What would you do?

[runner]

Some weeks ago I posted a picture of my brand new kinesis tk2 on for you all to admire and here it is again to remind you

Today was the first day I thought I would give it a good old wash clean polish etc and you can imagine my dismay when I turned the bike upside down and discovered a "dent" in the frame as per below...

The frame had been bought in by a local bike shop here in Bristol and built up to my spec with smaller handlebars/ campag veloce groupset and obviously when I collected the bike I did not turn it upside down to inspect the frame...there has got to be some trust...or has there. Now I know that this damage could not have been caused by me, as a stone chip would only cause scratching, so it must have been at the manufacturing process or when being built up by my local dealer. I can live with it but I am somewhat annoyed that I was not told about this..so what would you do? I will prob send a picture to Kinesis bikes but they I am sure they will say it was not our fault as our production inspection is second to none...so I can then approach my LBC and accuse him of being somewhat negligent (dropping something heavy on the frame when building) and prob have a fallout and he will say it had nothing to do with him...I am so reluctant to approach and accuse my LBC as the bike handles like a dream and apart from this dent (which is not as bad as it looks on this closeup and is also under the bike frame..so I do not actually see) I am more than happy with my bike...but it still niggles and annoys me...would you forget it? would you have a falling out with you LBShop (I have had the bike for some 8 weeks now)...or maybe I should just get on and ride knowing that there will be a lot more scratches and dents in the years ahead......

 

[MrB1obby]

Personally I'd just continue to ride it and put up with it if it rides exactly the same as it should, there's no point starting an argument as you more than likely won't get anything from it because of the length of time you've had it.

 

[Cubist]

Nothing like living on the edge is there..... putting your bike drivetrain side on next to a white/cream sofa. Are you married?

 

[runner]

Nothing like living on the edge is there..... putting your bike drivetrain side on next to a white/cream sofa. Are you married?

Hi Cubist....yes the "trouble and strife" was out and the bike had not actually been out on the road!...that is a Laura Ashley sofa, so if she sees that pic...there could be trouble ahead

 

[ianrauk]

No I wouldn't forget it. I would take it to the bike shop and ask their opinion.

 

[marzjennings]

No harm in asking your LBS to see if they can help. Looks like a tool mark to me which was either done during the build at the shop or construction at the factory. Either way it's easy for the bike shop to send it back to Kinesis as damaged on delivery. Or you can wait for the frame to fail at that point and get a free new frame from Kinesis.

 

[lukesdad]

As Ian says. Not sure its a factory mark.

 

[Banjo]

I would go back to LBS and and keep it friendly but explain that you are concerned if its safe and know you havent done anything to cause it. See what they say, whoever caused that must know they did it.

 

[runner]

Thanks all for the advice...I will approach my LBS after the bank holiday...but my experience of human nature leads me to believe that no one will be willing to accept responsibility If( and a big IF) my LBS accepts responsibility he would have to order in a new frame and transfer all components unto the new.... and all this on a c2w scheme....still lets wait and see..the only thing I know is I did not do it..something heavy has fallen on it to cause that dent. It's a pity I didn't discover earlier...still how many of us would take the time to inspect under the frame before buying....

 

[Banjo]

Good Luck, hopefully they will value you as a customer. Friendly but firm is my stance when returning anything.

 

[SoloCyclist]

Have you heard the joke where a man has put his car in a ditch and he sees a light on in a farmhouse in the distance.

He starts to walk towards the farmhouse intending to ask the farmer if he could maybe use his tractor to pull his car out the ditch.

Walking towards the farmhouse he tries to think how the conversation will go with the farmer, thinking he may have had a long day in the fields and the last thing he will want to do is go back out into the night to help him.

By the time he arrives at the farmhouse he has convinced himself that the farmer is going to be reluctant to help him, so he knocks on the door and the farmer answers.

The man says, do you know what you can do with your tractor? You can stick it up you arse!

Give the LBS a chance.

 

[runner]

Have you heard the joke where a man has put his car in a ditch and he sees a light on in a farmhouse in the distance.

He starts to walk towards the farmhouse intending to ask the farmer if he could maybe use his tractor to pull his car out the ditch.

Walking towards the farmhouse he tries to think how the conversation will go with the farmer, thinking he may have had a long day in the fields and the last thing he will want to do is go back out into the night to help him.

By the time he arrives at the farmhouse he has convinced himself that the farmer is going to be reluctant to help him, so he knocks on the door and the farmer answers.

The man says, do you know what you can do with your tractor? You can stick it up you arse!

Give the LBS a chance.

I could not agree more...the guy who runs the bike shop is a super bloke, took the business over some years ago and has built up a great and loyal following. It is with a great reluctance that I will approach him, but approach him I must and if at the end of the day he feels he cannot help me then I will just have to accept that. It's silly really because it is looks to me (as it does to a number of you) that a heavy tool has fallen on the frame and this could only have happened when the bike was built or before the frame arrived in the shop. If I was him I know what I would do....I would take it back...take my time (and I as a customer am in no hurry...am prepared to wait 6 months) return to Kinesis and insist on a new frame...yes of course he has to remove groupset etc and built on a new frame...at this own cost...but as I said I am in no hurry and he will do wonders for his customer service. I will let you know what happens next week...fingers crossed.

 

[runner]

Well took the bike to my dealer this evening and asked as politely as possible what he felt my options were. I have to agree with him that the frame was prob undamaged when it left the shop and passed into my ownership as I remember he took the frame number from under the bike and to do this the bike was upended...obviously either he or I would have seen the large dent at that time. Therefore the frame must be at fault and something large (stone?) must have hit the frame with great force and I was not aware...so what about approaching Kinesis. The frame was ordered some 6 months ago even though I only collected 8 weeks ago (waiting for selected tyres and carbon fork) and the LBS owner said they would prob not be happy to have back??? I do wonder why as surely a frame must have some guarantee...or will they say the frame is not at fault and that I caused the damage....anyway pictures of the damage have been emailed to Martin at Kinesis for his comment and to see if he will replace(but I hold out little hope) However if this does not work Simon (yes lets name him ) is prepared to send to Argos in Bristol for them to repair and respray....and I think this is a fantastic response from him....so lets here it for our local bike shop. He is prepared to help me out if Kinesis do not...and a million thanks to him

 

[MrB1obby]

I'm o so glad you didn't listen to me then

Great response from him, top bloke

 

[Banjo]

When I collected my Scott from the shop about 40 miles from home it had foam pipe lagging taped over all the tubes to protect them.I left that on until I got home and must admit I cant remember looking underneath the bike for damage.I was lucky that time.

Your post has wised me up in that respect, next time every inch of the bike will be closely examined before leaving the shop.

great to hear that the LBS is looking after you.