from this point, it might get ugly

[Dianyla]

Wow. Just, wow.

Forgive me, I haven't been following it so closely, but is this guy the highest person in his company? Is there anyone above him you can escalate this to?

[mimitabby]

he's the owner
here's his signature line. oh yeah. and he never sent me a bill of sale (i paid with visa, but no receipt!)

Alex Stanek
Owner - Manager - Famous Bike Fitter - Mechanic - Gopher - Custodian - Wheel Builder
Training Wheel Installer - Accountant - Marketing Director - Dumpster Cleaner!
Smart Cycles, Inc.
303 Strawberry Hill Ave
Norwalk, CT 06851
203-831-9144
203-831-9129 Fax

[Wahine]

Ooooooooooo. Not good.

I don't envy you at all. I have trouble returning things under the best circumstances. I don't think I could handle something like this.

Good luck Mimi.

[Xrayted]

I know you've been going through all kinds of stuff with this guy from the beginning. What an azz.

Mimi, I wonder what he thinks is going to happen when you see that frame and it's not what you asked for? No braze-ons at all or what? And if you send it back to get fixed, how long is it gonna take this time? It'll have to get repainted and everything. I say let a couple of the TE ladies up there in the NE states go in there and kick his shins in for ya.

I'm so sorry that you are still going to have to deal with this d*ckhead some more. Good luck and keep us posted.

[LBTC]

Sending reconciling communicating satisfaction producing butterflies your way. Hey, they might help!

Good luck!
H&B
~T~

[Triskeliongirl]

I am soooo soooory this happened to you Mimi. I think you should definitely return the bike. I just sent you an email with more thoughts on this matter. Be strong, at least you have a bike to ride you enjoy, and just take your time getting this worked out. After the bike is returned, if I were you I would return to the PT you liked so much, and let him design you the frame of your dreams, and install the parts you bought. A good frame builder will consider both fit and function, building it to take the range of tire sizes and fenders that you, the customer, want, as well as fitting you like a glove. So, cheer up, if you handle this correctly you'll still end up with your dream bike.

[roguedog]

Awww.. bumming mimi.

Hmm.. did he charge you extra for the brazeons? If not you can take it to.. the shop that did dh's bike to do it?

If so,.. well, that's stickier..or maybe not since he charged you more and didn't deliver. seems pretty straightforward??? No?

[Triskeliongirl]

I think this problem is way bigger than a lack of braze ons. I wonder if the frame even has clearance for fenders. If not it could mean moving the bridge, and even adding braze ons means repainting (and there may still not be fender clearance under the fork). This man has had enough time to make it right, so I think the frame should be sent back. Moreover, I am now concerned if this frame will even fit Mimi. After all that she has been through I did a bit of sleuthing. I know he told her it would fit, but it bugged me right from the beginning when I asked her about the frame geometry that she said she didn't know. So, I looked up this info. Now, I may be wrong about the sizes, and her veloce may be diff. from the 2006 I found the stats on, but based on what I found out I am not sure this frame is even going to fit her. By that, I believe the fit on the Mondonico and Veloce will be very similar, but I thought she wanted the new bike to both take fenders AND have a shorter reach (and at one point take 650c tires which neither bike does).

These are the stats I found:

Mondonico geometries are from this site: http://www.bikyle.com/Mondonico.asp
Veloce's are from this site: http://www.bianchiusa.com/06_veloce.html

49 cm veloce has a sta of 76 and TT of 51.8.
48 cm mondomico futura leggero has a sta of 76.5 and TT of 51.5, but if you correct for the steeper STA, its like a TT of 52. So it will feel 0.2 cm longer.

Mimi, did you understand when you ordered this bike that it would fit just like the veloce? If you didn't the seller misled you. If I were you I would use the lack of braze ons to return it for a full refund. Then take your parts to that nice PT that fit you, and have him build you the bike of your dreams. Since you have emails documenting that it would have the braze ons, perhaps you can get the VISA company to phone him for you and agree to a FULL REFUND.

[Velobambina]

Mimi--I would send it back. It's a lovely frame but it isn't what you ordered. You paid for the braze ons? Will you really be able to enjoy this bike, knowing that it isn't exactly what you wanted? Will it remind you of the "Dumpster Cleaner?" I'm with the others---get your credit card company to help you with the refund and send it back. Maybe you can send a letter to his local better business bureau, reporting what happened.

[Dianyla]

(i paid with visa, but no receipt!)

*emphasis mine* This is a very important leverage point - most credit card companies offer some protection to you as the buyer. They may be able to give you a complete refund and then they'll take it up with this guy.

Then you can then take your money and your frame business elsewhere.

[wannaduacentury]

he's the owner
here's his signature line. oh yeah. and he never sent me a bill of sale (i paid with visa, but no receipt!)

Alex Stanek
Owner - Manager - Famous Bike Fitter - Mechanic - Gopher - Custodian - Wheel Builder
Training Wheel Installer - Accountant - Marketing Director - Dumpster Cleaner!
Smart Cycles, Inc.
303 Strawberry Hill Ave
Norwalk, CT 06851
203-831-9144
203-831-9129 Fax

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.

[mimitabby]

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.

Oh yes, i have the statement right here, that is not a problem.
At least I have a nice bike I can ride, my Bianchi, while I wait.

[Bad JuJu]

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!

[xeney]

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.

[KayTee]

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.