Faulty Lifespan Fitness recumbent…
Faulty Lifespan Fitness recumbent exercise bike purchased via Elite Electronics/Woolworths
We were very much looking forward to using the bike, Which cost $984 delivered ($749 plus delivery $235).
My husband immediately assembled the bike but found that it did not work. He performed an error analysis which revealed that the problem was with the motor which was not operating despite the fact that the computer head unit was receiving power and was operating. We have since engaged a qualified electrician who checked all the component parts and connections and confirmed it was indeed the motor that was faulty.
When we contacted Elite Electronics we quickly formed the opinion that their main concern was to deny any liability and instead find a way to blame us for assembling the bike incorrectly.
We have been put through a lengthy process of repeatedly being asked for photos and videos. This included our pointing out early in the process that it appeared to be the motor that was faulty. The supplier then said that the bike has no motor, confirming that they knew very little about the product they had supplied. We took a photo of the user manual where the motor is discussed under troubleshooting and sent it to the two parties.
No attempt was made to explain this egregious error, which can only be explained if the seller lacked even basic familiarity with the product. This suggests products being imported, not checked for quality and sold on in the original packaging for the final purchaser to discover that they don’t work.
The supplier also requested a video of the bike not working, a peculiar request which we complied with.
Correspondence then switched to demands for photos of connections, which were supplied and illustrating that the connections were correct and sound but a claim was made that we had damaged the connections while assembling the bike. No acknowledgement was made that the photo proving that connections are intact was received.
The seller has now after more than a month’s correspondence, said that we should return the appliance, to be checked. The demand has been made that the bike should be in its in its original packaging otherwise their courier will not collect it from our address which is over 300 km away. The original packing was extremely tightly packed comprising large amounts of styrofoam and we no longer have it. This was the first time the need for original packaging was mentioned. The seller has since switched to saying the product can be returned not necessarily in its original packaging. It is now repackaged and ready for collection, but we are not optimistic about a refund given tactics to this point.








