Marzocchi are really pissing me off!

Prowlus
Prowlus Posts: 539
edited March 2009 in MTB general
January 10th , I purchased a 2009 Marzocchi 55 ata fork hoping it was gonna be sweet for the upcomming trails I wanted to ride this year like whinlatter park in the lake district . So 2 days later Evans put it onto my scott ransom 40 and just before they rode out , the TST2 cartridge stopped working after a test compression .
Fine they contact windwave for a fix and they told evans to bleed the cartridge which they did and still the cart isn't working . Next they tell me that they need to send me a new revised cartridge for the 2009 fork which took for some reason 6 weeks to arrive and when it did arrive today in march evans tried fixing it into the fork , it turned out to be the wrong cartridge!
Windwave had given me a tst micro cartridge thinking the fork evans mentioned was a 2008 55 ata! :evil: !! and this had taken 3 months of chasing them up for said part!
Does anyone here think I should contact windwave and demand compensation for this ? Evans says they may not listen after having a spate of marzocchi problems this year from irate uk customers. but, its not funny having to spend £450 on a bike just to have it become a "hanger queen" in evans long term right?
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Comments

  • If you dont try you will never know.

    Pretty much a quote that goes with any aspect of mountainbiking!

    I would possibly suggest that you attempt to get a refund and then buy a different brand of forks.

    If not ask for a brand new set and not a 'repaired' set.

    Good luck!
    Scott Ransom 10

    Stumpy FSR Comp

    Wilier Izoard

    1994 Shogun Prairie Breaker Expert...ahhh yesssss

    'I didnt need those front teeth anyway..'
  • papasmurf.
    papasmurf. Posts: 2,382
    I'd have rejected the fork and got something else through evans and let them deal with the issue with the distributor
  • pdid
    pdid Posts: 1,065
    edited March 2009
    Yeah get a refund and try a set of Lyrics instead.

    I`ve read loads of posts regarding problems with the Zocchi`s recently
  • send it back.... Marzocchi have had terrible reliability problems with their 08 and 09 forks.

    I know you've had them for a few months, but you haven't really have you?! If they don't take them back i'd argue that you've never ridden them, and get Evans to back you up. If they still say no, then its of to trading standards.
  • Prowlus
    Prowlus Posts: 539
    I

    If not ask for a brand new set and not a 'repaired' set.

    Good luck!

    Apparently I can't because , once the steerer is cut, the warranty is void thus making the forks unsellable plus evans says the 55s they have may have the same problems because they are of the same production batch . Has anyone here experience anything similar to my case?
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    I'd try to give them back, all the '09 forks got SAVAGED in this months MBUK.

    I think it's all the do with them moving manufacturing to the far east for the '08 ones (my '08 888 WC's are Awesome and work faultlessly) and really up-teching them all to make the best use of higher QC standards over there, then shipped manufacturing back to Italy this year and they don't seem to be able to put them together properly.
  • Prowlus wrote:
    I

    If not ask for a brand new set and not a 'repaired' set.

    Good luck!

    Apparently I can't because , once the steerer is cut, the warranty is void thus making the forks unsellable plus evans says the 55s they have may have the same problems because they are of the same production batch . Has anyone here experience anything similar to my case?

    yes, but you can't test a fork out until the steerer is cut and the fork installed in the frame. Load of nutsack. Tell them to take it back, and mention trading standards.

    the forks were faulty before you received them, and you only found out because they were fitted...
  • spudulike
    spudulike Posts: 51
    Does sound to me like the forks are not fit for purpose. I'd have a word with your Citizen's Advice Bureau but I reckon you've got a strong case for rejecting the forks.

    You've got certain rights as a consumer (regardless of warranties) and if the purchased items aren't "fit for purpose" then you have a right to reject the item. I'm no legal eagle though so have a word with your CAB before you take action.
  • soy_sauce
    soy_sauce Posts: 987
    if you got it with your credit card then tell your credit card company to sort this out since its over £100, you should able to get a refund. (base on my understanding)
    "It is not impossible, its just improbable"

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • wysiwyg
    wysiwyg Posts: 7,897
    Your contract is with Evans ignore windwave. No use telling WW you dont want it or you want compensation, tell Evans its unfit for purpose and you want a refund.

    Though i think technically something may have to be returned to be fixed 3 times before you can ask for a refund. But anyway, its up to Evans to sort.
  • clarkson
    clarkson Posts: 1,641
    id try for a refund and then get some 36's. some proper forks! :wink:
    I said hit the brakes not the tree!!

    2006 Specialized Enduro Expert
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3192886/

    2008 Custom Merlin Malt 4
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2962222/

    2008 GT Avalanche Expert
    http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3453980/
  • capoz77
    capoz77 Posts: 503
    Sale of goods act "not fit for purpose"

    its like saying you can't have a refund on that gone off pizza because you've opened the box to cook it and its now not resellable! or sort of :shock: :lol:
  • Prowlus
    Prowlus Posts: 539
    Well Evans have in a way given me some sort of compensation for all this trouble . The manager has given me 20% off any upgrade items I wanted to put on there .
    This is what my bike now looks like

    http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ransom.jpg

    new wheels , seatpost , bolt thru 12mm axle, thomson stem all discounted plus discounted nobby nics as of today Dunno whether to call it a ransom 40 anymore


    The wrong cartridge

    http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/9484/tst2cart.th.jpg


    http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tst21.jpg

    I wonder if it is ok to phone watchdog?
  • I hope not all are screwed cos the marin i'm trying out next week is listed as "Marzocchi 33 TST2, 100mm, Preload, Compression and Rebound Adjustment, with Lockout"

    hope maybe one set works :lol:
    Start Weight 18st 13lbs March 2009
    17st 10lbs August 2009
    17st 4lbs October 2009
    15st 12lbs December 2010

    Final planned weight 12st 7lbs
  • Prowlus
    Prowlus Posts: 539
    Well first thing you do is adjust to tst2 lever and check it actually locks out .
    Do it for a couple of turns attempting to compress the fork . If it fails to compress after a few tries than it is f***ed
  • heh thanks. I'll have a good word with the guys at the store & hope it's ok. Luckily i'm trying 3 bikes but the one with the marzocchis on is my favourite from spec & looks :?
    Start Weight 18st 13lbs March 2009
    17st 10lbs August 2009
    17st 4lbs October 2009
    15st 12lbs December 2010

    Final planned weight 12st 7lbs
  • IdleJon
    IdleJon Posts: 18
    I've just re-read the OP.

    Where did you buy the fork from? If not Evans, then I can understand them not refunding you, but if it was, then you should have demanded a full refund. Using excuses about fork steerers shows their own incompetence - would you cut the steerer before making sure that the fork worked knowing that there is a problem with these forks, or would you space it out first? Regardless, under law it is their problem.

    And frankly, giving you discount off other goods as compensation is pathetic unless as I asked, you didn't get the fork from them.
  • Prowlus
    Prowlus Posts: 539
    I did get the fork from Evans so should i ask for more than just discounted bits?
  • IdleJon
    IdleJon Posts: 18
    If you haven't got a working fork, then demand your money back now. What's the point of discounted parts if you can't ride. You are fully entitled to a complete refund and should have had this weeks ago. Threaten them with Trading Standards, the Sale of Goods Act, bad publicity on the MBR forum, ask for the area managers name, complaint dept address, everything. Just get your money back. They are taking the mick out of you.

    When you get your refund, I would politely ask for compensation for many weeks of not riding as well, in goods, not discounts. They can only say no. Then I would not use that branch of Evans again, as they don't sound the best.
  • Prowlus
    Prowlus Posts: 539
    well tmr is crunch time . Can't pick up the rig tmr since i'm working but the manager has promised me a new tst2 cart tmr ready for friday . I really hope it will be there since i'm working to open a new marks and spencer store all next week :evil: and its hard to not use that evans cause that is the nearest store to me (Hendon) and is the only store that can honor any warranty with my rig which was bought in waterloo evans which is tooo far for me to go to service
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I think you should ask about compensation.

    And I agree with the BS about the fork steerer. They cut it anyway if they fit it!
  • Dirtydog11
    Dirtydog11 Posts: 1,621
    They have had several opportunities to put the matter right...................................... and failed , If your still not happy then your legally entitled to a refund.
  • scottyjohn
    scottyjohn Posts: 143
    I agree, especially in the current climate of sales and discounts, 20% is nothing. But by the sounds I would just say enough is enough and demand a refund. I think the "opportunity to fix 3 times" thing applies to where you actually take them away working and then come back later with a problem, certainly not when they have never even left the Evans shop. Money back and get a set of Lyrics for defo
  • Colzer1
    Colzer1 Posts: 58
    i was planning on buying a set of these forks this year after many trouble free years of using marzochi's, but from the reports I have been hearing i think i will go back to using Rock Shoxs.

    I remember back in the early 90's when you would never put a set of marzochis on your bike as they were urelable, looked pants etc.. then they suddenly got themselves sorted out and became the fork to have. I still have a set of Z1 bombers from 2001 and a set of Dirct jumpers, both forks get used on a regular basis and just great to use
    Pace RC405
    Pace RC303
    Specialized A1 Rockhopper Pro Disc
    Bits A Bike SingleSpeed mountain bike
    Single speed Reynolds steel framed road bike
    1992 Marin rocky Ridge
    1990 Trek 8000
    1991 Kona Fire Mountain
  • Colzer1 - I couldn't agree more! I'm still riding weekly on some 2001 Z3 airs that have never been serviced! Nadda. Still pretty plush and well damped. Amazing forks but bloody flexy by todays standards!

    It's a sad state of affairs. MZ were the boys but now psssh you'd be a fool to consider them. And this service is appalling... They're clearly aware of the crap they're peddling.
  • Dazzza
    Dazzza Posts: 2,364
    He can't once he accepted the 20% discount that's the laws way of you accepting the fault why do you think evans offered it in the first place.

    Just scratch it up to a bad choice and sort the problem yourself, you'll only end up pissed at evans.
    The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.
    Giant Anthem X
  • Dirtydog11
    Dirtydog11 Posts: 1,621
    I take your point but surely the 20% was offered as a gesture of goodwill, I cant see how it would be legally binding.

    Goodwill gestures in no way affect your statituary rights. They are two different things.

    I've also had a set of Marzocchis (MX comps) since 2004 and they've been super reliable all I do is change the oil once a year, theres no play in any of the bushes and they're probably smoother now than when I bought them.
  • DanEvs
    DanEvs Posts: 640
    TF Tuned no longer work on Marzocchi ATA/TST forks, says it all really. :(

    Very happy with my 888RC3 WC's though. 8)
  • Prowlus
    Prowlus Posts: 539
    Thanks for all your suggestions guys :) Well at work today Evan's phone me up and said that windwave has fedexed them the correct tst2 cart for my fork and it "is working" . My bike should be ready to collect for tomorrow. .
    Just hope once my bike hits the pavement outside the fork will function to form otherwise I'm really gonna sqeeze a Talas/Lyric/Wotan out of them :twisted:
  • GrantyBoy
    GrantyBoy Posts: 166
    Prowlus wrote:
    I

    If not ask for a brand new set and not a 'repaired' set.

    Good luck!

    Apparently I can't because , once the steerer is cut, the warranty is void thus making the forks unsellable plus evans says the 55s they have may have the same problems because they are of the same production batch . Has anyone here experience anything similar to my case?


    Rubbish, I returned my '08 55 ATA's through Wiggle which had been used on my bike for 2 months before turning into a pile of crap. Told Wiggle the forks aren't fit for purpose, they agreed refunded me and sent the forks back to Windwave. Got myself a set of '09 Fox 32 Talas.

    Shame as I've been running 'zochis since 1998.