from this point, it might get ugly

[Trek420]

I got my Mondonico here:

www.robinsonww.com

I am very happy with it. Yes, it took a while to get the full custom bike from Italy but I had very good service.

[KnottedYet]

Mimi - If you want to do your next Mondonico thru Robinson Wheel Works (Chris is AWESOME) you and I can do a road trip or two or three down there. I'd be HAPPY to go to CA with you, and I have room inside my station wagon for a bike (your new Mondonico wouldn't even have to ride outside on a bike rack).

Let's see... one trip down for initial fitting and ordering... visit Trek
second trip down to check frame is perfect and start build.... visit Trek
third trip down to test ride and pick up bike... visit Trek

Yup, sounds great to me!

[mimitabby]

Mimi - If you want to do your next Mondonico thru Robinson Wheel Works (Chris is AWESOME) you and I can do a road trip or two or three down there. I'd be HAPPY to go to CA with you, and I have room inside my station wagon for a bike (your new Mondonico wouldn't even have to ride outside on a bike rack).

Let's see... one trip down for initial fitting and ordering... visit Trek
second trip down to check frame is perfect and start build.... visit Trek
third trip down to test ride and pick up bike... visit Trek

Yup, sounds great to me!

THanks, Knot, that's a very sweet offer. I'll let you know.
Off to see my lawyer friend for a walk, be back later!

[salsabike]

Mimi, I am not positive about this but I believe you can dispute a credit card charge even after it's shown up on your bill--that's the whole point of the credit card dispute process. It's not like having a check cashed and now irrevocable. You file a dispute with your CC company saying you did not get what you ordered.

I'd try to return it for a FULL refund and find someone easier to work with, myself.

[Xrayted]

Mimi - maybe no one from CT has spoken up, but I'm only about an 9 hour drive from there. Just give me something to mapquest and I'm gone.... (Kit is definitely rubbing off on me. )

[xeney]

I am going to suggest a slightly different approach, which is to keep the credit card option as a backup, but try to resolve it with him first. I'm with the people who think you should just return the frame -- you are in a position where you are going to need really good customer service now to make sure that you get what you ordered without having to wait a very long time, and this guy has demonstrated that he is not going to give you good customer service.

But the way I understand it, you can't dispute the credit card bill until you've given the merchant a chance to make it right. So you have to go to him first. I wouldn't, if it were me, give him the option of fixing the frame; I'd first make a list of all the things that weren't done (was the bridge moved to accommodate fenders? I didn't see if that question was answered), and then I would write him a letter listing what he said he would do vs. what he actually did, and then I would ask for a return shipping label so that you can return the frame. I would send that letter certified mail along with copies of anything you have in writing (including e-mails).

I might also e-mail or fax him a copy of the letter so that it gets there more quickly. Give him a deadline, as well: you want the return shipping label within two weeks and you expect to have your money refunded within 30 days after you return the frame. Don't be snippy or snide, just be very matter of fact. That works best in these situations.

He will probably comply. Most business people do when they get a certified letter. If not, wait out the thirty days, and then take it up with your credit card company. (You might want to call them to verify any time limits, but I am pretty sure that they are going to require you to attempt to settle the dispute with him first.)

[Eden]

And now for something totally different.....

It doesn't take away from the frustration of not getting what you asked and paid for, but...

You can put fenders on a bike without brazons. You can get speed fenders or with some creativity you can put on full fenders. We require all of our riders to have fenders in the winter and racing bikes nearly never have eyelets. I've seen some very creative jobs indeed, many involving pipe hangers or hose clamps - just be sure to protect your paint job with some electrical tape. Now if you wanted to put on racks for touring it would be a different thing, but fenders are still doable.