Marinoni cycles/ Dedacciai Strada's lack of customer service
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:45 pm
Hey folks out there in WW land.
I've run into quite a problem and need the advice of others who have had similar issues.
I recently bought a Dedacciai Strada frame from an online shop in Quebec ( I live in Nova Scotia) Canada.
Upon recieving the frame on a Monday afternoon. I built it up Monday evening. I finally had the chance to ride it Tuesday after work. Well, within about two Kilometers, it was pretty obvious that something was wrong. The bike was almost impossible to keep in a straight line and was quite difficult to make go forward. I was concerned needless to say, but also quite realistic. I figured OK,, new frame, different angles, I hadn't ridden in two weeks. It might just be me. So I proceeded to suffer through one hell of an awful ride. I got home and noticed that the rear wheel was nowhere near centered between the chainstays. It was perfect between the seatstay, or I would have noticed upon installing the brakes. Again, I was concerened but realistic. I tried a second set of wheels. It still looked the same. So, off for another awful ride I went just to make sure it wasn't the wheels fault the first time out. Nope, still pulled to the side and felt so slow that I thought I'd die my time I got home.
Ok, I figured. The frame is quite literally 100k's old. No problem, I'll just send it back for warranty. So,, I took it apart, took a measurement of the dropout and noticed that the dropouts were nowhere near 130mm. This is odd because rear road hubs are spaced at 130mm. My cheap calipers have it at closer to 131.5mm. My really nice tape measure has it closer to 133mm. Ok I figured, that sorts it. I'll just get a replacement.
So, I E-mailed the shop I purchased it from bcik.ca and informed them of the issue. They responded rather quickly saying "send us pics". So, I took pictures showing the wide spacing. Of course, you can't photograph an awful feeling bike, that's something you have to ride.
The next day I get a message say that they talked to the distributer and there's no warranty for it. All Dedacciai frames are made that way and nobody else has complained, so no warranty. I am however, free to contact Dedacciai Strada about it.
So,, I took more pictures and with the assistance of a park alignment tool, showed how the dropouts weren't square to each other. This still wasn't good enough. Again, it's not under warranty. Oh,, and I rode it, so I can't send it back for a refund.
I then contacted Dedacciai directly about it. They initially responded quickly saying that they'd look into it. And nothing since. This was a week ago. I sent them 10 pictures last night all clearly showing the issues with the frame and even posted them on their facebook page for the world to see. Still no response.
What bothers me the most is that Cycles Marinoni (dedacciai's distributer in Canada) wouldn't even consider that the frame might be defective. They dismissed it without even so much as offering to look at it. I used to work in the bike industry and I've never, ever once heard of a distributer not even offering to look at it. They just repeatedly dismiss me saying "no warranty". I've filed a complaint with Pay-pal. But I don't see how I could possibly win it. I've tried the better business bureau, but unfortunately, they can't do anything in Quebec.
I'm at a loss right now as to what to do. I've literally had $1,200 stolen from me with no just way of recovering it. Basically, in this case, the defendany also happens to be the judge and jury.
Any suggestions anyone has would be a great help.
Sincerely.
Dave.
I've run into quite a problem and need the advice of others who have had similar issues.
I recently bought a Dedacciai Strada frame from an online shop in Quebec ( I live in Nova Scotia) Canada.
Upon recieving the frame on a Monday afternoon. I built it up Monday evening. I finally had the chance to ride it Tuesday after work. Well, within about two Kilometers, it was pretty obvious that something was wrong. The bike was almost impossible to keep in a straight line and was quite difficult to make go forward. I was concerned needless to say, but also quite realistic. I figured OK,, new frame, different angles, I hadn't ridden in two weeks. It might just be me. So I proceeded to suffer through one hell of an awful ride. I got home and noticed that the rear wheel was nowhere near centered between the chainstays. It was perfect between the seatstay, or I would have noticed upon installing the brakes. Again, I was concerened but realistic. I tried a second set of wheels. It still looked the same. So, off for another awful ride I went just to make sure it wasn't the wheels fault the first time out. Nope, still pulled to the side and felt so slow that I thought I'd die my time I got home.
Ok, I figured. The frame is quite literally 100k's old. No problem, I'll just send it back for warranty. So,, I took it apart, took a measurement of the dropout and noticed that the dropouts were nowhere near 130mm. This is odd because rear road hubs are spaced at 130mm. My cheap calipers have it at closer to 131.5mm. My really nice tape measure has it closer to 133mm. Ok I figured, that sorts it. I'll just get a replacement.
So, I E-mailed the shop I purchased it from bcik.ca and informed them of the issue. They responded rather quickly saying "send us pics". So, I took pictures showing the wide spacing. Of course, you can't photograph an awful feeling bike, that's something you have to ride.
The next day I get a message say that they talked to the distributer and there's no warranty for it. All Dedacciai frames are made that way and nobody else has complained, so no warranty. I am however, free to contact Dedacciai Strada about it.
So,, I took more pictures and with the assistance of a park alignment tool, showed how the dropouts weren't square to each other. This still wasn't good enough. Again, it's not under warranty. Oh,, and I rode it, so I can't send it back for a refund.
I then contacted Dedacciai directly about it. They initially responded quickly saying that they'd look into it. And nothing since. This was a week ago. I sent them 10 pictures last night all clearly showing the issues with the frame and even posted them on their facebook page for the world to see. Still no response.
What bothers me the most is that Cycles Marinoni (dedacciai's distributer in Canada) wouldn't even consider that the frame might be defective. They dismissed it without even so much as offering to look at it. I used to work in the bike industry and I've never, ever once heard of a distributer not even offering to look at it. They just repeatedly dismiss me saying "no warranty". I've filed a complaint with Pay-pal. But I don't see how I could possibly win it. I've tried the better business bureau, but unfortunately, they can't do anything in Quebec.
I'm at a loss right now as to what to do. I've literally had $1,200 stolen from me with no just way of recovering it. Basically, in this case, the defendany also happens to be the judge and jury.
Any suggestions anyone has would be a great help.
Sincerely.
Dave.