Frame dent on brand new bike

robjwood
robjwood Posts: 21
edited October 2012 in Road beginners
I bought a Carrera TDF yesterday in Halfords and when I got it home, I noticed a chip/dent on the frame:

IMG_20121021_140726.jpg

I'm not fussed about the aesthetics but would a dent like like lead to early corrosion? I'm trying to decide wether to take it back and ask for a new bike or whether a bit of a touch up job would suffice

Comments

  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    cant really tell from the photo, but looks like wear from a bottle cage?

    Does the rest of the bike look showroom new?

    I know it might seem daft taking a new bike back for such a small scuff, but to be fair I'd be worried if it's an old frame or something to sustain that sort of rub.

    Show some more photos if poss. Does it look like a one-off bump, or a friction wear (as it appears in the photo).
  • Secteur
    Secteur Posts: 1,971
    PS Halfords really isnt a great place to buy a bike from... Even Evans would be hugely better...
  • NewTTer
    NewTTer Posts: 463
    If it was genuinely like that when you bought it, and you have not had a little mishap since yesterday, why wouldnt you take it back and request an exchange for an undamaged bike????? Would you buy a new car with imperferctions in the paintwork?
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Take it back - the frame is made from a heat-treated aluminium alloy which is pretty thin at that point and the gouge could cause a crack to propagate from that point and result in frame failure - it's not unusual for frames to crack through the seatube.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • CYCLESPORT1
    CYCLESPORT1 Posts: 471
    Looks like a pedal chip from the bike next to it in ths store :cry:
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Secteur wrote:
    cant really tell from the photo, but looks like wear from a bottle cage?

    I think you have oddly shaped bottle cages! :D

    The only thing I can think of that might make a mark like that is a pump that uses the bottle cage bosses. They can get close to the frame tube. Presume you've not had such a thing on it?

    The three little notches are very odd.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Secteur wrote:
    cant really tell from the photo, but looks like wear from a bottle cage?
    Wear? There's a dirty big gouge with three indendations and a chunk of paint missing. I'd be back down there before closing time asking for a brand new bike to replace this damaged one they've provided.

    The answer to the original question is that it quite probably will lead to the paint bubbling up and the frame around the damaged area oxidising or corroding.
  • dashik
    dashik Posts: 156
    edited October 2012
    Same here, I'd be right back down there.

    At the very least call them and advise them you will be bringing it back asap and get the name of the person you speak to, better still ask for the manager and tell him (and get his/her name).

    You can't wait with that sort of thing as they then have a chance to say you damaged it.

    By the look of that hole its gone right through the frame and the silver bit with ridges looks like the bolt support bracket for the bottle holder bolt.

    Hope you get it sorted ok.
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  • Captainlip
    Captainlip Posts: 281
    what did you expect from halfords? why not support your LBS?
    MADONE 5.2
  • Buckie2k5
    Buckie2k5 Posts: 600
    Captainlip wrote:
    what did you expect from halfords? why not support your LBS?


    the LBS wont sell a 300quid bike thats why. Halfords aint that bad just unfortunate the bike had damage which im sure they will replace without a fuss.
  • Captainlip
    Captainlip Posts: 281
    im sorry but halfords sell poor quality bikes and are backed with shocking if at all any aftercare service.

    get what you pay for at the end of the day.
    MADONE 5.2
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Captainlip wrote:
    im sorry but halfords sell poor quality bikes and are backed with shocking if at all any aftercare service.

    get what you pay for at the end of the day.

    Halfords actually sell some very good bikes.

    To the OP, take it back.
  • Captainlip
    Captainlip Posts: 281
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    Captainlip wrote:
    im sorry but halfords sell poor quality bikes and are backed with shocking if at all any aftercare service.

    get what you pay for at the end of the day.

    Halfords actually sell some very good bikes.

    To the OP, take it back.


    I worked for halfords bikehut, now I work at the LBS, I was the workshop manager there, if you want a lesson in poor customer service and appalling bikes then ill tell you a story or two. companys a joke, service is a joke, and the best bikes they sell are boardman......if you call those good bikes.
    MADONE 5.2
  • jay197
    jay197 Posts: 196
    Maybe a 3 toothed rat had a nibble on it ?
    http://www.tryasaddle.co.uk
  • Captainlip
    Captainlip Posts: 281
    jay197 wrote:
    Maybe a 3 toothed rat had a nibble on it ?


    at last a road user with a sense of humor :D
    MADONE 5.2
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    Get it back, pronto.
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Captainlip wrote:
    ...and the best bikes they sell are boardman......if you call those good bikes.

    Does anyone seriously not call Boardmans good bikes? :?
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Brava210
    Brava210 Posts: 64
    I had a TDF it was very good, I now have a boardman which is also good.
    They will replace it, what's the problem?
    Boardman Pro Carbon (Nowt wrong with Boardman)
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    (I need to lose weight)
  • lotus49
    lotus49 Posts: 763
    Captainlip wrote:
    what did you expect from halfords? why not support your LBS?

    One reason a lot of people are going to Halfords at the moment is the Cycle to Work scheme. Halfords will do all the admin and basically do the lot for an employer. That's great for the employer but the quid pro quo is that the employees must buy their bike from Halfords so they are stuck with it.
  • Captainlip
    Captainlip Posts: 281
    lotus49 wrote:
    Captainlip wrote:
    what did you expect from halfords? why not support your LBS?

    One reason a lot of people are going to Halfords at the moment is the Cycle to Work scheme. Halfords will do all the admin and basically do the lot for an employer. That's great for the employer but the quid pro quo is that the employees must buy their bike from Halfords so they are stuck with it.


    thanks for this information.
    MADONE 5.2
  • robjwood
    robjwood Posts: 21
    Yep, Cycle2Work is the reason I bought it from Halfords.

    I've not tried to fit anything on the bike and it hasn't been leaning on or near anything that could have caused the chip. I ordered some Crud mudguards that they fitted so I wonder if they got a bit clumsy with one of the tools. If they didn't, I'm sure they would have spotted it while fixing the guards (even though I admittedly didn't see it at first).

    Anyway, I rang Halfords and they told me to take it in tomorrow so they could 'assess' it. We'll see what their customer service is like...
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    robjwood wrote:
    I've not tried to fit anything on the bike and it hasn't been leaning on or near anything that could have caused the chip. I ordered some Crud mudguards that they fitted so I wonder if they got a bit clumsy with one of the tools. If they didn't, I'm sure they would have spotted it while fixing the guards (even though I admittedly didn't see it at first).

    TBH, there aren't any tools involved in fitting Cruds so that won't be an explanation.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • robjwood
    robjwood Posts: 21
    OK, just took it to Halfords and various members of staff looked at it and agreed it was a pretty deep gouge (they used the term 'gouge' rather than 'chip' or 'dent'). They sort of thought it could be from a pedal when the bike was on the rack (just glad they didn't suggest at all that I could have done it).

    They asked whether I wanted a new frame or to just touch up the gouge. I obviously chose the new frame option and also went for the larger frame as I had my doubts that the medium was a little too small. (they agreed).

    So far, pleased with the service. We'll see how the bike is later...
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    Buckie2k5 wrote:
    Captainlip wrote:
    what did you expect from halfords? why not support your LBS?


    the LBS wont sell a 300quid bike thats why. Halfords aint that bad just unfortunate the bike had damage which im sure they will replace without a fuss.

    +1 Take it back

    My TFD which was £264 is fine. 2000 miles + . Mine came with bulged front tyre. (Guy said it shouldn't have been released like that). Took it back and they replaced both of the cheap kenda tyres with a pair of conti ultra sports.

    when you buy halfords, expect it to be assembled by a 17 yr old doing a summer fill in, and your good.
  • robjwood
    robjwood Posts: 21
    They had a new bike for me after about three hours and the frame is happily gouge-free. They gave it me with all the cardboard still attached, the bell and reflector were not at all tightened and worse, the front wheel was not aligned with the handlebars at all (I'd say a good inch or so out).

    These are things that I easily adjusted with Allen keys but surely if they build the bike they should be giving them to customers with everything tightened and in place?

    I'd hoped that my experience with Halfords would be different to others on these forums but it seems their dodgy reputation is well earned...
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    Nice one. Job sorted
  • MartAstur
    MartAstur Posts: 122
    when you buy halfords, expect it to be assembled by a 17 yr old doing a summer fill in, and your good.

    My first ever job (at 16) was at Halfords and I was responsible for repairing and setting up bikes, WHY? because I owned a bike. The reality was I didn't have much of a clue what I was doing and neither did anyone else there.
    This was a long, long time ago and I would have hoped things have changed but it seems not. To be fair, myself and all the staff there were very helpful and we always resolved the issues ( changed bike, money back etc) but if you were after people who knew what they were doing you wouldn't go to Halfords. :?
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  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Like any big brand chain store , it has some good knowledgeable employees and some who are clueless and "training" on the job.
    Bianchi Infinito CV
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  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    Yup, expect that and reap tht benefits of a half decent bike at rock bottom cash..
  • lotus49
    lotus49 Posts: 763
    robjwood wrote:
    These are things that I easily adjusted with Allen keys but surely if they build the bike they should be giving them to customers with everything tightened and in place?

    They should but the reality is that Halfords is not a specialist shop and the staff mostly don't know how. If you want a properly set up fitted bike, you will have to go to your LBS.

    I would prefer to do it myself than have a Halfords summer intern do it even though I am far from being an expert. At least that way I would take sufficient care; after all, it would be my bike and I'd be the one who would have to put up with any shortcomings. Sometimes you may be lucky and the summer intern may be a cyclist himself and actually know what he is doing, but mostly, you will not.

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