If you want to spend around 60 bucks for 1 saved gr then the Gravitas SL are the way to go.

Long post, summary: Buyer beware dealing with Ted Ciamillo / Ciamillo Components / Zero Gravity

Hi guys,

I’m very sorry to be posting this. This is a warning to all to use caution in your dealings. After being a Zero Gravity user and fan for a long time I am disappointed to have been lied to repeatedly and ultimately screwed out of the money I paid for components over 18 months ago.

I fully documented the whole experience so if mods need to see proof that’s no problem. But to try to keep anyone else from experiencing this, here’s a summary of what led to this post:

April 2011 – purchased a pair of Gravitas brakes from Ted, paid by credit card

August 2011 – received and installed them. They were defective, sent photos/video, Ted confirmed they had a problem and asked me to send them back. Missed riding season, eventually received “fixed” pair later in the Fall.

April 1, 2012 – installed repaired set and the ‘solution’ didn’t work. Ted confirmed he would send a new set.

April 26, 2012 – I follow up with Ted because nothing received and was told “I am looking into it and getting you another set out on Monday.”

May 27, 2012 – With nothing received I request a refund on my credit card. (I asked for the price of goods and just decided to eat the shipping/duty/customs I had to pay twice so far to get the brakes.)

June 5, 2012 – no response, so emailed again. Ted replied “I’ll get a check out to you.”

June 28, 2012 – nothing received, so emailed again.

July 14, 2012 – no response, so emailed again.

July 24, 2012 – no response, so emailed again. “So is Zero Gravity just going to stiff me for five hundred bucks after sending me defective product, twice? Really disappointing…please respond.”

July 24, 2012 – Ted replies “Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.. I will get you a check this week.”
After this point I started calling Ted and we spoke multiple times. He was always friendly and apologetic and said he’d take care of it right away.

Sep 7, 2012 – Ted tells me a check was sent right after Labor Day via USPS flat rate mail and to give it a few days, says he’s confident it was actually sent. Never arrives.

I continued calling him; he’s offered to refund by PayPal several times. But it never comes and every time I call it’s more Kristy was supposed to do that, oh we have money in the account now it will go, I’ll take care of that right away, I’ll get Kristy to do it tonight, etc.

I spoke with Ted two weeks ago and told him that I just didn’t believe him anymore and would stop calling him, and let him know how disappointed I was at the repeated lies. He said he’d take care of it by PayPal that day and of course nothing happened.

The end.

Ted and/or any Zero Gravity representatives that read this, if you want to make amends let me know. To everyone else I will post an update if I ever receive anything.

Runless

Dec 30, 12 12:30

Post #9 of 11 (210 views)

Re: New cranks by Ciamillo. [SadPanda] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
Hey Panda

Feel free to review forum rules and then delete your post:

"WHAT CAN'T I POST HERE? We are especially cranky about trial-by-internet. Do not register to post on this forum only to have your first post be a complaint against a company doing business in the sport of triathlon. Do not lodge a complaint against a named entity unless you yourself are willing to be identifiable, that is, no anonymous rants. Do not EVER say somebody's product is unsafe unless you have rock-solid demonstrable proof. This is as much for your benefit as anyone's (we'd prefer your hot temper doesn't result in a lawsuit a manufacturer lodges against you). Do not accuse anyone of taking performance enhancing drugs."

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jackmott

Dec 30, 12 12:31

Post #10 of 11 (208 views)

Re: New cranks by Ciamillo. [SadPanda] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
You know you can call your credit card company and have them undo the charge right?

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SadPanda

Dec 30, 12 12:35

Post #11 of 11 (194 views)

Re: New cranks by Ciamillo. [jackmott] [In reply to] Quote | Reply
@Runless - I am an ex-triathlete so won't be posting regularly obviously but my intent was not just to gripe. The company is currently requesting prepayments for new components and I feel it's in the community's interests to warn them of my experience. I have offered to provide any documentation required to the mods. If the mods feel the post is inappropriate I will abide by their decision.

@jackmott - I was not aware of that given the time frame involved but I will look into it, thank-you for the advice.


(This post was edited by SadPanda on Dec 30, 12 12:36)

This person also posted over at Slowtwitch and the members trashed this guy. He does have the option of using his credit card company to resolve the issue and admitted this on Slowtwitch it was true. So he's posting without taking all measures to resolve his issues.

Juan, should you also state that there is a conflict of interest on your posts supporting Ciamillo?

I think people need to recognize that running small manufacturing businesses is incredibly challenging. Every time there's a small-scale operator selling stuff that pushes the limits people whine and complain: every single time. AX, Lightning, Camillo, Fibre-Lyte, etc. I think you need to expect some hiccups and if you're not ready for that than confine your business to large-scale companies like SRAM, Shimano, and Campy. But in doing so recognize they are unwilling to devote the attention and invest the same level of risk in their parts.

I think people need to recognize that running small manufacturing businesses is incredibly challenging. Every time there's a small-scale operator selling stuff that pushes the limits people whine and complain: every single time. AX, Lightning, Camillo, Fibre-Lyte, etc. I think you need to expect some hiccups and if you're not ready for that than confine your business to large-scale companies like SRAM, Shimano, and Campy. But in doing so recognize they are unwilling to devote the attention and invest the same level of risk in their parts.