What do you need to know?....
Shipping on all accessories is FREE to UK mainland addresses. If you live in the Highlands & Islands or Northern Ireland then please contact us for a price to ship to these areas - we will also need to take your order over the phone with a credit card. Alternatively you may send a cheque or pay by BACS (see below for details).
Bikes - you may have noticed we sell particularly long bikes! These are heavy and, when boxed up, extremely bulky. Each bike or frame carries it's own shipping price based on a UK mainland address (excluding highlands and islands and N. Ireland.) Shipping prices are displayed for each product.
Bikes are normally shipped on an overnight courier service. Depending on workshop capacity, bikes are usually despatched within 48 hours of your order being placed. Medium sized items are also sent by courier on a 24/48 hour service (depending on location and size/weight). Small items are sent by courier on a 3-5 day service. We strive to despatch all orders within 48 hours of the order being placed.
If you live in the more remote areas of the UK (as listed above) we will happily ship to you but we will need to amend the shipping costs slightly so please e-mail us for a specific shipping price for your address. We will need to take a credit card order from you over the phone for this. Alternatively you may pay by cheque or BACS (see below for details).
Local Bike Delivery Service
Within 20 miles of FY8 5FP we will deliver ANY fully assembled bike free of any delivery charge!
Packaging
You might notice that the packaging on your order isn't 'new'. This is because we try to re-use our own and other peoples' discarded packaging. This is good for two reasons; 1) Simple - we're recycling so less is going to landfill or being shipped to China for 'recycling' & 2) It does mean we can pass on some small savings to you - small - but we all like saving! We hope you continue to re-use the packaging once you have received your goods! In general our bikes come packaged in their factory packaging which we hope you will recycle!
International orders (parts and accessories)
If you wish to buy any accessories or parts please add them to your cart , select your country and pay using the Paypal option. at this point international shipping will not be applied. Once we receive your order, we will obtain a shipping price (usually Airmail for smaller items) and send you a Paypal invoice for the shipping.
Sending Bikes, frames and Trailers Internationally
We can ship any of our bikes, frames and trailers to Europe. Please add them to your cart , select your country and pay using the Paypal option. At this point international shipping will not be applied. Once we receive your order, we will obtain a shipping price from our international courier and send you a Paypal invoice for the shipping.
How to return an item to us
We will not accept any return without prior notification from you by e-mail.
All items (bikes, frames, trailers, parts and accessories) must be returned to the following address:
Practical Cycles, 26 Warton Street, Lytham, Lancashire, FY8 5HA. UK
(we do not receive visitors at this address).
With your returned item please ensure you include the following details:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your Postcode
- Your e-mail address
- A Paypal Transaction code
It is very important that when you return any goods to us for whatever reason you obtain proof of postage/shipping. If the goods become lost or damaged in transit they are your responsibility and without any proof of postage you will not be able to make any compensation claim against the carrier that lost/damaged them. We cannot be held liable for any returned items being lost, stolen or damaged in transit.
If you bought an Xtracycle Freeradical Kit from us and it turns out not to work with your frame/bike, we will refund but you will need to pay for return postage. All we ask is that the Freeradical Kit is returned with all original packaging, and manuals is undamaged, has not been altered in any way and is generally in original saleable condition! This is part of the Practical Cycles Xtracycle 'What's to Lose' Promise!
Missing Item
From time to time goods get lost in the postal system. It doesn't happen often but when it does we know it's frustrating. We ask you to remain patient for 21 days folowing despatch - by all means let us know if you suspect it has gone missing before this time has elapsed. If after 21 business days your goods have still not arrived then we can either refund you all costs incurred or send a replacement (if it is in stock). If you do not inform us of missing goods within 30 days of purchase we cannot refund or replace any goods.
Damaged Goods or Items Missing from Order
Payments
We use Paypal so you can bet that it's secure. You don't even need a paypal account to pay by Paypal anymore - just a credit or debit card. We don't store your credit card details or release any of your details to any other party.
Pay over the phone by credit or debit card! This is great - especially if you'd like a bit of technical advice before you buy! We accept, cards bearing Visa, Mastercard & Visa Electron signs.
We accept cheques! Please send your order via our contact form and once your cheque has cleared, we'll send out your goods. Please make cheques payable to 'Practical Cycles'.
We also like bank transfers! Simply send us your order via our contact page - we will then confirm stock availability, final price and then you can pay us! We will e-mail you our bank details.
Your Personal Information
When you place an order through practicalcycles.com your name, address and e-mail address are required. We retain your e-mail address so that we can send you ocassional e-mails that we think may be of interest (average - 2-3 per month). If you do not wish for your e-mail address to be retained please tell us. We do not retain any credit card details as your payment will be processed through Paypal. If you order over the telephone we will retain your name, address, phone number and e-mail if provided however we will not retain your payment card details.
E-mail addresses are stored safely with a third party - Constant Contact. Practical Cycles and Constant Contact will not sell or give your e-mail address to any other party (except couriers where required for tracking details). Constant Contact will not directly contact you - any e-mails will be initiated by Practical Cycles. You can permanently unsubsribe to our mailing list at any time by sending an e-mail to unsubscribe@practicalcycles.com or clicking the 'safe-unsubscribe' link in the mailings.
Stock availability
Our website is always kept up to date with what we have in our warehouse, what we dont and what we can get to you from distributors or manufacturers in a few days. We never knowingly advertise something as in stock when it is not in stock here or at the supplier - we are consumers too and know how annoying that can be!
Conversions
We charge £50 to convert your cycle to an Xtracycle. However, please note that from time to time extra parts may be required if a conversion is particularly tricky so we charge you for these. Most of the time things run smoothly though.
Test Rides
Please arrange an appointment - please use our contact form (it's always best if you suggest some good times/dates for you). Our Cargo Bike Studio is in Lytham, Lancashire which is about 10 miles from the City of Preston. Lytham has regular trains and busses to the outside world and has one of those awful motorways not far away. We are located just behind Lidl - perfect for doing your first big shop with the Cargo Bike you have bought from us!
You are welcome to take any of our bikes on a test ride, however, to comply with our insurance conditions (not because we don't trust you) we require a credit card authorisation for the value of the bicycle and proof of ID (driving licence or passport).
Primarily we are an internet business AND with the added convenience that you can visit our Cargo Bike Studio by appointment to touch, feel and smell the bikes before you buy. We WILL answer your e-mail questions and queries about the bikes, stock and compatability etc within 24 hours.
Cyclescheme
If you would like to buy a Cargo Bike from Practical Cycles through this scheme, please either call us on 01253 739680 or mail us via our contact form. We can't do Cyclescheme sales through the website (there's a paper form to fill in) but we can do it over the phone. We urge you to read more details on our CYCLESCHEME page.
VAT
All our prices include Value Added Tax at the current rate. We are registered for VAT in the UK - # 941 076 238