Planet X Stealth Pro Carbon bent headset cup

So I took delivery of this Planet X Stealth Pro Carbon from KingSwann2013(formerly KingSwann) and I was delighted with it, it was, as described, in excellent condition all round. Jason did a great job packing it too.

Only when I went to mount the forks today did I notice that the top integrated headset bearing wouldn't sit in its cup. On closer inspection, the cup has been bent slightly inwards away from the headtube as you can see in the pics below.

This is my first forage into carbon framery but I'm guessing these cups are just bonded into the frame? The carbon of the headtube appears to have retained its circularity, a cup could probably be sourced i'd imagine and replaced, would probably need seeing to by a carbon expert I'd imagine. I'm going to email Planet X with pics and get their advice, Jason shipped the frame insured with Parcelforce so I think it's well possible that I may have to go down the route of an insurance claim.

Has anyone had a problem like this before with their carbon frames? Anyone dealt with insurance claims with Parcelforce? As per usual any insight is greatly appreciated.

Was looking it over with my old man and he brought up the idea of assembling a front end on as normal and then cranking down on the top cap, in the hope that the force bringing everything together will push the headset bearing down into the cup and force it to be seated there. I told him it was a ham fisted idea, but i think it could possibly work. Or fuck up the bearing, or the cup, or the frame, or all three. Thoughts?

Even if the carbon frame were strong enough to take it (I don't know, but my hunch is that it is not), the difficulty would be to keep everything aligned as you pushed it together and so apply even force to achieve what you want.

As for insurance, it sounds like there has been a delay since you took delivery and now noticing the damage. I suspect you won't get very far. As it happens, when I was working in a shop, a similar thing happened to a customer when we posted a new cannondale frameset to him. Getting no luck with insurance, he took the shop to court. We won.

So, your best option in my view, is to look into a repair. Kevin Winter would be able to advise and do the work, if it is possible.

Gutted to here this news Federal, it was all legit when it left here. I give you my word on that.
Thankfully I insured it, I will do all I can to help.
I think a new bearing cup will sort it, any cracks or marks on the carbon?

Just to reiterate, Jason^ is a top bloke and did a great job on the packing and isn't at fault here. Don't want anyone to pick things up the wrong way and damage his rep.

The carbon looks fine. I think getting a new cup put in is the sensible solution if Parcelforce don't wanna know. Getting it out and getting a new one in will be the tough thing. I highly doubt there are many carbon specialists in Dublin let alone any that have dealt with carbon bicycle frames. Hopefully I'll have a reply from Planet X tomorrow.

Thanks I appreciate that.

Got on to Planet X and one of the mechanics suggested that if the carbon is sound(which it appears to be) that I try use an old headset bearing and try tap the cup back into circularity. Hopefully the Alu is malleable enough that I can work it back into its original shape or as close to it.

It was insured for a reason, kingswann2013 should claim back from the carrier and pass onto you, then you can try messing about trying to reshape it, and end up with a free frame, otherwise use the money to cover a replacement.

Don't fuck about with it first, damage it more, then try to claim...

^ this. Try to claim before you muck about with it.

I hope you've still got the box / packaging it came in?

If it's still in the bin outside, rescue it, as Parcelforce will probably ask to see / inspect it - Something similar happened to me a couple of years ago, on a fully insured parcel. Unfortunately, the buyer didn't keep the box - that was Parcelforce's get-out clause.

Got on to Planet X and one of the mechanics suggested that if the carbon is sound(which it appears to be) that I try use an old headset bearing and try tap the cup back into circularity. Hopefully the Alu is malleable enough that I can work it back into its original shape or as close to it.

V. Bad idea.
Aluminium alloys work harden when distorted. They need annealling to become softer again. Which needs 420 degrees C, or thereabouts.

Most people think mechanics and engineers are one and the same.

It was insured for a reason, kingswann2013 should claim back from the carrier and pass onto you, then you can try messing about trying to reshape it, and end up with a free frame, otherwise use the money to cover a replacement.

Don't fuck about with it first, damage it more, then try to claim...

This.

Seller owes you an intact frame or suitable reimbursement.

It's unfortunate when it's a decent seller that been shafted by courier/postman but it's not your fault so make sure you're not put out.

You guys are right. I get pretty impatient and wanted to get a mock up build going, glad I haven't touched the frame though. Jason has all the details now, so just gonna have to see what Parcelforce/Parcelmonkey come up with.

This issue has been resolved, the company involved have issued a full re-imbursement. I have to take my hat off to Jason(Kingswann2013) who tirelessly kept the pressure on an utterly incompetent claims team. An out and out gentlemen, know that you're in safe hands if you have any dealings with him in the future.

A decent resolution. Sounds like Jason is a sound man.

I was more than p'd off that this great frame got damaged. It was no way Federals fault nor mine as the frameset was extremely well wrapped and perfect when it left me. I'm relieved that we got the insurance money, I have to praise Federal for his patience, not sure if I would have been so calm in his shoes. I value honesty and doing the right thing so there was no way I would fob him off.