Re: [CR] Argos

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

From: "Nic Henderson" <nic.henderson@btinternet.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:35:26 +0100
Subject: Re: [CR] Argos


Hi John and listers...I have used Argos over the years and am very happy to do so again. Their paintwork is fabulous and I don't know who does the lug-lining/pin striping but it is of a quality that Jack Taylor himself would approve of. Turnaround time can be as low a 2 weeks if it is a simple 1 colour paint job but, and it's a big but, when frame repairs are involved the waiting time shoots up...I had to wait 6 month for my Wester Ross which needed some new tubes (because I crashed it!) but the wait was to my advantage because I was saving up, literally, a few pounds a day towards the considerable cost! Argos seem to be inundated with work, mostly renovations and it is only Gary Needham who does the frame repairs and new builds, they also have Mark who seems to do admin and another chap who is a very talented paint sprayer and also some guy kept chained up out the back who they sometimes let out to assemble bikes. 10 months is unreasonable I think but the wait would be worth it...

Nic Henderson Croesyceiliog UK http://www.bikebrothers.co.uk

John Furguson wrote

I'm hesitant to do this, but does anyone have a contact at Argos Cycles, or know what is going on there?

Sent them a frame for a repaint ten (yes, ten) months ago...my most recent communication from them was on 4/30, saying that they're "keen to start the project, just lacking the time to look at it!"

I've requested my frame back from them, and haven't heard a thing. Am I being unreasonable? Is 10 months out of line for a repaint and minor frame work? Note that they have pushed back the delivery date from the few months initially estimated to basically whenever they feel like getting to it.

I've seen their work, it's really quite good, and they seem to know what they are talking about. Would love to have them complete the work, but don't understand what is going on...it's not like I've been e-mailing them daily, just every 6 weeks or so to see whether they were going to get to it some time this decade.

Now...if I'd sent the frame to Brian Baylis or someone similar, I could understand the wait as he's an individual in high demand. But isn't Argos a commercial operation?

John Ferguson
New York, NY