The trouble with cheap stuff

[Pistom]

Is that you can't get spare parts.

So the decisions was - Halfords bike rack £235 or Thule for £535. The Thule was much much better quality but I was being a cheapskate.

I've had the Halfords for 6 weeks when someone drives into it breaking the wheel bay which if it was the other rack is available for £36 from Thule.

Now in this story, there's a happy ending as the rack is now £360 and the guy who drove into it has stumped up for a new rack on the basis I give him my damaged one which seems fair to me but that kind of damage really shouldn't right off a piece of equipment like that.

I'm just glad that we live in a world of unlimited resources and don't have to worry about extending the life of things.

[Pistom]

Spare tyre said:

Op, what was the model of original rack, let’s me see if I can find the part

Thank you so much for the offer - very kind. It's this one.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-racks/towbar...

[Pistom]

Ari said:

Pistom said:

but that kind of damage really shouldn't right off a piece of equipment like that.

Sorry to be that guy, but it's 'write off', not 'right off'.

It comes from writing off (removing) an asset from a balance sheet due to it no longer having any value.

Please don't stop being "that guy". I did know that once but welcome anyone who will correct me over language matters as language matters.

[Pistom]

Hard-Drive said:

I'd disagree. I have an Aldi pressure washer I bought in 2017. Something went wrong with it, and much to my surprise there's a sticker on the side, with a website address, where pretty much every single spare part is available.

For something like a bike rack, why not buy second hand? I paid £75 for a superb Thule rack that I've had for years...

Good post - I think I should change the thread to "The trouble with me is .... I'm a lazy fecker.

I bought my last rack for £135 and sold for £95 which I thought was good value for the length of time I had it.

[Pistom]

Spare tyre said:

I thought it might be, simply Cant find any bits, what a sod

Could keep you eye out for a cheap broken one in the future and repair it that way, what a sod though

Thanks but the guy who hit it has offered to buy it off me for the new price so it's not too bad on this occasion but many things such as lawnmowers, power tools, domestic appliances etc are just write offs for simple reasons.

[Pistom]

vikingaero said:

That's very similar to the updated Buzz E-Hornet 2:

https://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.ph...

Edited to add link to manufacturer version:
http://buzzrack.com/galleries/e-hornet-2/

Edited by vikingaero on Friday 24th March 07:34

Well spotted!!!

So it's produced by King Rack in Taiwan.

Looking at this again, it wasn't just the much cheapness which attracted me to it - I love the tow hitch connection and the tilting function but having owned it, I have little confidence in the tie straps and the wheel holders are not great.

In any case - I'm still fed up over not being able to get spares.