So, a bike shop made a mess of my Cannondale F-Si

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  • If they can't be sourced, then compensation for said damage is next in the pipeline, which generally works out as no labour charge and free servicing in the future, or some sort of store credit.

    Frame only is in the region of £1200 retail. To be honest, i suspect we are looking at a complete frame / headset / stem / steerer replacement.

  • I found his details on LinkedIn, you could message him via that medium? Then if no response go the Twitter route, and escalate I would say.

  • Thanks, good shout.

  • CSG can be contacted, but as @Slack will attest to, they aren't in the customer service business as their history is in being a distributor and keeping punters at a safe distance.

    Ah. I'm having a similar (although an order of magnitude smaller) issue with Lake. They were happy for a pair of shoes to be checked over/repaired, but through Morelarge. But Morelarge wouldn't let me send them directly, so I had to go back to the shitty little ebay shop I got them from, who's now had the shoes for over a month, after showing them to a representative, and also won't respond to emails

  • If it was me, I'd go back down there with a picnic hamper, sleeping bag and a nice comfy chair. I'd then plant myself right in the fucking middle of the shop, and refuse to leave until I had a solution that I was completely happy with, and not a compromise of any sort!

    Do you know what? The nice thing is I can actually do this at the moment, because I don't have to work in an office...

  • Considering moving this thread to the public forum to see what kind of numbers I can get on it to act as leverage. Thoughts?

  • They'd have to suck it up!
    You can't expect to be a Cannondale rep that is prepared to work on high end bikes without due care and technical skill and not expect to take the fall when things go wrong. That just disconcerting.
    CSG are always a pain in the arse, but I've always found if you approach them clinically and as a knowledgeable user, they perk up pretty quick. Especially when it comes to one of their contracted re sellers doing shoddy work.

  • You can't expect to be a Cannondale rep that is prepared to work on high end bikes without due care and technical skill

    Makes me wonder what level of training is offered to the shop mechanics, regarding Cannondale specific stuff.

  • Makes me wonder what level of training is offered to the shop mechanics, regarding Cannondale specific stuff.

    There used to be loads, but now...not so much, or none.

  • CSG are always a pain in the arse, but I've always found if you approach them clinically and as a knowledgeable user, they perk up pretty quick. Especially when it comes to one of their contracted re sellers doing shoddy work.

    Do you have any UK based contacts? Names, telephone numbers?

  • Don't even think about it! I refuse to work on stuff at times especially the old SI stuff, that or be really direct with the customer that I've never worked on something like that, but I'm willing to put in the time and research to do so, at their explicit agreement and my responsibility.
    Doesn't help that I've yet to see any CSG/Cannondale technical days or something like that.

    @Howard I can get you deets on Tuesday if that's ok?

  • Doesn't help that I've yet to see any CSG/Cannondale technical days or something like that.

    Distributor mentality. I was chatting with the CSG UK head of marketing about 'dale stuff. Didn't know his Magic cranks from Ravens. Maybe he doesn't have to.

    @Howard I can get you deets on Tuesday if that's ok?

    Amazing, thank you! Spirit of forum etc. Thanks to @pacef8 too.

  • Moved to General forum.

  • Sounds very frustrating. Are you able to share the photos of the damage?

  • I can, but I'd rather the wheels of resolution start turning before I do that.

    Plus they are videos so quite hefty.

  • Tbh, on a bike of that quality and composite - would you really feel safe riding it afterwards? I wouldn't and as such I think you'd be perfectly in your rights to claim for a brand new bike on their insurance. From my own experience with Scott bikes, I think this will probably only be settled by going down the small claims route.

    It's amazing how quick dickheads will resolve things once an £80 court proceedings letter lands on their doormat.

  • I would recommend a 'seeking legal advice' route, per Citizens Advice Bureau if you can get an appointment. It's the most calm route to go down, if you can at least have a paper trail, and make a short diary (like you have here) of what happened on what dates with who.

    The last time I had something similar I went through trading standards, because the company was actually an independent. Trading standards called me and were very interested to hear of the issue and offered advice on how to resolve. They followed it up later, but the threat of their involvement was enough to get everything resolved with the retailer.

    Needless to say, it got sorted, but I never found out if TS took it further behind the scenes.

    Get everything calm after a night's sleep.
    Concise paper trail (for explaining).
    Comprehensive details (because).
    Contact trading standards local to the business. Be nice.
    Ask for clear advice on next steps based on concise version.
    With the patience of a saint, contact the store to let them know trading standards have been informed, if applicable. Don't allow any escalation, just keep repeating you're looking for a suitable resolution.
    Get a new bike out of it.

  • Tbh, on a bike of that quality and composite - would you really feel safe riding it afterwards?

    Yeah, I mean, this hits it on the head really. The required care and expertise was not applied, and my faith in the bike is in pieces on the floor.

  • i.e. whilst you want the bike back, you don't want that bike back.

  • Been there done that - could of been killed tee shirt wearer. I will not ever under any circumstances ride carbon. The logical side of my brain knows it's stronger better etc etc. The fear and irrational thoughts from experiential learning ruined riding carbon, 'on my god what if it breaks again, fuck what was that noise!' Thoughts are not pleasant when hurtling down hill.

    I just hope that once you get it sorted that they've not ruined your future riding experiences for you.

  • Exactly my thoughts.

  • make sure to publicise here and stw, bikeradar, etc.

    and 'drop' into convo with Cdale global brand manager that you've asked for 'advice' from forum chums.. all adds to pressure for them to perform

  • Depending on how bad the damage is, it doesn't sound like a new bike situation, just that they should do the work as originally agreed for free, and make good that which has been done already along with a large apology/lifettime discount/money voucher.

  • Of course if they say you're being a twat for wanting your bike not ruined then fuck em

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So, a bike shop made a mess of my Cannondale F-Si

Posted by Avatar for Howard @Howard

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