Kryptonite announced Wednesday that it would offer free exchanges to anyone who owns one of their U-lock models that uses a circular key, a popular type of lock with city bikers that was shown last week to be vulnerable to picking with a simple ballpoint pen.
The company’s offer is greater than what it indicated it would do earlier this week–give free upgrades to people who could prove they bought their lock within the last two years and give discounts for upgrades to others who had the locks longer.
In a company statement released late Wednesday, General Manager Steve Down said Kryptonite felt responsible to offer solutions, not excuses, to deal with the problem.
“We decided to simplify and expand our planned product upgrade program so we could expedite the process for consumers and eliminate any lingering doubt in their minds about their locks,” Down said.
Word spread rapidly among the bicycling community and beyond after a biker posted a message on the Internet about how easy it was to pick a Kryptonite lock with the shaft of a Bic pen. Others posted videos of themselves doing the same thing, and bike shops quickly took the U-locks with barrel-shaped keys off the shelves.
Kryptonite said the exchange for a more secure lock, which likely will use a disc-shaped or flat key instead of a tubular one, will be handled through local retailers and will start within a few weeks as the company accelerates production of the new locks. Lock owners can visit the company’s Web site (www.kryptonite.com) for registration instructions.
Bob Whiting, who works at Rapid Transit Cycleshop in Wicker Park, said he was glad Kryptonite decided to go with a no-questions-asked exchange of the compromised locks.
“That’s the quickest way for customers, dealers and them to nip it in the bud,” Whiting said. “I’m happy they just dropped the semantics.”
Not everyone feels satisfied with Kryptonite’s response to customer complaints. Several lawsuits have been filed, including at least two in Cook County, seeking class-action status against Kryptonite for consumer fraud or misrepresentation.
Chicago attorney Larry Drury, who filed one of the lawsuits Tuesday in Cook County for Lauren Dubler, who owned a lock but did not have a bike stolen, is seeking a refund for anyone who ever bought a Kryptonite lock that could have been picked with a pen. He is seeking a nationwide class-action suit, a status that must be granted by a judge.
Drury said Kryptonite’s latest offer is too vague–he is concerned about references to current owners and people’s current locks–and does not offer refunds for people who may not want to deal with the company again.
“I think it’s very honorable that they’re trying to make amends, but no, I don’t think it affects the lawsuit,” Drury said. “We’re asking for a refund as the primary remedy.”
Rob Sadowski, the executive director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, said he believes Kryptonite’s offer to replace all the locks is a good solution for both customers and the company, which has lost some business in the past week from people buying alternate brands of locks. He’s heard some talk of class-action suits but believes Kryptonite is already working to solve the problem.
“I would discourage people from taking that action against Kryptonite,” Sadowski said. “If someone’s bike was stolen, that’s a different story.”
———-
kmasterson@tribune.com
