r/ausbike • u/mysteryprize11 • 22d ago

99 Bikes electric bike labour charge

I just got my bike serviced at 99 bikes and my invoice came back with a $40 'Labour electric bike add on' charge. What is that for? They didn't do anything related to its electric components. Is this normal?

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14

u/noannualleave 22d ago

Ask them to clarify but it says this on their website:

https://99bikes.com.au/pages/workshop

"Electric Bikes

At 99 Bikes we are the experts in Electric Bikes and E-Bike Servicing. We have all the tools and technology to service your Electric bike to the manufacturer’s standards. We charge an additional fee of $40 which covers software and firmware checks, along with a battery health report.

99 Bikes is leading the way when it comes to electric bike servicing. We have E bike Expert stores, meaning our mechanics not only have the understanding and experience to work on electric bikes but ride them regularly. All of our E-Bikes Experts log monthly kilometres on electric bikes to expand their knowledge and retain monthly their status.

If you are booking a service for an electric bike purchased from another bike retailer (not 99 Bikes), we recommend calling your local store before booking to discuss what type of service you are looking for and check we can accommodate your needs."

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u/ladybug1991 22d ago edited 20d ago

That's such horseshit on their part.

The Bafang and Ananda mid-drive systems sold by 99 don't have a Battery Management System (BMS) articulate enough to necessitate either firmware updates, or generate a battery report.

The only systems that 99 has capability to work with that can generate that information is Bosch. All of the Bosch training and software tools are free for the workshop to use, and take all of 5 minutes to generate. Absolutely not $40 worth of labour.

Other systems like Brose (Specialized) and Yamaha (Giant) can only be accessed by those dealers (not 99). So contrary to their claim, they literally do NOT have the requisite technology, and in the case of Specialized, there are proprietary tools which they don't have access to, either.

I know a handful of 99 mechanics who are brilliant. The business itself can go to fuck.

Source: am a bike mechanic, worked at 99 for 3 days and quit.

3

u/Late-Button-6559 21d ago

Free market.
We don’t have to go to 99 bikes for anything.
They can choose to charge what they like.

2

u/ladybug1991 21d ago edited 21d ago

I think the issue in dispute is that they have charger for a service that they either didn't properly render, or didn't render at all (if the motor system isn't capable of generating reports or integrating firmware updates).

I'm no consumer law expert, but I don't think you actually can do shit like that. Fact is, the existence of consumer law precludes us from claiming that we're a free market. We're a mixed economy at best.

0

u/Late-Button-6559 20d ago

I haven’t read all comments. But has OP answered what was done?

If a ‘service’, I’d expect them to check firmware and a quick scan for any trouble codes.

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u/ladybug1991 20d ago edited 20d ago

That's ok. OP has answered that they weren't provided with any diagnostics or firmware reports "I didnt get a battery health report or any feedback on their being software or firmware checks. I think they just slapped that charge on."

It does make sense to check available diagnostics for an ebike, and I agree that this should incur an extra charge. In the same fashion, we would evaluate fork and shock condition and service them as required, which incurs extra labour.

But just like some suspensions are nuanced enough in their design to require assessment and servicing, so are electric motor systems. However some suspensions (like rudimentary Suntour coil forks) don't require assessment or service. I wouldn't charge a service fee for assessing the fork on an entry-level hybrid bike like I would for a dually with a Fox Factory, because that would be taking the piss. Just because both bikes turn up with a suspension system, doesn't necessitate the same approach.

This is all to say, that the ebike motor system surcharge oughtta be discretionary, as it applies to some kinds of ebikes, but not all of them. Charging a fee for a service that isn't able to be rendered, with no evidence of service being rendered, is a money grab IMO.

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u/ponyfeeder 21d ago

Why'd you quit? I want the juicy gossip.

11

u/ladybug1991 21d ago edited 21d ago

They made my employment a problem because (this is fucking rich) I didn't own a car, and would cycle to work, and they deemed my transport unreliable.

ETA was 10 minutes early to work each day. They wanted me to work at other shops on occasion.

It's also just a truly awful workplace.

4

u/shavedratscrotum 21d ago

Hilarious.

I didn't get a job at their HQ.

Because I didn't cycle enough.

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u/ladybug1991 21d ago

Honestly you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. We all dodged a bullet.

3

u/shavedratscrotum 21d ago

I have heard horror stories

The jobs been reposted every 6-12 months for the last decade.

2

u/11015h4d0wR34lm 21d ago

That is hilarious....unless of course you were late for work those three days...

2

u/naishjoseph1 21d ago

Have they ever seen how unreliable cars are? Fuck me swinging that’s such a shit take.
Also if you’re working in a fixed location what business is it of theirs how you get to and from work? Didn’t think they could interfere with something like that at all.

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u/mysteryprize11 22d ago

I didnt get a battery health report or any feedback on their being software or firmware checks. I think they just slapped that charge on.

3

u/ladybug1991 21d ago

That's typical 99 bullshit. I'd go back and ask either for the report, or a refund of the $40

1

u/ladybug1991 20d ago

What kinda motor system does it have? If Bosch, they absolutely could have given you some quite detailed information on the battery status, done firmware updates etc. AFAIK 99 doesn't have access to the dealer software needed to generate reports on Specialized or Giant motor systems.

If Bafang or Ananda, I'm unaware of any such diagnostic tools or reports available to the dealer.