your hand.
I'm sorry your bike got nicked but hopefully now you will understand the importance of checking the suitability of the items that protect your prized possessions.
Next time will be different but it is frustrating that many people will lose a bike before they realise the width and breadth of the lock market and what actually works.
Raven Flyer said:
I am afraid I could not disagree with you more.
May be you are young and have been brought up knowing nothing other than the 'nanny state' but if you don't check the goods you buy are suitable for your needs, you have only yourself to blame.
Wingeing on about shops in London allowing you to buy this lock (so it must be their fault) etc kind of implies that you should not be allowed out of the house unless someone is holding your hand.
I'm sorry your bike got nicked but hopefully now you will understand the importance of checking the suitability of the items that protect your prized possessions.
^^ thisMay be you are young and have been brought up knowing nothing other than the 'nanny state' but if you don't check the goods you buy are suitable for your needs, you have only yourself to blame.
Wingeing on about shops in London allowing you to buy this lock (so it must be their fault) etc kind of implies that you should not be allowed out of the house unless someone is holding your hand.
I'm sorry your bike got nicked but hopefully now you will understand the importance of checking the suitability of the items that protect your prized possessions.
I will also add the following:
1) Commute on a piece of s
t bike that nobody in their right mind would steal, unless you have a secure office or building to leave it2) Any bike lock that is light enough for you to carry to commute with is not going to prevent a theft.
3) Don't leave anything nice in (unattended) public view, ever.
I lived in Bristol for 7 years and the bike crime got ridiculous. Bikes were nicked in broad daylight in front of crowds of people, most mates had a bike stolen and I only hung onto mine (1997 £800 Stumpjumper - not amazing but not bad) by being completely and utterly paranoid - I worked with the bike next to me at my desk!!
Virtually no lock is thief proof - only takes a car jack to bust a decent D lock or even just bolt croppers to snap any cable/chain lock. As itsnotarace says, just don't take a decent bike into town. If you have to, don't let it out of your sight.
Now live in the sticks and the lack of worry about bikes and cars is a massive relief. I was a bundle of nerves in Bristol about bikes and car crime.
Virtually no lock is thief proof - only takes a car jack to bust a decent D lock or even just bolt croppers to snap any cable/chain lock. As itsnotarace says, just don't take a decent bike into town. If you have to, don't let it out of your sight.
Now live in the sticks and the lack of worry about bikes and cars is a massive relief. I was a bundle of nerves in Bristol about bikes and car crime.
Let's say you had a £1000 cash, would you leave that on the street in a £20 piggybank for safe keeping?
You've learnt an expensive lesson but don't try blaming the lock company or the shop.
I've had bikes stolen when locked up with an insufficient lock so I've learnt that lesson the hard way too! I do empathise.
You've learnt an expensive lesson but don't try blaming the lock company or the shop.
I've had bikes stolen when locked up with an insufficient lock so I've learnt that lesson the hard way too! I do empathise.
_rubinho_ said:
Let's say you had a £1000 cash, would you leave that on the street in a £20 piggybank for safe keeping?
You've learnt an expensive lesson but don't try blaming the lock company or the shop.
I've had bikes stolen when locked up with an insufficient lock so I've learnt that lesson the hard way too! I do empathise.
+1 on every point.You've learnt an expensive lesson but don't try blaming the lock company or the shop.
I've had bikes stolen when locked up with an insufficient lock so I've learnt that lesson the hard way too! I do empathise.
+another1. Lost 2 bikes locked up outside the pool complex inside Centre Parcs Elvedon forest site. Locks were cut and discarded in a stream on site. I recovered them for insurance purposes, and was shocked by the construction of the cable itself - the plastic sleeve was disproportionate to the Steel Wire Cable, with the steel being far thinner in relation to the overall diameter than it looked before it was cut and the plastic sleeve being much thicker than expected. If I had any idea beforehand that a) cable locks are pants, and b) Centre Parcs security is equally woeful, I would not have been so naive as to depend on them. Further proof as to the lack of security provided by cheap locks was evidenced when the wife locked one to her handlebar/stem and lost the key. I cut it off in about 45 seconds using the bluntest junior hacksaw you've ever seen, wearing 'Sunday best', and without breaking a sweat. I will never buy/use such a completely useless item again, and would not recommend to anyone else either.
Wifey got a bit shirty with me over the price I'd paid for a couple of Kryptonite New York D-locks (90 quid for two), especially because she felt they were too heavy to carry whenever we went out anywhere. I sort of agree with that last comment and I'm still not sure how best to approach that although it's not a major problem for us because we usually go out in gangs anyway and would only leave a bike to pop into a shop for an ice-cream.
Anyway, I also bought 4 cheap Kryptonite chains and locks (they're not the best but put on a brave show) to work with the D-locks in our garage (I've installed a number of anchors too), and I'm probably going to buy at least 2 more D-locks, a Fahgettaboudit and something daft that's made from forged planets, all for the garage, but it gives me flexibility to choose something useful if one of us does venture out alone (probably advise taking the Fahgettaboudit as the best solution).
Wifey didn't like those plans any more than she liked my having "wasted" our money on the measures to date, and said so, especially because "you never hear about people actually losing bikes to thieves".
Then her friend lost a bike because of a cable lock.
Now I have full support.
Anyway, I also bought 4 cheap Kryptonite chains and locks (they're not the best but put on a brave show) to work with the D-locks in our garage (I've installed a number of anchors too), and I'm probably going to buy at least 2 more D-locks, a Fahgettaboudit and something daft that's made from forged planets, all for the garage, but it gives me flexibility to choose something useful if one of us does venture out alone (probably advise taking the Fahgettaboudit as the best solution).
Wifey didn't like those plans any more than she liked my having "wasted" our money on the measures to date, and said so, especially because "you never hear about people actually losing bikes to thieves".
Then her friend lost a bike because of a cable lock.
Now I have full support.
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