Bike should've failed quality control...but didn't

upperoilcan

Agreed it would be good to see a pic as to be fair to the OP he has not bad mouthed anyone regarding the problem.

I cant see how a picture of the defect would be detrimental to his case.

iPete

I'm guessing no pictures because its an ibble?

slowbike

Navrig wrote:

iPete wrote:

To be honest, this thread is useless without pics.

The OP hasn't got the balls to post a piccy!

I think you need a camera and an account with a suitable web host to post pictures ...

Personally, I find I have other uses for my balls ....

navrig

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cojones

bendertherobot

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8XF0mUSc9U/T ... 4176_o.jpg

Which one is missing? To be honest, if it's this bike, that would piss me off. But I'd not miss it for 5 weeks!

jordan_217

bendertherobot wrote:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8XF0mUSc9U/T7E6ZgZ_qzI/AAAAAAAAETE/h5jG6V_INCY/s1600/472481_3984000727685_1510763136_3238617_1250624176_o.jpg

Which one is missing? To be honest, if it's this bike, that would wee-wee me off. But I'd not miss it for 5 weeks!

If it is, I'm guessing it's the opposite side of the top centre pic in that link.

lostboysaint

If ever there was a classic example of "less is more" then it's the graphics on that bike.

Grill

lostboysaint wrote:

If ever there was a classic example of "less is more" then it's the graphics on that bike.

What brand is it again?

cheaterkiller

cojones wrote:

Ok, so not strictly bike buying advice but advice nonetheless. I recently bought a £2800 (RRP) bike from a well known online retailer and upon giving it some TLC yesterday I noticed that the initial letter was missing from the brand name on the front side of the frame. So where it should say "Brand" for example, it says "rand". On the other side it correctly says "Brand".

I have contacted the retailer by email - as I cannot find a phone number - and sent photos of the flaw, and am awaiting a response.

This sort of flaw shouldn't exist on a £500 bike let alone one over 5 times that cost. I've had the bike 5 weeks now, however I feel that I cannot accept the bike due to this issue.

Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed with the retailer?

Thanks,

Matt

FFS just how pedantic can people get! Your complaining about a missing letter on a £2500 bike. Thats a bit like buying a ferrari and moaning that the tyre tread isnt the way you like it. Unless its physically defective then just move on.

foggymike

I wouldn't keep a new bike with a dodgy logo and would not expect to have any trouble getting it swapped for another whoever the retailer or brand was. It's obviously not correct so no argument.

Matchstick Man

cheaterkiller wrote:

cojones wrote:

Ok, so not strictly bike buying advice but advice nonetheless. I recently bought a £2800 (RRP) bike from a well known online retailer and upon giving it some TLC yesterday I noticed that the initial letter was missing from the brand name on the front side of the frame. So where it should say "Brand" for example, it says "rand". On the other side it correctly says "Brand".

I have contacted the retailer by email - as I cannot find a phone number - and sent photos of the flaw, and am awaiting a response.

This sort of flaw shouldn't exist on a £500 bike let alone one over 5 times that cost. I've had the bike 5 weeks now, however I feel that I cannot accept the bike due to this issue.

Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed with the retailer?

Thanks,

Matt

FFS just how pedantic can people get! Your complaining about a missing letter on a £2500 bike. Thats a bit like buying a ferrari and moaning that the tyre tread isnt the way you like it. Unless its physically defective then just move on.

Nonsense. On a £2800 bike all you're paying for is the paintjob, so if that's not right then the OP should be pissed off.

jordan_217

2.5k is a lot of money so I'd want the bike to be perfect, regardless of whether the defective part is mechanical/functional or purely cosmetic. That's just me though and I have OCD. I'd also like to think that I'd have noticed it within the first few days though.......

Five weeks though, I can't get this. Five weeks to notice???? I think you'll be lucky to get anything.

In the OP didn't you say that the missing letter was obscured by the cables hence why you didn't notice it initially? If so, then just buy some of those protective frame patches that prevent cable rub and hide the missing letter.

Five weeks?

I never realised there's so many millionaires who frequent this forum, talking like £2.5k is pocket change. Please feel free to send me a cheque for the same amount since it's nothing to you.

nferrar

Although I admit if it was very noticeable I'd be miffed and want it changed (like a downtube logo) if it's a discrete one on the headtube and took me 5 weeks to notice then I'd just suck it up. I might try my luck at getting some vouchers as compensation I guess but I really wouldn't feel aggrieved in the least

apreading

Thing is, before you get the compo or soon after they replace the frame, you will inevitable get a stone chip on the down tube, scratch the top tube on a bike rack or get some cable rub somewhere...

Its always annoying when you get the first blemish, but actually part of the process of adjusting to enjoying riding the bike as opposed to obsessing about its perfection.

This is just the first blemish.

I agree that if you can get compensation or replacement then its worth doing but I wouldnt get too worked up if not, it will just mean that when you get the next scrape it wont be so bad because the perfection bubble has already been burst.

Its annoying, but thats life and whatever the outcome, you should just chalk it up to experience and force yourself to get on with enjoying the function of the bike - which should be undiminished. The annoyance of this will fade bu probably never go away.

gareth2134

To be fair here everyone keeps saying that after 5 weeks he can't complain now but as a buyer you shouldn't have to worry about full inspection and should be able to trust the seller. So as a seller I would want to keep your custom and also see your a regular spender with us then I would most certainly aim at giving you best service possible to ensure you stay with us.

It's sellers responsibility regardless of time.

IMHO it would bother me a lot just because I would be thinking is the fram defected also in a way where the strength and durability has been compromised and I would never feel comfortable on it for that reason.

Keep us updated on your outcome anyway dude. goodluck

rolf_f

jordan_217 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8XF0mUSc9U/T7E6ZgZ_qzI/AAAAAAAAETE/h5jG6V_INCY/s1600/472481_3984000727685_1510763136_3238617_1250624176_o.jpg

Which one is missing? To be honest, if it's this bike, that would wee-wee me off. But I'd not miss it for 5 weeks!

If it is, I'm guessing it's the opposite side of the top centre pic in that link.

I think you are right. Must be the small Focus by the red stripe. I'd probably quite like the F being missing there - characterful! At least if it ever got pinched, I'd have a guaranteed means to identify it! Still don't know why so many people are getting hung up on the five weeks thing. Maybe its been in the garage for five weeks. And if five weeks is too long to notice it, what period of time is OK?

Another reason I'd probably keep it is that if returned it would no doubt get binned which is a bit of a waste. I still partly regret getting my Ribble frame exchanged for that reason.

cheaterkiller wrote:

FFS just how pedantic can people get! Your complaining about a missing letter on a £2500 bike. Thats a bit like buying a ferrari and moaning that the tyre tread isnt the way you like it. Unless its physically defective then just move on.

You'd buy a Ferrari and not worry if the tread on the tyre wasn't right?

It's a poor analogy anyway. If you bought a Ferrari and the logos said 'errari' are you seriously saying you wouldn't complain?

apreading

gareth2134 wrote:

IMHO it would bother me a lot just because I would be thinking is the fram defected also in a way where the strength and durability has been compromised and I would never feel comfortable on it for that reason.

If thats the case then compensation wouldnt help, nor would a replacement frame or even a replacement bike from the same manufacturer - because you are doubting their frame quality in general. As well as that, it is unlikely the manuf makes their own frames - most are made by the same company in the far east I think.

I dont see how an oversight in finishing would lead you to think the construction of the frame is 'defected'.

I think that if the retailer is being helpful then it would probably come down to whether they could get the manufacturer to replace or compensate for the fault - bear in mind that they wouldnt necessarily need to tell the manufacturer that the buyer had the bike 5 weeks before noticing - if its under the lacquer then its an obvious manufaturing fault and they would likely agree to replace the frame. The problem is, who/how would the frame swap be done? The reatiler will likely be out by the shipping cost both ways, unless they offer to swap the frame provided the OP covers the carriage costs...

iPete

Rolf F wrote:

jordan_217 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8XF0mUSc9U/T7E6ZgZ_qzI/AAAAAAAAETE/h5jG6V_INCY/s1600/472481_3984000727685_1510763136_3238617_1250624176_o.jpg

Which one is missing? To be honest, if it's this bike, that would wee-wee me off. But I'd not miss it for 5 weeks!

If it is, I'm guessing it's the opposite side of the top centre pic in that link.

I think you are right. Must be the small Focus by the red stripe. I'd probably quite like the F being missing there - characterful! At least if it ever got pinched, I'd have a guaranteed means to identify it! Still don't know why so many people are getting hung up on the five weeks thing. Maybe its been in the garage for five weeks. And if five weeks is too long to notice it, what period of time is OK?

Because in 5 weeks I can age a bike an entire year.

supermurph09

gareth2134 wrote:

IMHO it would bother me a lot just because I would be thinking is the fram defected also in a way where the strength and durability has been compromised and I would never feel comfortable on it for that reason.

I assume this was done for comedy effect?

MartinB2444

cojones wrote:

BTW, I test rode the bike (same model, same size) so I knew it was a winner and the savings online meant my budget went further.

Please tell me, honestly, was it your mate's bike you tried :evil:

keef66

So you test rode a bike from a local retailer but then bought it online to save money, then 5 weeks later you notice a small portion of one decal is missing so you come on a public forum bleating about it and expecting a sympathetic response?

Cojones indeed.

cojones

In the interest of closing this thread, I have come to an agreement with the retailer and accepted a £200 voucher, (they were originally offering £50 cash refund).

In their defence, I felt that the retailer genuinely understood my perspective on the issue and treated me respectfully throughout. They admitted that it should have been picked up before the bike was sent out and said that if they had stock they would have exchanged it, but they no longer stock the model. They offered me a full refund, but as already discussed, the defect does not affect the performance of the bike. The fact that it is 5 weeks after I received it wasn’t even mentioned. In fact the retailer postulated that at this time of year he expects that I haven’t ridden the bike very much at all, which is true…it’s been sat on the turbo in a dark garage only getting use evenings and weekends.

I have attached a photo of the issue.

Thanks to those that offered constructive advice (as was my original request, and I'm not 'bleating' neither was it a LBS). The BR forums continue to provide reliable information once you can filter out the tw@ts.

rolf_f

Good result! Personally, I like your Ocus. It's unique. And lighter than the more common variant!

bompington

ell hat eems o e atisfactorily oncluded hen.

rolf_f

Would have been funnier if they'd left the S off though.....

displacedaussie

Presumably the subject of your email to them wasn't "F off"?

navrig

Overall, a bit of a Cojones-up.

TakeTurns

displacedaussie wrote:

Presumably the subject of your email to them wasn't "F off"?

Gabbo

Cheap solution 8)