Hats off to Hunts Wheels Update
So lets start by saying I've purchased two previous wheelsets from Hunt with no issues and that's where it stopped. What has happened to HUNT UK.
I purchased a set of carbon 35 Gravel Wheels with the same expectations as before, order ref #HBW 137127/551585 on 13th May 2024.
Wheels arrived and the QC of the wheels, and I wish I could post the pictures sent to Hunt was simply appalling.
I immediately called Hunt, ref HR1Q17,410 and was called back by Simon McNamara and informed this is what they expect of naked lacquered high mod carbon layup, I do wish the readers could see the images I sent to HUNT, as my LBS said they had never seen anything like this before. I was reassured by Simon McNamara that the wheels whilst cosmetically less than perfect, where structurally sound and would sent out a replacement set asap for 3 week in June, ref #HBW138467 (13th May 2024), ready for my July ride to Spain, free of charge. I have the full email Hunt if you want to see it.
This is where it then goes wrong and simply no replies from customer service.
I mysteriously received an email from Hunt wheels requesting a balance of £399 and not a FOC replacement set as promised. I then emailed Hunt and received no reply, and then my FOC order simply disappeared off the tracking information. On 26th June (wk3) I receive a random email from HUNT stating that the order (555061), now completely different reference number, there is now "last Minute" manufacturing delays, when in fact this was the delivery week date, do i really believe in the same week "Manufacturing" delays just appear. I emailed HUNT again this week as I am due to cycle to Spain in 5 days time, all explained to Simon back in early May.....and nothing back.
I am now left with a wheelset that should have been replaced well in advance of my trip, or refunded and I go out a buy alternatives as im out of pocket by some £645 and do i consider the risk of wheel failure, cycling some 700 miles on a set of wheels that my LBS states in shocking quality.
09/08/24 UPDATE
Well done to Simon McNamara
A big thank you to Simon for attending to my concerns almost immediately from my initial Trust pilot review with a personal phone call to see what Hunt Wheels and he could do, given such time scales involved and went through and honestly explained the delivery delays which were clearly outside of Hunts control in the UK.
I was given no less than 4 solutions which including a promised guarantee the wheels where fit for purpose, and a follow up replacement set to be set out which I gratefully accepted and arrived ahead of schedule.
There was no quibbling of all the Website promises from Simon at Hunt and Simon went over and above the 3 years warranty and returns further by offering a no questions returns period after my hols if I was not entirely satisfied
I therefore embarked on my trip to Spain of 500 miles plus confidently knowing Simon and Hunt gave me their full backing and the original wheels would meet my expectations
Simply they where outstanding and the hookless set up made for even more simplified tyre set ups. There was no usual pings from poor spoke tensioning ive found on other brands and the stability and feedback from the wheels as we blasted into some incredible descent into Spain gave me the reassurance I could push the wheels, only my skills and loaded bike would slow me down.
I found the wheels spin up very quickly and on the long climbs of 14% plus aided my legs in coping with the gradients. The bike weighed in at just over 9Kgs unloaded and fully loaded up 23Kgs and tyres where 31 psi front and rear and there were no issues from either front or rear wheels running out of true. I did hit some big potholes and rocks on back farm roads and a significant length of broken concrete track, but the wheels kept true and straight. The additional spoke count on the gravel 35’s do give you confidence in the wheel strength yet still gave a very compliant and comfortable ride…..in fact no saddle sores.
At the beginning of the trip there were some incredible head and side winds off the fields and the 35mm deep section proved very stable in all aspects and I didn’t drop down on the bar drops to give more stability.
The bikes where as you can imagine filthy at the end of the trip but both the 35mm carbon gravel wheels a the 4 seasons gravel wheels clean up like new.
I inspected both cassette bodies internally and all seals had held up in some heavy downpours and the grease and paws was like new so well done for have very well sealed bearings.
I'm all for taking back my initial concerns hence this genuine follow up report and I have say openly (and I'm not sponsored in any way), that you can trust the Hunt brand and Simon to back you up in a tight spot.
Well done to Hunt for making the trip hassle free…..and enabling me to raise over £1000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
June 28, 2024
Unprompted review