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Can you look at your card statement on when the sale went thru- then you can contact the cc company and complain about the purchase to them-incl the no receipt thingy. I hate you're going through all of this. He better start making that receipt. and get the bike you want too.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
Oh yes, i have the statement right here, that is not a problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by wannaduacentury
At least I have a nice bike I can ride, my Bianchi, while I wait.
Well, the whole ordeal just sucks, Mimi. I have nothing to add to all the sage advice already provided, but just wanted to add my bit of encouragement for when you return the bike. It certainly will be uncomfortable, but that'll be temporary, and once it's behind you, it sounds like you now have a line on a responsible LBS that will help you get what you really need and want in a bike.
Good luck, and stand your ground!
Smart Cycles in Norwalk, CT? Ha. I just looked at their website ... he's got a steel '06 Bianchi Veloce on "close-out." It appears to be stock; the components listed are exactly what Bianchi's website has listed for that bike for '06. But Bianchi has the list price at $1,699. His bargain price: "Reg: $2299.99, Closeout: $1899.99!"
I am thinking this is not a guy to do business with.
I have nothing helpful to add either, Mimi, except to beam you more support for when you go to return it. Whew, I feel your pain. This really bites.
Mimi,
I ma just catching up on threads. I am so sorry you are going through this. it sounds as though have have received brilliant advice. I have nothing more to add other than my support.
Yeah, some of these gals have better advice than my lawyer!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3
:D :D :D
Just don't let Mr. Dumpster sour you on Mondonicos. He is the problem, not Mondonico.
Many years ago, I paid in full, a lifetime membership to a new gym that was opening up in the town I used to live in. I paid in advance for this "great deal". The gym was suppose to open within 3 months of when I paid. I always pay my Visa balance in full each month...Well, month 1 passed and the gym didn't open, month 2 passed...progress on the gym, but still not open and in month 3, no gym, no one even working on the building. On month 4 I received a letter that the owners went into bankruptcy and that they would repay me my $399, at $10 a month until the balance was paid. I called my Visa company and told them and they credited my $399 and said that is what they are there for. Though this was at least 20 years ago, the policy at that time was customer satisfaction. I would give your credit card company a call and get their advice.
Knot necessarily, Knott. :) You can get a Mondonico or Torelli off the rack so to speak. I went full custom route because at the time i was looking for a bike Antonio the builder just happened to be in town. So why not get measured and get the custom build at no extra cost?Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Otherwise I would have bought the closest frame I could and had Chris fit me.
There's been a lot of good advice on this thread but folks if you have a bike shop you love and a good wench oops, I mean wrench ;) :rolleyes: :cool: treasure them :o bake cookies, write them into your will, send flowers....good service is so important in this sport and apparently.....it's hard to find.
I feel very lucky after reading this to have several excellent shops in my area and two local ones I particularly like.
It's not the fancy custom build, over the years Chris has saved me the cost of my bike with his good sound advice: minor adjustments where I know others would sell me a new bike, his "sure, you could do this, but this is better and less expensive" approach.
And he treats my commuter with the same care as my road bike, I see he does the same for others.
mimi.... i'm sorry to hear you are going through this.... but you were SO smart to pay with a credit card! i made the mistake of trying to be nice and save margo money when i was going to get a a custom from her..... so i had no protection and never did get all my money back from the useless twit! UGH!
good luck! (and definitely use the credit card company.... they can be VERY helpful!!!!)
Could you please expand? Who is Margo, just to save us from making the same mistake.Quote:
Originally Posted by caligurl
Mimi,
Sorry about your experience. I looked at the shops website and I have to wonder if these bikes are so special why are they being mass marketed through dealers on the internet? For example, if you look at Serotta and Seven's website, you either deal with the company directly or go to a bike shop. Many companies, Trek for one, will not sell bikes over the internet or allow the shop to ship them to another location.
Two other points, when I got my custom frame, the fit technician remeasured me, even though I had my old frame refit, it was perfect and right there in front of us. Also, they only asked for a deposit and I did not make final payment until the bike was built and I was able to ride it and was happy with it. If there were any issues I could have refused final payment until the issues were resolved.
I agree with those who posted on this forum, find a shop you trust, let them be your guide and you'll have a wonderful bike that you will love and that will last for years.
Well, this morning I composed a letter and sent it to my lawyer, who rewrote it, making me sound brilliant. I am going to ask for my money back & ask him to send me a return authorization.
I then went to the shop that built my husband's bike (Elliott Bay Bike) and let him see the frame.
He said; "well, you got a nice race bike" He showed me how even if they had put brazeons where you need them for fenders, that there was not enough clearance anyway between the back of the seat tube and the rear tire. He then took me all around his shop (which is filled with race bikes, custom bikes, cyclocross bikes and antiques) and showed me how some bikes have barely a finger's clearance there and others have 3 fingers clearance (what you need for fenders)
He laughed when he saw the forks, again he said they were great, but not for folks that might want fatter tires and fenders. So that sort of clinched it for me. He did explain that there was not an Italian bike on the market that was made the way I want. (and he's right, I've been looking!) and it's not like HE doesn't like Italian bikes. He has a big assortment of Colnago's Masi's and Bianchi's. He likes Italian bikes. They just don't make them for us webbed footed Seattle folks. So now I'm going to send my polite, succinct letter to smart cycle and hope that he is reasonable and takes the bike back without me having to use force (credit card, etc)
thanks all, I'll let you know.
Not that I'm saying a custom Mondonico couldn't do this but...
Flosshilde-the-Waterford-Cyclocross has *easily* 3 fingers space in the front fork and the back. (that's why her head tube is so darn short!)
Good luck with Mr. Lying-thru-his-teeth-Dumpster!
Knot, Waterfords are really one of the nicest bikes around! What kind of fork do you have on yours?Quote:
Originally Posted by KnottedYet
Mimi - don't wait to long, you have a limited amount of time to contest a charge on your cc bill.
Whatever came on the X-12 in 1997. Steel.
Waterford's current cyclocross have different numbers. I think X-22 and X-14. http://www.waterfordbikes.com/site/designs/x.php
It wouldn't hurt to go to the Waterford owners forum and start a thread. There is at least one Waterford dude on there who answers questions. http://www.waterfordbikes.com/board/viewforum.php?f=1
Snap, I'm not waiting. THe bike came friday, I sent the letter 10 minutes ago
and Tomorrow morning, I will call the credit union. (I'm not very good at waiting, you might have noticed by now.
Waterford will make you a custom bike fairly quickly, and they can build fender clearance and make other fit adjustments. They are GOOD bikes, and I have been reading some recent reports from very happy customers about their attentiveness to getting your bike exactly the way you want it.
Rivendells ALWAYS have fat tire/fender clearance. But their customs have a 2 year wait list. But they do have stock bikes for various uses, including road, touring, and cyclocross. My Rambouillet is their road/litetouring model. Their Bleriot is a less expensive version of the Rambouillet. Veronica has a beautiful red Legolas cyclocross bike from them.
I'm going to pay a 10% restocking fee instead of a 25% one.
and he'll refund everything else.
Buyer beware.
I'll let you know when the charges show up paid back.
It's so good to have friends, thanks all.
Mimi - sorry you had such a bad experience after waiting so long.
The restocking fee sounds like a rip off but maybe you just want to walk away from the thing rather than have a fight with the guy.
Bruno,
you are exactly right. I know he can be nasty, I want to avoid all of that!
Have you thought of reporting him to the Better Business Bureau? If he's a member and you threaten to report him he might reconsider the 10% restocking fee.
I agree, for $15 I'd let it go too. I hope your next experience is better.
I have a male friend that wants to order a bike from "Bikes direct":eek:
Good idea, I'd report him anyway, bikes aren't cheap and customer service should match the product, actually exceed it. I know, easier said.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kathi
Wait 'til it's all over; the bike is returned and you have your refund. Then report him.
Yeah, wait until you are all done with him, and then report him. Might save some other person (who isn't on TE!) what you have gone through.
I just wrapped that thing better than it was wrapped when I got it.
He said he'd reject it if he could shake it and anything inside moved.
It's bubble wrapped, plastic wrapped, taped, and then in a box filled with newspapers. the UPS guy shook it and said it was fine. I have the shipping number. After the jackazz told me he would pay shipping, I asked him how that would work. Just call in a pickup he said. Instead i went to a very close UPS
store. guess what. He has to send me a label BEFORE they'll take my box.
Result? I paid for shipping. I'm going to write to HIM again and ask HIM for more information? and then wait for HIM to send me a #$!@ label?
NOT.
and yes, i will definitely definitely report him all over the place.
Excellent work, Mimi. Get the refund and leave him behind you.
Mimi, what a nightmare. My blood is boiling just reading your posts. I applaud you for standing up to him (although I think the 10% restocking fee is just all kinds of wrong). What really infuriates me is that he had the nerve to jump down your throat with that previous email only to send you a bike that was far from what you were expecting. What a world class a-hole.
I'm not very patient either so I'm really sorry that you're back to square one. Hopefully, though, you'll get the bike of your dreams the second time around. Please keep us posted.
Kate
Thanks Kate. I think I have to modify my dreams a little. I only know of one
modern Italian bike builder who MIGHT be able to build me a bike, and I end up in the same place I am now. He's in Italy, I'm here. I want to meet the guy, look him in the eye.
You know?
I might just have to go with a great Northwest Builder instead.
But I have lots of time (not lots of patience) because my Bianchi is serving me well.. and bike expo is NEXT WEEKEND!
You know Mimi, it could be much worse. Most of us don't have 'great builders' in our backyards. You seem to have a *selection* of local custom builders, so you have to be careful in weighing advice from folks that don't have that luxury. Another advantage of going local is they will better understand your interest in a bike that is fast AND accomodates fenders and wider tires. Where I live you would be told it can't be done. Where you live its de rigeur. Enjoy the bicycle show. I think that should be a great start. Enjoy your veloce, and just give yourself some time to figure out what YOU want your dream bike to do. A funny story on the Italian builder thing. When I got my custom orthopaedic crank set in california, I mentioned to him my idea to bring it to Italy on my next trip to europe, walk into a framebuiders shop, and tell him "Build me a bike around this" you know, like the faucet commercials. While I was half way joking I was half way serious, and he told me in no uncertain terms what a bad idea that was. First of all, you need to be able to communicate with your frame builder. Secondly their philosphy is very different. They are steeped in racing culture. To them a women is a small man, and they expect her to ride a racing bike in a deep aero tuck. They won't use wheels smaller than 700c, etc. He said even he wouldn't build me a bike cuz he is in CA and I live in TX. The crank set is different because I flew there to be fitted and that can be done in a day. But a bike, he would want to start by observing me ride my own bike, and then when he builds it put a fit stem on, and again observe me riding it, etc. as he tweaked it. Things that can only be done LOCALLY. So yes Mimi, I strongly support your decision to go LOCAL.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
Trisk, I am fluent in Italian, and after reading two italian books on bicycling, I think i know their bike lingo okay too.
So don't you go trampling on my pipe dreams, okay?
(having said that, I'm not likely to buy an italian bike on my next trip... but you NEVER KNOW :p )
My "pipe" dreams all involve Reynolds steel.... :D
(when does a "tube" become a "pipe" anyway? And what about "pipettes"?)
and who is this Reynolds person anyway?
no kidding, Steel is the only way for me
LOL! Mimi, you are a hoot!:D Can't wait to see you at the Bike Expo!Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
come early on sunday..
darn I was hoping that you were going toanswer my question.
Mimi, I know it's been awful for you....but it could have been way worse too. I've heard stories of people who waited YEARS for their custom frame- and when it came it was all wrong. :( :( Happily you only lost a couple of months in the timeline of life on this project, right? And now you have added experience and knowledge that will ensure everything comes out right this next time.
I am curious, however....I certainly understand the wanting a steel bike (steel rools). But why exactly is it that you want an Italian frame? What is it specifically about Italian frames that you can't get in other frames?
Lisa
there is a considerable romance surrounding old world Italian craftsmanship.
Take a simple thing, like a hook to hang your clothes on, or a plate, or a knife.
It's not enough to make something functional, it must also be sublime and beautiful. The knife will have a beautiful line to it, and maybe a handmade design. The hook might have a fleur di lis on the top of it, and it will be strong enough to hold your painting.
Take Campagnolo. These campy parts are made with elegance. They are designed beautifully, and unlike shimano parts, most of them can be rebuilt.
(ask Deb about this )
Clunky is the opposite of Italian. The lines are sweet, they are well made, and for the most part,they are practical.
Now for the downside of Italian craftmanship. Since they are very much in
demand and they HAVE been doing this for hundreds of years, they are the experts, and they are not going to take too well to suggestions.
I have spoken to various LBs's about the Bianchi line for example. I ask them
don't you ever suggest to these guys that we need space for fenders?
I get eye rolls.
so that's the conundrum. I guess when I move to Italy I will buy an Italian bike because it will be adapted to the climate.
So Lisa, does that make sense?
And who pray tell set the standard for the Violin? It wasn't someone from
(add random country here) it was an Italian.