Chipped carbon frame

lewisc
lewisc Posts: 25
edited August 2013 in Workshop
I recently took my 2012 Giant TCR Composite 3 into my LBS for a standard service and when I picked it up apparently another customer knocked another bike onto my frame chipping the carbon just above the rear brakes where the two seat stays join together. The LBS also filled the chip with some plastic repair to fix it but I'm worried the integrity or the carbon is ruined?

Comments

  • tonye_n
    tonye_n Posts: 832
    lewisc wrote:
    I recently took my 2012 Giant TCR Composite 3 into my LBS for a standard service and when I picked it up apparently another customer knocked another bike onto my frame chipping the carbon just above the rear brakes where the two seat stays join together. The LBS also filled the chip with some plastic repair to fix it but I'm worried the integrity or the carbon is ruined?

    Without seeing pics of the 'chip' it is impossible to give an 'informed' opinion.
    However from what you say, I would suppose that the 'chip' is just to the laquer that is often used by manufactures over the main carbon weave. If this is the case there will be no issue with the structural integrity of the carbon frame.
  • lewisc
    lewisc Posts: 25
    I will post a photo up later on, but they've put some kind of melted plastic or something over the damage, hiding whatever damage was done.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    If it was just the clear lacquer / gel coat then unlikely to impaired the structural integrity of the frame - the carbon is a couple of mm thick at this point and you've have to really take a big chunk out of the frame to weaken it substantially. Even the carbon top-weave is cosmetic.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • declan1
    declan1 Posts: 2,470
    I reckon they've accidentally knocked it with something and blamed it on a customer, then filled it in quickly so you couldn't inspect the damage...

    Road - Dolan Preffisio
    MTB - On-One Inbred

    I have no idea what's going on here.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    I'll consider myself lucky then - when my bike went in for a service it came back with greasy finger marks on the frame - annoying as I'd given it a thorough clean before it went in ... but at least a clean did get rid of the marks!

    I wouldn't worry about the integrity of the frame, but I would be pee'd off with a mark on my frame that I didn't put there (I'd be pee'd off with a mark that I did put there - but I could only blame myself for that!).
    Are the LBS offering anything other than just the "repair" job they've already done?
    Was the frame in perfect condition when it went in (no other knocks/scrapes) ?
  • lewisc
    lewisc Posts: 25
    Bike has been kept in excellent condition as it cost me £1100 and is my first carbon road bike. No other marks on it all. In fact still has the factory top tube protection take on it.
    All they offered was to discount the price of the service from £55 to £30.
  • declan1
    declan1 Posts: 2,470
    lewisc wrote:
    Bike has been kept in excellent condition as it cost me £1100 and is my first carbon road bike. No other marks on it all. In fact still has the factory top tube protection take on it.
    All they offered was to discount the price of the service from £55 to £30.

    Seriously? I would go back and tell them that if you ever intend to sell that frame you'll get considerably less because of damage that is basically their fault. I would demand a full refund for the service and some more!

    Also, don't go back there.

    Road - Dolan Preffisio
    MTB - On-One Inbred

    I have no idea what's going on here.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Hmm, that's an arse ...

    £25 discount + repair for putting a chip in your excellent condition carbon bike.
    My response would depend on how visible the repair was and if I intended to sell the frame on anywhen soon - as a chip, even repaired would effect the resale value.
    If it was a reasonable repair and I was keeping the bike and the LBS were friendly enough then I'd probably be gracious and accept - and expect a reasonable discount on replacement parts & future services.
    If not a reasonable repair then I don't know - having had fibreglass repaired I know given the right situation, repairs can be done invisibly - and that's what I'd want. Perhaps a carbon repairer could give you a better idea.
  • lewisc
    lewisc Posts: 25
    It's certainly not invisible, apart from being a white repair on a white frame. Will post a photo tonight.
  • lewisc
    lewisc Posts: 25
    Here's the photo

    photo.jpg
  • oldredpinarello
    oldredpinarello Posts: 101
    That doesn't look great, at all..... Regardless of the frames integrity, its a bit of an eyesore. You should have words.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    I would take it to a carbon repair specialist and after getting a quote. TELL the bike shop they are picking up the repair bill. If this was a car in a garage you would be entitled to do this.
  • shipley
    shipley Posts: 549
    Crickey :shock: that's the repair ???? Did they throw the paint at it from the other side of the shop ?

    I did wonder if you were being a bit OCD by your initial post but I wouldn't accept that, it's so shoddy it defies belief. I would have it repaired elsewhere at their cost.

    I'd also find another bike shop. I'd always be looking at that if it was me.

    So annoying, good luck fella
  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    Yup - I was about to preach but that "repair" is a freakin' bodge. Go back, go straight to the top bod and tell him what you're doing and that they are paying. End of.

    Sheeesh, now that's shoddy (and trust me, I can be Yossie, the Lord of the Shoddies if needs be and even that's past me) - out of interest, what kind of shop did you take it to - no decent place would attempt such a bodge.
  • lewisc
    lewisc Posts: 25
    It was a local bike shop down near Wimbledon, there is a chain of 3 of them in the area and a friend of mine brought a new bike from them not long ago and had good service. I used them as they are about a minutes walk from me. Should have taken it to Evans :(
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    that pic of the "repair" looks terrible - I've done better with nail varnish!
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    That's a bodge job - I'd at least expect some body filler, rubbed-down smooth and some touch-up paint rather than looking like someone's gobbed-on your frame. Bikes do get scuffed and scratched in use - it's almost impossible to keep them immaculate but shame on the shop for calling that a 'repair'. I ask them politely to do it properly.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • AK_jnr
    AK_jnr Posts: 717
    bl00dy hell thats disgraceful!
    Is it the shop on the corner next to the paper shop? Only asking as I work nearby and was going to put my winter hack in there for a spruce up.
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    How did another bike falling do that? The brake arm would have protected it. Looks to me as if it's had a decent whack.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • lewisc
    lewisc Posts: 25
    AK_jnr wrote:
    bl00dy hell thats disgraceful!
    Is it the shop on the corner next to the paper shop? Only asking as I work nearby and was going to put my winter hack in there for a spruce up.

    Its in Raynes Park near the station.
  • dnwhite88
    dnwhite88 Posts: 285
    Let us know if they will repair it properly or pay someone who can-that doesn't even qualify as a repair in my books
    "It never gets easier, you just go faster"

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