Warranty question - Giant TCR Composite 1

Karlos69

I bought a Giant TCR Composite 1 earlier this year and it has developed a couple of cracks in the frame.
It looks like Giant will replace the frame. It is 2011 colours - white and red with colour coordinated white wheels, bar tape, red cables etc.
If they have none of these left I am concerned I might be offered a 2012 colours frame which is mostly black so the wheels, bars (I know its only tape), saddle, cables etc will look a bit odd and not how the look of the bike was designed in the first place.

Would I have to accept the replacement frame and forks in new colours or would I be able to insist on colour matched wheels etc as well?

apana

First world problems

cougie

Black goes with everything. It won't clash.

Monty Dog

Read the small print on the warranty - it's entirely at Giant's discretion and unless they have a 2011 frame in stock in the size you want, then expect to get given what they decide to give you. I think you'll find you have very little claim otherwise. Chance of getting the colour-matched parts? Zero.

gloomyandy

Doesn't this come under the sale of goods act. I would have thought that a bike that develops cracks in less than a year is not fit for purpose. But how you prove that it is not due to some sort of damage I'm not sure. If you feel very strongly about it then it may be worth talking to CAB or possibly trading standards. Seem to remember though that sale of goods act means your claim is against whoever sold you the bike rather than who made it...

Garry H

gloomyandy wrote:

Doesn't this come under the sale of goods act. I would have thought that a bike that develops cracks in less than a year is not fit for purpose. But how you prove that it is not due to some sort of damage I'm not sure. If you feel very strongly about it then it may be worth talking to CAB or possibly trading standards. Seem to remember though that sale of goods act means your claim is against whoever sold you the bike rather than who made it...

What for? Giant have already agreed to replace it. He'll probably get one in a colour that would not have been his first choice, but seriously, so what!

Karlos69

Garry H wrote:

What for? Giant have already agreed to replace it. He'll probably get one in a colour that would not have been his first choice, but seriously, so what!

Because the wheels are white to match the 2011 frame whereas the 2012 frame is black with black wheels.
I might end up with a mixture from both color schemes and I'm not sure how this would look and if it might cause problems if I wanted to sell it in the future.

gloomyandy

I did say "if you feel very strongly about it...". Personally I wouldn't but the OP may and it seems he does, in which case he *may* have a claim under sale of goods rather than under the Giant Warranty... But as I said this is probably something you would want to check before approaching the shop...

rolf_f

I'm with Cougie - it would probably look fine in black with white wheels. Not to my taste maybe but then I don't much like white wheels on any bike

Ultimately though, it's difficult to see what else Giant could reasonably offer. You get a new frame (possibly a better frame) and you'd have an extra year or so's warranty on it. Unless Giant were to always manufacture the same colour schemes year after year, this sort of problem is going to happen. Probably the solution is not to get overly colour co-ordinated bikes which is becoming a bigger problem now that custom co-ordinated components are getting more popular.

You could always try negotiating an upgrade to a bike with a better colour match if there is one. That would probably be my approach.

nickel

I know its not much help to you but I own a 2012 Comp 1 and I can confirm the black is a really nice colour scheme, can't see why it wouldn't work with white wheels.

Monty Dog

Sales of Goods Act relates to form, fit and function of product and it's fitness for purpose - unless the OP can come up with a compelling reason as to why non-colour-matched components has any material impact on the function of a bicycle. If Giant don't have a replacement frame in the 2011 colour, then expect you'll get what's available - I know in a lot a cases where folks have got upgrades, but if you bleat about it long enough, you might end up with nowt.

rolf_f

Monty Dog wrote:

Sales of Goods Act relates to form, fit and function of product and it's fitness for purpose - unless the OP can come up with a compelling reason as to why non-colour-matched components has any material impact on the function of a bicycle. If Giant don't have a replacement frame in the 2011 colour, then expect you'll get what's available - I know in a lot a cases where folks have got upgrades, but if you bleat about it long enough, you might end up with nowt.

It isn't that simple though. If you had a defect in a door on your car, you wouldn't accept a replacement in a different colour would you? A yellow door on a silver car doesn't affect the function in any way I can think. If colour matched components were not an issue, why would the bike manufacturer colour match in the first place?

I think Giant would be doing enough to provide a replacement frame that people generally regarded as being a decent scheme. But if colours were completely off then that would be different - eg a blue coded finishing kit and a red replacement frame would not be acceptable IMO. Nobody would choose to order such a bike so it shouldn't really be inflicted on you due to a manufacturing error.

Best advice is to avoid overly colour coordinated bikes. None of the kit on my bikes aside from a Selle saddle (which didn't come with the bike!) would look particularly wrong on any bike with any colour scheme.

plowmar

I know that this reply is probably of no help but you are getting the defective frame replaced- without argument?

As far as colour goes black bike white wheels whats not to match? My Bianchi is the exact opposite and looks grand.

Then I spoil it all with white kit and shoes and black socks but no one's perfect. :oops:

Beatmaker

Monty Dog is right. Giant are under no legal obligation to replace components due to a perceived colour clash. You can try asking nicely, but since you are talking about black and white I doubt you have a chance.

diy

The warranty is irrelevant standard statutory rights apply and make provision for a repair that affects the overall value of the purchase. Essentially you have the option of repair and potentially some money back too. If you buy a bicycle and the bicycle is defective your option is to reject the bicycle. It is then up to the retailer to come up with an acceptable remedy. It does surprise me how so many people don't understand their basic statutory rights. The warranty on offer goes over and above standard rights and cannot supersede them.

This isn't about colours clashing it about loss of value due to a mismatched repair.

Karlos69

Thanks for your replies.
Giant have confirmed they are replacing the frame with a 2012 one as they can not source any more 2011 ones.
Having re-visited this and having had a look at a 2012 in the flesh, the colour mix of red black and white is the same although more black on this years frame, so I don't think it will look too bad in the end.
The shop have said they will change the bar tape to black .
I did actually get the original bike with almost £500 off as it was last years model so I guess I shouldn't really complain too much.

diy

Sounds like a good result

rolf_f

Karlos69 wrote:

Thanks for your replies.
Giant have confirmed they are replacing the frame with a 2012 one as they can not source any more 2011 ones.
Having re-visited this and having had a look at a 2012 in the flesh, the colour mix of red black and white is the same although more black on this years frame, so I don't think it will look too bad in the end.
The shop have said they will change the bar tape to black .
I did actually get the original bike with almost £500 off as it was last years model so I guess I shouldn't really complain too much.

Just remember, incase the previous problem happens again with the new frame, the warranty restarts with the new frame - not the original purchase date.

Karlos69

Rolf F wrote:

Karlos69 wrote:

Thanks for your replies.
Giant have confirmed they are replacing the frame with a 2012 one as they can not source any more 2011 ones.
Having re-visited this and having had a look at a 2012 in the flesh, the colour mix of red black and white is the same although more black on this years frame, so I don't think it will look too bad in the end.
The shop have said they will change the bar tape to black .
I did actually get the original bike with almost £500 off as it was last years model so I guess I shouldn't really complain too much.

Just remember, incase the previous problem happens again with the new frame, the warranty restarts with the new frame - not the original purchase date.

Thanks. As far as I know Giant give a lifetime warranty on frames anyway.

rolf_f

Karlos69 wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Karlos69 wrote:

Thanks for your replies.
Giant have confirmed they are replacing the frame with a 2012 one as they can not source any more 2011 ones.
Having re-visited this and having had a look at a 2012 in the flesh, the colour mix of red black and white is the same although more black on this years frame, so I don't think it will look too bad in the end.
The shop have said they will change the bar tape to black .
I did actually get the original bike with almost £500 off as it was last years model so I guess I shouldn't really complain too much.

Just remember, incase the previous problem happens again with the new frame, the warranty restarts with the new frame - not the original purchase date.

Thanks. As far as I know Giant give a lifetime warranty on frames anyway.

That's cool - under normal circumstances a lifetime warranty is unlikely to make any difference over a two year warranty; it's only when you actually have to call in the warranty that future issues can be tricky if the manufacturer tries to pull the wool over your eyes.

tonye_n

5 year warranty on Giant frames.
Lifetime on Specialized road frames.
I have both, each bought from the concept stores in Bristol. The documentation states this.

vrsmatt

Updated

My frame was replaced like for like in 14 days, I was informed if my frame wasnt available i'd get the 2014 model which was black, the forks and seatpost would have been swapped to black for me also

Cant fault the service and for info it IS a lifetime warranty not 5 years, check your owners manual chaps

Tremendous service and speed. I retain confidence in the brand