Brockley Bikes

Friendly at first with a can do attitude. I paid for a full service which was supposed to include removing my pedals and putting them back as I mentioned they were a bit wobbly. When fetching my bike I asked details on all that was done and this was not. The reason: they could not remove the pedals. I was told the pedals would need a lot of lubricating and perhaps if I oiled them every day in a few month time they will be fine. They would not accept a reduction in the price I paid and no phone calls to warn me in advance. If I did not asked I would not have known any better. That was a big disappointment as I was convinced they were quality and customer oriented and wanted to build a strong customer base in Brockley. I cannot recommend them in my varied google and other groups in my area. What a shame!!!

I’d been trying to switch my handlebars over and couldn’t get the stem out of the bike. I rang ahead and the guy who answered the phone was friendly and helpful, he gave me some useful tips and when I asked if I could bring it in for him to look now he said that was fine.
So I begged a lift off a friend, forcing him to detour by about half an hour making him late to work. I was also already late for work, but decided to make the trip as my bike is my main mode of transport and they’d said they were happy to take a look right then. So after half an hour in traffic, I got out at this out of the way little workshop.
An older bearded man «with 30 years experience» (he told me rudely later) took a cursory look at my bike, made a vague attempt to wrench the handlebars out and then told me ‘this won’t come out’. No solutions offered, no advice. I felt like I’d asked him to clean my toilet, by the dismissive and downright rude way he shrugged me off.
My friend having already left me there, I then had to then push my bike dejectedly home (about a half hour walk), with no possible solution or idea whether his advice had been sound, or whether he had given it a good enough check to be sure. These guys were not helpful, not friendly and basically took no responsibility for the fact that I had made the mission in after phoning to check in advance.
I was actually really upset by the treatment, and partly out of frustration at not getting my bike fixed and partly because of the rude treatment and wasted time I actually cried a little bit. I guess the guy was having a bad day, but it’s no way to treat people who have crossed town to use your services.
I have spent money here in the past but am unlikely to do so again — as a local bike lover it makes me sad that they would dismiss customers with no consideration for their situation or how far they have come. A bit of friendly advice was all I needed really!
I wrote them an email which was pretty much word-​for-​word what I wrote above — and got a long and patronising response from a guy who sounded very jaded by the indurstry and someone who really hates retro bikes.
I would avoid these guys if I was you.

Slow service, unreliable due-​dates and unhelpful grumpy staff. Standard of service is ok, prices are ok.