Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Something wrong with my trolley-wheels...although probably just age. One of the valves is terminally gummed up...it lets air out but won't accept it back in.
I saw online that there are replacements at Force 4 for £18.95...not too bad I thought, even if we had to drive all the way to Shamrock Quay...
...but SWMBO found the same thing at Towsure, still a long drive but nearer, and for a couple of pounds less. At that price, I decided I'd replace both tired old wheels.
So, to Towsure we went. I wasn't sure about the diameter of the axle-hole...looked a trifle small for my oversized trolley axle...
...and the cheap Chinese-made tyres looked oddly bulging to me, as if they might be over-inflated.
I took them to the counter where two thoroughly bored teenaged staff members were standing. I explained in simple terms that if the wheel didn't fit, I'd like to bring them straight back and be refunded...
...but no...company policy will only allow a "store credit" for returned items. Even if they haven't come out of the bag.
Ah. Well that's a pain, and a pretty stupid, overly-rigid policy I thought...I had a feeling that if her manager was listening, he'd see that it was well worth making the sale, since if I couldn't use the wheel for my stated purpose, there'd be no possibility of its condition deteriorating, and they could easily sell it again on its return...so I said as much, clearly and loudly...but evidently full command of the store was held by this ingenue and her very timid-looking, even more junior-seeming colleague.
Well, I thought...perhaps I'll take a chance. But, I asked, could they grab a pressure-gauge and check the inflation? They look a bit overfilled...
..."No, came the reply, we don't have a pressure gauge". And this, at a camping store, selling bikes, trailers, etc!
"Okay, I'll leave it then", I said. No bloomin' chance of a sale with that attitude and level of daftness, I thought!
Round the corner to Force 4, where the identical wheels would cost a couple of quid more, each.
Oh dear...the pretty girl at Force 4 looked younger still, mid-teens at most. BUT...there was the boss at her elbow, and a better-informed chap you could hardly find.
I located the wheels and once again explained that I wasn't certain I'd be able to fit them on my trolley. The boss's attitude was so jolly obliging, he seemed not to understand why I was bothering to explain...if they don't fit, just bring 'em back. No nonsense or doubt about store policies.
I was so glad, I bought two of those slightly-squashy solid-rubber tyres instead. They're much more expensive, but at least I'll never, ever arrive at the boat and have to start pumping before I can move her.
Stores which pay kids to mind the store while capable staff lie-in or take a holiday, don't deserve custom. A pity, because Towsure was filled with things I'd like.
I saw online that there are replacements at Force 4 for £18.95...not too bad I thought, even if we had to drive all the way to Shamrock Quay...
...but SWMBO found the same thing at Towsure, still a long drive but nearer, and for a couple of pounds less. At that price, I decided I'd replace both tired old wheels.
So, to Towsure we went. I wasn't sure about the diameter of the axle-hole...looked a trifle small for my oversized trolley axle...
...and the cheap Chinese-made tyres looked oddly bulging to me, as if they might be over-inflated.
I took them to the counter where two thoroughly bored teenaged staff members were standing. I explained in simple terms that if the wheel didn't fit, I'd like to bring them straight back and be refunded...
...but no...company policy will only allow a "store credit" for returned items. Even if they haven't come out of the bag.
Ah. Well that's a pain, and a pretty stupid, overly-rigid policy I thought...I had a feeling that if her manager was listening, he'd see that it was well worth making the sale, since if I couldn't use the wheel for my stated purpose, there'd be no possibility of its condition deteriorating, and they could easily sell it again on its return...so I said as much, clearly and loudly...but evidently full command of the store was held by this ingenue and her very timid-looking, even more junior-seeming colleague.
Well, I thought...perhaps I'll take a chance. But, I asked, could they grab a pressure-gauge and check the inflation? They look a bit overfilled...
..."No, came the reply, we don't have a pressure gauge". And this, at a camping store, selling bikes, trailers, etc!
"Okay, I'll leave it then", I said. No bloomin' chance of a sale with that attitude and level of daftness, I thought!
Round the corner to Force 4, where the identical wheels would cost a couple of quid more, each.
Oh dear...the pretty girl at Force 4 looked younger still, mid-teens at most. BUT...there was the boss at her elbow, and a better-informed chap you could hardly find.
I located the wheels and once again explained that I wasn't certain I'd be able to fit them on my trolley. The boss's attitude was so jolly obliging, he seemed not to understand why I was bothering to explain...if they don't fit, just bring 'em back. No nonsense or doubt about store policies.
I was so glad, I bought two of those slightly-squashy solid-rubber tyres instead. They're much more expensive, but at least I'll never, ever arrive at the boat and have to start pumping before I can move her.
Stores which pay kids to mind the store while capable staff lie-in or take a holiday, don't deserve custom. A pity, because Towsure was filled with things I'd like.
