The Gun Counter

Hi all. As I mentioned before, I just bought (finally) an exercise bike to work on my knee at home.

I picked up a new NordicTrack bike at Sears on Saturday afternoon - "floor model" but with 100% "in home parts and labor" warranty coverage for one year. The first time I tried to use it I found there was something wrong with it - the ball bearings are falling out of the left-hand pedal.

No big deal - after all, shiat happens, and it's got a 1-year parts-and-labor warranty - so first thing this morning I call Nordic Track.

Where I am told that since I didn't purchase an EXTENDED warranty, there's a 45-dollar "trip fee" to get them to fix it.

She claims this is on the back page of my owner's manual. I look, it says no such thing, in fact it says "just call customer care". After proving this fact, she says that I am right - that it's NOT in my owner's manual - but that I am told this when I first called in.

I reviewed the recording - long story - and found (as I expected) that it says no such thing.

When I call back and tell them this, she tells me "that's illegal - goodbye" and hangs up on me.

This from the people who just informed ME that THEY record calls "for quality control purposes."

Yeah, right.

This is a 100% SCAM.

Nordic Track needs to be added to the list of liars and scammers - if I have to pay to get someone to come fix it, then how in the hell is "in-home labor...free for one year"??

NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM NORDIC TRACK!

DD

PS: I know everyone needs to make a living, but damnit jack your price $50 and compete honestly. Don't advertise "free" then try to tell me it's still "Free" when you demand $45 payment. It's not the $$ (though $45 is honestly still "real money" to me) it's the principle.

Can't you take it back to Sears? If you stand there at the counter all crippled up I bet you would get some good service and let Sears rip Nordic Trac a new one. I have ruined plenty of their ratchets by using them as a slugging wrench and they always give me a new one.

yea im betting that sears will be none too happy to hear about this one... they are damn good about sticking up for their customers.

Sears will make it right, and I'd write the VP at Sears a big letter about how NTrack is using Sears to shovel shoddy merchandise they won't back.

No problem with Sears - they'll certainly take it back. I called and talked to the Mgr. before posting this...

Yesterday I drove ~90 minutes to the nearest "REAL" (not "mini") Sears store to check out what else they have. It's going to cost me another $70 I don't really have, but if I get what I think I will, the result will be a "cheaper" but ultimately better bike.

They have to order it no matter what, they're on sale until 1/3/09 so I'm beating the bushes until then - maybe I can find a real bargain on something used. If not, I'll call up there on Fri. and order, I'll take this one back when I go to pick that one up.

Having tried out a few of them, there's no way I'd buy from online - I definitely think I need to sit on and try them out before buying.

Unfortunately, it appears that - within my price range - they're pretty much all made by "Icon," who owns N.T. I don't really have much of an option, which REALLY ticks me off and makes me more determined to try to find something used if I can.

I would NEVER recommend purchase of "extended warranties" - they make lots of money for the seller and are often worthless to the buyer - but this is one case where I think it's a good idea. $100 for 5 years, which gets you no-hassle in-home service from Sears, including annual "PM" visits... Yeah, I know - but when they're obviously subject to wear-and-tear, and there are such obvious problems with the technology in the price range, it seems like a smart move.

So... Even if I am forced to buy an Icon product, I'll buy the cheapest possible, give the E.W. business to someone else, and tell everyone I know to stay away from N.T.

If I were working, I'd pay twice the price to avoid Icon, but right now I just can't do it...

DD