Retail

Peloton customers are complaining about months-long delivery delays, last-minute cancellations, and poor customer service, as the high-tech fitness company grapples with growing demand

Peloton Bike
Peloton saw sales surge 66% in the first three months of the year. Peloton
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Peloton is one of the few consumer-focused companies that has not only survived during the coronavirus pandemic, but thrived. 

Sales surged 66% in the first three months of the year as consumers, unable to access gyms, flocked online to invest in its $2,000 bike (the company has temporarily halted sales of its $4,000 treadmill until its safe to resume its in-home assembly service).

It ended the most recent quarter with more than 866,100 subscribers that have bought either the bike or the treadmill – a 94% increase from the year before. 

But recent reports indicate that this explosive growth may be taking its toll on other parts of the business.

Dozens of customers have taken to Twitter and Peloton Facebook groups over the past few weeks to complain about delayed and canceled deliveries and poor customer service, something that Peloton had prided itself on in the past:

"I 100% am empathetic to the times and the strain on demand that they are experiencing," Marquis said. "However, they are hiding behind recent events as excuses, as opposed to transparency to the real problem, which is probably my biggest issue.

"I'd be a lot more understanding if they were honest, instead of issuing the same canned marketing responses."

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Mary Hanbury
Mary was an editor on the business news team, where she worked with reporters and editors to cover sectors including technology, finance, transportation, retail, careers, and real estate.Previously, Mary was a senior retail reporter based in New York and London, covering apparel, luxury, fitness, big-box, and grocery companies. She has reported on major brands including Victoria’s Secret, Lululemon, LVMH, Costco, Dollar General, and Peloton, providing in-depth analysis of trends shaping the industry.Mary earned a master’s degree in Business Journalism from CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. She has appeared on several TV and radio outlets, including BBC Business, Cheddar, and Good Morning America, and has taken part in industry panels and conferences about trends shaping the retail world.