So upset I could cry...

[deeaimond]

Dear ladies,

I just got so upset I didn't know who I could tell this to, but i figured I might have understanding ears here.

I've been talking about having some bike problems and not being able to ride because my BB is damaged and thus I have been trying to find a new one. My LBS can't seem to find one locally so i was looking around on ebay and saw the perfect part being sold by dhcyclesport in the UK. Unfortunately it seems like they only shipped to the UK, US, Japan and Canada. It seemed like a friendly website and said to call their shop if we had any questions. I thought maybe I could call and have them send it to me here in Singapore.

So I emailed them and they say something on their website about emails being answered on the same day. But no reply, so I called them just. The lady who answered was pretty polite and she said she would ask her boss, but she came back to the phone saying no he would not ship. And I asked for a reason, because if it was because they were afraid I'm just a hoaxer then is there something I can do to show that I'm not. (I'm just really desperate to get the part) Halfway through asking, a man answers, and cuts me off saying no they don't ship.

So I ask him why and he says 'for the same reason we don't ship to Thailand or Brazil' and he goes 'ok?' in the most rude way I can possibly imagine.

I coould not believe my ears and I could not even come up with the answer and he hung up on me.

I'm so upset.

Last time I checked, Singapore was one of the safest and most advanced countries in the whole of asia, granted we are a little small. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He was so nasty about it too. Maybe he's had bad experiences with hoaxers, but I'm so upset really. even after typing this out I feel like crying...

I don't even really know what words I can use to categorise this encounter. I've met and spoken with so many people in my life from so many countries and places and never never experienced something like this...

Has anyone had an experience like this before?

He had such positive reviews too.. I guess he's not rude to people who come from first world countries and are from places he can point out on the world map.

(on hind note I could get him to mail to friends in the US and have them post it to me but it seems such a silly thing to do, all that jet fuel for a tiny part smaller than my clenched fist)(and the principle of it.. oooohhhh):(:mad:

[singletrackmind]

Ugh! Sorry for the rotten apple.

That can't be the only shop around that carries the part you need, perhaps do a google shopping search or something to find it elsewhere. It'd be a shame to have to patronize a place with such a rude person, no matter that he may have fielded a thousand calls asking to ship to somewhere not on his list.

Hope you have a better day! :)


PS. I've noted dhcyclesport as somewhere I won't be shopping. Thank you.

[Chicken Little]

That's too bad. Stuff like that can really ruin you day. I hope you can find the part somewhere else.

[sundial]

I don't know why customer service is no longer a priority with businesses. An unkind word just ruins your day. I'll make us a fresh cup of peppermint tea and a hug to go along with it. :)

[ASammy1]

deeaimond,

Not to downplay his rudeness because he was incredibly rude to you, but maybe he had problems with Customs and that is why he cant/wont ship to you.

I work in the Import/Export industry and every country has their own requirements and regulations when bringing things in and out...

Just my $0.02 worth and trying to put the situation in a possible different perspective...

[Fujichants]

Dee, I just sent you a private message.

It is totally frustrating when that happens. I used to live in Singapore, and when I would order things online from the US, customs would hold my stuff for a month. And I would get it with the box opened, and my things obviously used and tested. It is even worse in Indonesia. I gave up sending things home by fed-ex or ups because it just isn't worth it.

Some of my mom's close friends will be coming to Los Angeles this week and next week to drop off their kids in college. Almost all the flights out of Jakarta make a stop-over in Singapore (and same on the way back from Los Angeles) and if the things you want aren't too big (as in, can fit in an already full from shopping suitcase), I can have them take it to Singapore, and perhaps you can meet them at Changi airport, or they can sent it to you via Singapore Post from the airport. That way, you save some money on shipping, and don't have to feel bad about burning all that fuel.

Of course I understand this requires some trust on your half (to ship things to me and make sure i'll give it to them) but seriously, I have access to everything here and if I want something, I just buy it. I don't need to steal.

Just let me know! To be honest, I really disliked living in Singapore, and I am happy I moved back to the US, so I understand part of your frustration!

[ibcycling]

That could be true but he should have just told her that and saved a lot of bad relations.

[Irulan]

So I ask him why and he says 'for the same reason we don't ship to Thailand or Brazil' and he goes 'ok?' in the most rude way I can possibly imagine.

I coould not believe my ears and I could not even come up with the answer and he hung up on me.

I'm so upset.

Last time I checked, Singapore was one of the safest and most advanced countries in the whole of asia, granted we are a little small. He didn't even give me a chance to explain. He was so nasty about it too. Maybe he's had bad experiences with hoaxers, but I'm so upset really. even after typing this out I feel like crying...

I'm really sorry you are upset, but as a business that does a lot of shipping, some international, Singapore is on of the nations that is flagged (at least with the companies I deal with) as being an originator of many online scams and fraud. I don't know what to you tell you as a way to get around it.

I've had this with Mexico too. My brother in law lives in Mexico, and we attempted to use paypal so he could send some money up to help his disabled sister, who we help take care of. Paypal suspended the transaction right away, just because of the origin. It was a real pain and I am still not sure if he ever got his money back after I cancelled my side of it.

good luck,
I.

[deeaimond]

Hi babes,

thanks for the hugs and the peppermint tea. that was an inspiration I should be getting out my cup too.

Singapore is flagged as a place for scam origins and whatnots because of our IP address, because the whole region starts with a similar section so we all get lumped together. Which is precisely why I called him to find out if he would ship, perhaps after the paypal came through or something since it seems to be a LBS and not a large firm.

I've bought stuff from the US several times and I guess I must have been lucky, coz I get them on time and intact. I also buy things like.. 20 bottles of glucosamine and stuff like that from stores that only ship to the US and have my BF direct them here, and because he is male he just slaps the label on and off it goes..

I guess it wasn't so much that he would not ship, but the tone he used with me.. Like i was out to waste his time, and I was a small child who could not understand what he said...

But thanks ladies, I guess i must not let things like this get to me (coz even with globalization its bound to happen again).. and now..

does anyone know where i can find a

campagnolo mirage BB, double , 111mm, italian thread??

[alpinerabbit]

Google offers this:

www.gbcycles.co.uk says they ship internationally.

Eurobikeparts does not seem to carry it but says they will order for you - and they ship to SGP:
http://www.eurobikeparts.com/about.php

Satisfied?

If all else fails, how about asking Campy?

[deeaimond]

Wow, Alpinerabbit, thank you so much for the leads. I'm looking into it now. I have a friend in the UK who would have bought it and sent it to me, but I didn't feel like i wanted to give the guy my money.. heh.. :o

[SadieKate]

Why not a Chorus level?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Chorus-Bottom-Bracket-111mm-Italian_W0QQitemZ150289272434QQihZ005QQcategoryZ56195QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[deeaimond]

Why not a Chorus level?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-Chorus-Bottom-Bracket-111mm-Italian_W0QQitemZ150289272434QQihZ005QQcategoryZ56195QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

coz the groupset is full mirage, and i've only been riding for a short while. The bike is new abt 2 months. Basically i feel the LBS pple should cover it, but he said warranty did not cover wear and tear (what can i wear and tear in 2 months i dunno since i'm no pro cyclist) So after some back and forth he said he would cover it, but he is having problems finding the part, and even the supplier does not have it. So... I guess i was impatient I decided to look online.

using higher end parts, its just more expensive, and if i were to change the bb only, it makes more sense to change an entire crankset. right now i can't really afford it I just want the bike to work and get back to riding. maybe In a year I'll set aside enough to buy a mid-level carbon bike or something higher end than the entry level I have now. I'd bought this bike hoping it would at least see me through a year...

[SadieKate]

There is no reason to stick with the same level components throughout. As long as the taper and length are right, the crankset doesn't care what BB you use. Sometimes, the only differences between levels are the aesthetics.

If your BB failed in only two montha and the LBS is not being helpful, contact Campy.

[deeaimond]

There is no reason to stick with the same level components throughout. As long as the taper and length are right, the crankset doesn't care what BB you use. Sometimes, the only differences between levels are the aesthetics.

If your BB failed in only two montha and the LBS is not being helpful, contact Campy.

thats true. except the current groupset is rather low end and it seems wasteful to me to put a higher end part in. But I guess you're right, If I really can't get the part in a week or so I might just have to fork out for a new crankset altogether.

I'll see how I can contact campy here in singapore in the meanwhile.

[SadieKate]

Nonononono. What am I missing? Is your BB damaged or your crankset? Or both?

If only the BB is damaged, there is no reason to change the crankset. Just replace the BB.

[deeaimond]

I was so upset with this guy's rudeness but I figured I could not let him get away with it. So I emailed him again and this time i got a slightly more considerate answer (minus the fact that he did not really answer my question)

"
sir/mdm,

I'm the lady who called from Singapore earlier today to enquire about shipping to Singapore.

Since I clearly recall you saying 'for the same reason we do not ship to Thailand or Brazil, we do not ship to Singapore', Would you ship to an address in the UK instead?

the ebay listing did not state if you would. It says UK - collect in person. A friend of mine owns this restaurant in london and he would post the BB on for me.

(inserted friend's address here)

I'm looking to purchase the Campagnolo Mirage BB, 111mm, Italian thread that is listed on Ebay."

His reply

"Hi Denise...we dont ship to Singapore. The main reason being most of our payments are with paypal/ebay and we dont accept paypal payment from these countries...kind regards,dave"

(that was it, one line, no spacing nothing)

my roommate had overheard the phone conversation earlier and so was privy to this too.. she was like.. 'but paypal is like.. guaranteed money!' hhehe.. ah well.. he just does not want to sell to me I guess :D

[deeaimond]

Nonononono. What am I missing? Is your BB damaged or your crankset? Or both?

If only the BB is damaged, there is no reason to change the crankset. Just replace the BB.

Ahh, I said change the whole thing because it seems, from what i've been told. It's just cheaper to change the whole lot. heh.

I think its time to tell the story of the damaged BB and hear what all the more experienced cyclists have to say...

Well basically.. about a month ago, I was riding and then I heard like a loud 'ping' sound. I thought I hit a stone, coz I didn't flat. But a few seconds later, my gears started slipping a little, and the gears would not shift properly. I thought something was wrong but my guy friend was like.. nah.. it's fine just keep riding. So I kept riding for about... 14km and then suddenly at a traffic light my crank arms jammed up. fortunately I was like 100m from this LBS, my original destination. We were riding there to join this group on a ride. So there the bike mechanic opened up and the internal cover (i dunno what its called, its behind the crank arm cover, u need to open that to get to this cover) had come completely out of its threads. basically popped open. so that was the 'ping' i heard.

A week later, i was riding when my gears started slipping again... 5km later the crank arms jammed up.. we were in the middle of nowhere, at night and I had to call my dad come get me. This time I asked my dad to send the bike back to the LBS for me the next day..

LBS calls me the day after, says the cover came out again, he was using some thread lock on the thing and just to take it back and try it out.

So that weekend I went on a 100km ride. in the last 20 km I kelt like something inside felt weird so I just pedaled slowly, went back and sent the bike back to the shop. (to be accurate I left it at my parent's house and he went to pick it up from there coz he lives nearby)

this time round he calls me couple days later, says that the ball bearings in my BB are loose and that I can make use of this opportunity to upgrade my crankset ($200 and above) or replace the BB for $40..

So i spoke to a few pple who told me its hardly my fault since I've only had the bike for 2 months and it was new to start with.

Called him back and after some toing and froing he says that the suppliers do not cover wear and tear and that fine he would replace it out of his own pocket. All the time still blaming me for 'riding it while the cover was loose'

point is.. it's an internal cover and I'm not a mechanic. my gears were slipping how was I to know something inside had fallen out?

So now will campy cover this if i try to contact them? I'm asking because I'm not sure if it was really my fault since I know next to nothing about bike mechanics. So maybe some of you would have had similar experiences or better information?

[SadieKate]

You bought a fully built up bike? What kind? When? From this same LBS?

[deeaimond]

You bought a fully built up bike? What kind? When? From this same LBS?

Yup, from this same bike shop. thats why I went back to him. The frame is a Viner, and the groupset campy mirage. I didn't see it in a catalogue or anything, just saw it in the shop. Seems it was a stock bike. there was also no paperwork. :o just paid for it. It was new though. thats for sure. when, May this year

[SadieKate]

So contact Viner. Your LBS should be figuring this out.

http://www.vinerbikes.com/HOME/tabid/103/language/en-US/Default.aspx

[deeaimond]

I'll let him figure it out for a few more days. I'll call him tmw and see if he has found the part. I hardly see viners out here. wonder if the company even knows their bikes are here. probably don't have an office here. just a supplier.

[Running Mommy]

Oh goodness!!! What a nightmare for you! NIGHTMARE!!
I would contact CAMPY, not Viner. Once the bike leaves the showroom floor generally warranty on componets transfers to the componet manu.
Campy should cover this. But it'll prolly take some wrangling to get it out of them. Be firm, but be polite. Explain that the lbs is not helping you and that your forced to go direct to them. Really the lbs should be calling campy.
What a horrible lbs you have. I feel sorry for you.
As for the shipping nightmare.... I have to say that I get requests all the time to send things overseas, and they just scream scam.
Sucks that you really are legit, and no reason for the guy to be rude. But the dang fraud and identity theft issues have left us shop owners more than a bit gun shy.

[deeaimond]

Actually running mommy,

the lbs is not all that bad. They do things in a timely manner, don't overcharge and give me good prices, order stuff for me, his wife is pretty friendly.

Just that maybe it's the owner's interpersonal skills that need work. Besides I can't afford to burn the bridges with him because its the closest little bike shop to where I live, and so sometimes you need spare tubes and whatnot, you still have somewhere you can go to.

I guess I just need to be firmer with him about the things I want or need. otherwise he just tries to barrel me over.

[MauiRockHopper]

It's amazing the ignorance in the world. I am in Hawaii, which is part of the US and always have to educate people about shipping. Even the "mainland" 48 other US states don't realize the US Postal Service rates to Hawaii are exactly the same as any other state. They always try to add on extra fees and costs and I just move on to another vendor if they try to jack me around. UPS and Fed Ex, etc., is another matter and does get more expensive because there is no "ground" shipping here.

Maybe you can have a mail service in the USA like Mail Boxes Etc. receive your order, then have them package it back up and forward it to you in Singapore.

[Susan Otcenas]

my roommate had overheard the phone conversation earlier and so was privy to this too.. she was like.. 'but paypal is like.. guaranteed money!' hhehe.. ah well.. he just does not want to sell to me I guess :D

Actually, this is incorrect. Paypal is NOT guaranteed money. We've had the experience of having paypal take money back. In our case it was a daughter who had used her father's account without his permission. This was on an international transaction.

We ship internationally, but EVERY international order goes through an extra layer of scrutiny, whether its Canada or Singapore or South Africa. And yes, there are some countries we simply will not ship to, including Indonesia and Nigeria. (We do ship to Singapore). MY OWN MOTHER lives in Nigeria, but we still won't ship there.

International shipping includes a much higher risk of fraud (credit card address verification features do not work on international transactions) and theft (typically that country's domestic postal service), and simple outright lost packages. We mitigate that with higher international shipping fees, and limiting the countries we ship to. Every retailer needs to make that calculus for themselves.

All that said, you deserved better treatment from that retailer. Even if he could not ship to you, he should have given you the courtesy of a polite reply.

Susan

[ridebikeme]

After reading your experince, I am confused as to whether it's the bottom bracket or the crank that has the issues?? Perhaps both?? At any rate, as a shop owner, and someone that has used Campy for the past 15 years, I would think that either might be easy to find. Hopefully your LBS will find what you need, but if not, let me know... I'm sure that I can come up with something... same as many others here ...

Good luck!!